The Goodness Of God

Corrie Ten Boom once wrote: “Often I have heard people say, ‘How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic, and look at the lovely weather!’ Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. ‘No, Corrie,’ she said, “He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word: “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love towards those that fear Him.”

Deep in our hearts we believe God is good, yet our understanding of God’s goodness is shallow. Though we have all have sinned God’s desire is for us none to perish, however many will because they have not believed upon the Lord Jesus to save them.

Context: This is Tuesday of passion week, Jesus has pronounced judgement on Israel and the temple because of their habitual rejection and disobedience. Now the religious rulers are ready to put Jesus to death. Looking for a reason to arrest Him that would not get them in hot water with the people they questioned His authority.

Moving forward we see a running battle between Jesus and the Jewish leaders which would end in Jesus, arrest, trial, and Crucifixion.

CPS: Jesus is the demonstration of God’s goodness and His undeniable love for us. That while we all are sinners God doesn't want to condemn instead He wants to save us. John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” However, those who reject Jesus will perish and face God’s just wrath!

I. The Goodness of God VS. 1

God is good! Romans 11:22a Behold therefore the goodness.

A. God’s Goodness to Israel

In this parable the man is God, the vineyard is Israel, the husbandmen is the leaders, the servants are the prophets, and of course the son is Jesus.

In this parable Jesus was recounting the goodness of God. the From Egypt to Israel God was good and gracious! He delivered them from Egypt and delivered to them a land full of fruit that they didn't labor for.

Planted - (verb) phyteuō

He gave them what they had not worked for. He planted the vineyard, protected it (the hedge was to keep their animals in), provided (winefat), and guarded (tower)(before Israel ever got there) then let them live in it all He asked for was good fruit.

ILL: the grapes of Israel in ancient times were the size of small plumbs and on average a cluster of grapes weighed 10 pounds and could weight up to 26 lbs.

God was good to Israel what more could He have done? NOTHING!

B. God’s Goodness to Us

He has given us all things!

APP: The goodness of God is meant to lead us to repentance, the least we can do is turn our lives over to Him and bear fruit!

II. The Witness of God 2-8

God is good and gracious towards wayward man, though we are sinners He has revealed Himself and His ways to us. He lent the land to His people, share-cropping was common during Jesus’ day. In Galilee tenant farmers lived on and farmed the land, in return they gave the land owner 1/4 to 1/2 of the harvest. God wants His part!

Sent (verb) apostellō - to send out. This word is also used in Mark 4:29 ““But when the crop permits, he immediately puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

A. His servants

The Prophets! Jer. 7:25 ““Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets, daily rising early and sending them.”

For over 950 years God sent His prophets to gather fruit from His people. They preached The need for repentance (Its tine to return to God), judgment (there is consequences for breaking God’s covenant), and Hope (God is faithful and will bring restoration.)

(NB) Then God sent John the Baptist, the last and greatest of the Prophets!

God is patient and longsuffering 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

But as many servants that God sent, the people rejected God. Luke 13:34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!”

God had more to send… His only begotten Son.

B. His Son

God revealed Himself and His ways… His ultimate revelation was His Son. John 12:45 “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me.”

But they killed His Son too!

ILL: On my way to church this morning I was listening to that old song “Were you there when they crucified my Lord.”

Truth is, we are living in a blood stained world, the blood of Jesus was on their hands as it is on ours. We are all guilty regardless if we have heard the gospel or not. We are terrible sinners… However, the only sin that can’t/won’t be forgiven is the sin of unbelief!

III. The Judgment of God 9-12

God is good and loving, but there comes a time that when all He can do is judge. His servants were killed, His son was killed.. what will He do.

Destroy the Husbandmen! Destroy (verb) apollymai - to cause destruction ruin

Rom. 11:22 “Behold then the kindness and severity of God

Psalm 118:22-23 “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.” (This is the same Psalm sang as He entered Jerusalem… this is the verse before Hosanna)

Matthew 21:44 ““And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.”

The judgment of God may you give the picture that God is not good but. Matthew 21:41 tells us “They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.”

The leaders condemned themselves, friends when we reject Jesus God doesn’t condemn us… we have condemned ourselves! He has given us all of our life to repent of our sin and return to Him. God is good. He has done everything for us, we must simply receive His Son as our Lord and Savior.

INV: BE INTENTIONAL ASK FOR THEM TO BE SAVED!