Proper 22 (Wednesday 2023)

It's possible to rent a wide variety of things. Last month the Men’s Club purchased cans of paint to re-stripe the Parking Lot. And with this purchase we were able to use this small cart that held the can of paint. With the squeeze of the handle the paint would spray from the bottom of the cart onto the pavement. The trick now is to push the cart walking in a straight line. If you go outside you’ll soon see why Brother Dave Solum took the cart away from me and pushed it himself. He was incredibly patient for awhile, but it finally came to an end; and it is a good thing too because evidently my strides are not as straight as they needed to be.

In today’s Gospel reading we hear another story Jesus tells about God’s incredible patience that will one day run out. God is waiting for a harvest of faith from the tenants, which does not come. And so, the rest of the story we hear what will happen when the owner of the vineyard sends his Son to collect the harvest.

What God is looking for in His vineyard — His kingdom — is a harvest of faith that He expects. This kingdom was taken away from the people of Israel. God’s chosen people today are all those from every nation whom God has chosen to believe in Him and be saved. The fruits they produce are all the many and varied fruits of faith. In all their variety, they are produced only by faith in Jesus as one’s Savior.

Just like the Men’s Club entered into an arrangement with a company downtown to use their parking lot line sprayer, God, too, has a rental arrangement concerning His vineyard — His kingdom. Today’s Gospel reading tells the story of God’s rental agreements, (1). The Terms are Specified (2). Difficulties are Encountered (3). God Takes Action.

The goal of the sermon is that we bring to God the fruits of faith that He expects.

The terms are specified.

God puts the vineyard in excellent condition.

He did so for Israel (Is.5:1-7)

He planted a vineyard of the choicest wine; he built a watchtower; he built a winepress.

He does so for us through the Good News of Christ, by which He gathers and preserves us as His people.

He established the Church of Christ, where the forgiveness of sin is proclaimed.

God “rents out” the vineyard — the message of His love supplying us with faith, strength, and hope.

He sent Prophets to proclaim God loving message.

He sends men into the harvest field to bear fruit, and fruit that will last.

God expects us to pay Him rent in kind.

Which is — He wants the fruit of faith (Gal. 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Because of the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, fruit bearing is not a chore but a spontaneous out-pouring in response to God's benefits.

Think of all God has done for you!

He has forgiven all your sins.

He has given you life and salvation.

He has given you His Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing your inheritance to come.

Because of all God has done for us we now want to serve Him by loving our neighbor.

A vineyard that is properly cared for fruit will be the natural result. But sometimes pests get in there which will rob what the fruit needs to properly grow. And sometimes in God’s vineyard,

Sometimes Difficulties are encountered

God had difficulties with His renters.

They killed the prophets (Matt. 21:35-36)

Matthew 21:35–36 NKJV

And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.

Finally they killed the Son Himself (Matt. 21:38-39).

God still has difficulties with us, His renters.

Fruit-bearing is lacking many times. For example,

We fail to love His mission to the world.

We fail to love God's people.

We fail to love God's messengers and God’s Word.

Will God be pleased with the many religious leaders, those who have come “as wolves in sheep’s clothing”?

What about those who accidentally or purposefully have misled believers and kept people from believing the truth? This is certainly a text that plainly applies to religious leaders.

Have I neglected to hear God’s plain Word, or rejected it, loved other things more than him? Have I lived according to his Word?”

Note how the First, Second, and Third apply here!

God takes action.

God shows patience.

He kept on sending servants (vv. 34, 36).

What a contrast to what we probably would have done under similar circumstances!

He keeps sending, and sending, and sending.

1 Timothy 2:4 “God all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

He went so far as to send His only Son (v. 37). Through Christ's death God atoned for the tenants’ selfishness and ours. To what great lengths God went to show His love and patience!

He is still giving us time to bring forth a harvest of faith. He keeps on loving and seeking our love.

Yet God's patience has a limit.

When the Jewish nation rejected Christ, God gave the vineyard (the Gospel message) to the Gentiles.

If we reject Christ, the Gospel will be taken from us and given to others. Christ, the Cornerstone, will one day fall on us and destroy us.

In the meantime God is patient with us.

Romans 2:4 EHV

Or do you have so little regard for his rich kindness, his restraint, and his patience, that you ignore the fact that the purpose of God’s kindness is to lead you to repentance?

God’s sign is still out: Vineyard for rent. The terms are as generous as they can be. In His marvelous love God has overcome all the difficulties we caused Him. How wicked we are if we spurn His love! What a privilege to be a tenant in God's vineyard and to bring Him His fruits!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.