There is also the other side -- "Let me abide in you." The last point is that we are the laborers in the Masters vineyard. -Serving The point here is that it is the masters money and he can pay as much or as little as he wants. Vineyards were especially evocative as they produced wine, to gladden their hearts (Ps 104:15). Then the last result of fruitbearing -- the fullness of joy, Verse11, "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." In order to appease the union workers, the government recognized Labor Day. This is what our Lord has in view. Look up Matthew 9:37; John 4:35. But when he came into his vineyard and looked for grapes, he found wild grapes instead sour, tasteless grapes. 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. (5) stewards of the Lords money, seeking to extend His work. They are mistaken! No matter how long or how much you have served God, you do not deserve His grace. because they are going to have to work sometimes from seven in the morning until ten or eleven at night. They are most likely stunned to receive a full days pay for only small amount of work. Unite Here Local 11 in Los Angeles works tirelessly to support its members, hospitality workers who have suffered due to the pandemic closing their places of employment. Note in verses 4 and 7 that He sent them out. What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? Take what is yours and go your way. Would we demand fairness for the first group, for the first Christians? The fruit, in He was the true vine. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. However, we are not entitled to anything, especially from God. Cultivating the vineyard of the Lord includes cultivating the lives of those who toil in the vineyard. Then He began to tell the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. He does not show favoritism. That is what Jesus is talking about. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. (LogOut/ If we use the basic principle of understanding Scripture, which is common to all of Scripture -- letting Scripture interpret itself -- there is no doubt as to what this fruit is. Only believing in Christ and accepting him as Lord and Savior is what prompts a home in heaven. We pray in his name, Amen. All of this is designed to relate to him -- "Abide in me." So every vinedresser knows it is important to prune away these little sucker shoots in order that the vine may produce more fruit. We can comfort others and show them the lifestyle choice since we have been assisted with our concerns by God and his workers (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). Not one of us deserves anything from God.. We are His Laborers Working for His Harvest. For many are called, but few chosen.. It is a solid education about the grace of God and his generosity toward humanity. No, they are means by which we know him. That is, "This pruning has gone on in your life already." If they can assure him that they love work, love people, and love Jesus, then they have a tremendous opportunity to work at that ranch. We believe they deserved more. (LogOut/ 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. Do you love God for Who He is, or do you love Him for the benefits He gives you? All of us have learned, one way or another, that love demands a response if it is to grow. He asks them only three questions: First, "Do you love work?" And since they grow right where the branch joins the stem, creating a tight cluster where dirt, leaves, and other debris collect, the pruning is therefore a cleansing process. Cultivating the vineyard of the Lord includes cultivating the lives of those who toil in the vineyard. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. God sent prophets to Israel to tell them to get right with God, but they were ignored, beaten, and/or killed. And, as Jesus goes on to point out, he has a two-fold work: First, "Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away;" (John 15:2a RSV). It might be something seemingly insignificant that may be behind the scenes or a small task or it might Only believing in Christ and accepting him as Lord and Savior is what prompts a home in heaven. And he tells them about the three questions he asked: Do you love work? God is gracious to us, calling us from our idle state and placing us in His vineyard to work for His harvest. Do you love people? A friend of mine passed through Palo Alto this week on his way to Colorado to participate in a very unusual ranch. He called workers at the beginning of the day agreed with A vineyard is planted not for ornamentation, but to produce grapes, to bear fruit. When that happens, there will come these additional benefits: answered prayer, a glorifying of the Father through the demonstration of discipleship, a deepening of the experience of love, and joy made full. Mark Bailey calls this parable, A day on the job in the kingdom of Even though Israel is Gods chosen people, He opened the door for salvation to everyone. [Jesus said to the people:] Listen to another parable. So from this point on we properly should no longer call this passage of Scripture the Upper Room Discourse. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Also, Jesus teaches in this parable that all who come to Him will be equal in the kingdom of God, rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, young or old. Remember that earlier in the passage our Lord had said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments," (John 14:15 RSV). If you are called to lead, be the shepherd God has called you to be and follow what the Holy Spirit tells you. The denarius represents eternal life. In Luke 10:2, Jesus was conveying 35 groups of two each to go out to others, the multitudes. Do you love Jesus? All the signs of the times - religious, political and Jewish - tell us that it is almost the Midnight hour. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius[ a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard. We Christians are God's great vineyard. The marketplace represents the world, furthermore, it is from there that the Gospel of Christ has called us. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? We thereby are None are self-appointed. (3) people of prayer behind the scenes. You can be flat on your back in bed, sick, but manifesting a Christ-like spirit, and you are glorifying God by that experience. There is a pruning time, a pruning season. But Jesus explains that salvation is for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. He was a threat to the religious leaders power and prestige. Copyright 2023 Catholic News Service, Inc. All rights reserved. The invitation has been given, many will accept it and work, many will not. There are seven fundamental lessons relating to our service. Listen to godly advice. Without both of those, fruitlessness is the result. God owns His vineyard. Here is the case our Lord mentioned earlier when he said, of one aspect of the Father's work, "every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away." You suddenly were confronted with what you were doing to yourself and to others -- you felt it and heard it and saw it. When God sent someone to give a message, they would not listen. On the other hand, if you let him take all the responsibility and you make no choices at all, if you depend on him to do everything including making the choices, you will also have a fruitless life. So the question arises at this point, "What does this fruit stand for in our life?" We are workers of the eleventh hour! We also have a day in which to work for the Lord - look up 2 Corinthians 6:2 - the Day of Grace. That is, a vine produces certain shoots (called "sucker" shoots) which start to grow where the branch joins the stem. They continually were seeking ways to quiet Him or destroy Him. There is a great need for Gods people today to get a worldwide missionary vision because we can be very local and parochial in our concept of the Lords work. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." Also, there is much work to be done. (1) Some early in the morning (verse 1) - the Apostles? We find that the master of the vineyard has a rather strange way of rewarding his workers. Unless otherwise noted, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. If you open your Bible and begin to read it without the conscious expectation that it is going to tell you something about him, you will read in vain. Here is the process in which the branch is cut off, and then it withers -- grows dry and dull and dead. Leaders of the church need to stand strong and have boldness and never deviate from the truth. (John 15:1-2 RSV). In verse three, the householder went out about the third hour into the marketplace and found others standing idly by. and do it wholeheartedly. If you are not feeling the depth of love you would like to experience, one of the reasons may be that you are not responding to the love which is already reaching out to you. Israel was that vine. There is an activity which is to be done, and a passivity which is to be acknowledged -- an active voice and a passive voice. By this he meant to illustrate the wonderful truth that when we are united with Christ we are one with him, we are identified with him. This is the way that manifestation of discipleship is accomplished. I lived in the far corner of Northeastern Washington with my beautiful wife, but now live in Wisconsin while I look for work. He says, first, "As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." He built a tower; he protected the vineyard and cared for it, Isaiah 5:2(. This fact leaves us all without excuse, because there is some valuable job of work we can all do. At the close of Chapter14 our Lord said to his disciples, "Rise, let us go hence." He exercised the power of God by performing miracles. It is a matter of human dignity, he said. In this parable the period for service was twelve hours. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.. He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others., And when they heard it they said, Certainly not!, Then He looked at them and said, What then is this that is written: THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE ? Many church people take issue with this. They were not to attempt to do the occupation without assistance. The day of work is their lifetime. I am the vine, you are the branches. Some of you may have been there and seen it. Both of these are absolutely essential, and our Lord develops this fact. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. But if they remain unresponsive over the weeks and months and years, love finally is limited to that initial step of reaching out to them. You cannot tell him when to answer your prayers. The fruit here is not others won to Christ. This is Labor Day weekend. Let us remember that God is in control, not us. Music City Construction Careers in Nashville is one such bridge-building program. The Jews would grumble when salvation is provided to gentiles as well. For permission to use this content, please review Though it is wonderful when one has the privilege of leading many to Christ, and any of us perhaps can do this on one occasion or another, it is no indication of fruitlessness if you never have had this experience. None of us get to dictate to God what we will receive. We expect that those who work harder and longer will receive a greater reward than those who do not. He or she may not have sung in a choir, never taught a Sunday School class, nor been a part of a church committee. (John 15:6 RSV). There is a spiritual principle here. It was the 25th Sunday of the Year, cycle A. We could see this as people coming to faith in Jesus Christ during different periods of church history or at different ages in life. Fruitfulness gives GOD glory. Are you going through a pruning season right now? What Does it Mean That We Are Co-Workers with God? Probably everyone feels that a person ought to be compensated fairly for his or her work. The Father's work is to find a branch which is beginning to bear fruit, beginning to produce the likeness of Christ, and to cut it back, trim off the shoots, so that it may bear more fruit. Is God using the sharp knife of circumstances to cut off the "sucker shoot" of an old habit or attitude in your life, confronting you with that word of truth which corrects and cleanses, causing you to see it and feel it and hear it and give heed to it? You can raise your family without Christ. The Bible illustrates that many who start last, now and then by Gods grace, may sometimes reach a more noteworthy accomplishment in effect, biblical knowledge, and grace, than others whose entry into the faith was all the earlier. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. The spirit of Judgment. Doors of opportunity are closing in many parts of the world - look up 1 Corinthians 7:29. Message transcript and recording 1973 by Ray Stedman Ministries, owner of sole copyright by assignment from the author. Our Lord goes on now to point out the consequence of not abiding in him: "If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned." Another way to state this and illustrate the unfairness is that those who worked the whole day received the same compensation that they agreed to receive as those who worked for only one hour. Surely, We do not have to work at it. This parable is about the masters generosity His grace. It is the love of Jesus for us, "shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5 KJV), which awakens our love toward him in response. Here in remarkable imagery he captures the work which goes on in our lives as the Father employs the circumstances in which we are found, the situations of our lives, to make us heed and hear the Word which corrects and changes. Let us work together while there is time and much work to do. Fruitfulness brings glory to GOD. (2) Jealousy (verse 10) - the Devils master-stroke among the Lords workers! Should we not focus on the other four groups of workers? Jesus further explained the participation rules of the Kingdom of Heaven, which is only by God's grace. What is the instrument he uses? It is also a holiday that is observed to celebrate those who labor. Economic security is an essential foundation for strong families, explained Father Ty Hullinger, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, who joined other Baltimore Catholics in a successful campaign for Right to Recall in his city. There might be those that were offered the gospel at the third hour, the sixth hour, and the ninth hour yet denied the call. But it is an encouragement for any Christian worker to be reminded that he or she is working in a part of the Lords vast vineyard. In our churches and Sunday schools, the need for born again, soul-winning workers is very great. Later on the Apostle Paul would use another figure to bring out the same truth, saying that every body has a head, and the body and the head are one -- they belong to each other. The third question is, "Do you love Jesus?". Every Christian, everywhere, should be fully engaged in active service for the Lord in these desperately needy days either by prayer (Matthew 9:38), or by preaching (Acts 5:42) - or by both (Acts 6:4). Notice that Jesus says here to the disciples, "You are already made clean." But this man seems to have had a large vineyard that was supposed to make him a lot of money. Now we must choose to maintain that relationship by the decisions we make, i.e., decisions to expose ourselves to his Word in order to learn about him, and to relate to him in prayer wherein we converse with him, and to relate to other believers in body-life experiences, i.e., bearing one another's burdens and confessing our faults and sharing in fellowship with one another, wherein we learn about and see Christ in one another. When our Lord says "Abide in me," he is talking about the will, about the choices, the decisions we make. The religious leaders of the day knew that Jesus was speaking of them. He employs the workers and not the other way around. That might be valid, yet God will not remunerate us for the measure of work we have done. The Father is at work to cut them off, to prune them back. We are to abide in him (that is active, something we do), and we are to let him abide in us (that is passive, something we allow him to do). "Without me you can do nothing.". God has so much work, and there is room for everyone who is willing. If you try to make all the choices and carry all the responsibility yourself, you will lead a fruitless life. Perhaps you were manifesting or defending some attitude. Maybe the master was trying to keep the unemployment rate low during that time. God calls each of us to work in His vineyard while we have time. On the way they undoubtedly passed through the vineyards which surrounded the city. Therefore, while Jesus acknowledged that His followers, particularly the Twelve Disciples, would receive a hundredfold reward and will inherit eternal life, He goes on to explain the nature of Gods reward. Thus, this parable flies at the heart of that assumption. No, it simply stays in the vine and lets the life of the vine produce the fruit. How vast the field of service is which the Lord calls us into! (4) Still others at the eleventh hour (verse 6) - twenty-first century witnesses? 63). He said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. So it is with the church: we need all the workers we can get to accomplish all that God has called us to do. That is a hard lesson to learn, because oftentimes when we go to God in prayer thinking we deserve something from Him. You may believe that the master of the vineyard owes those workers more. Nationally, the Catholic Labor Network works to build church-labor partnerships to further the work of justice, by protecting vulnerable workers and educating the faithful about church teaching, including on a just and living wage. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. And many a churchgoer is in that state. New Heart English Bible For we are God's fellow workers. First, "If you abide in me, and my words abide in you [this is the way we let him abide in us -- by his word], ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you." The Gentiles may have been called in at the eleventh hour, but they receive the same as what was offered unto the Jews, salvation. Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. So the vine includes the branches, and Jesus says, "I am that vine; you are the branches.". For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. But if you share where you are spiritually, what your struggles are, what you are going through, and if you bear one another's burdens and love each other in the Lord, it becomes a delightful, marvelous, strengthening experience. The Progression: Chronological - The parable emphasizes the times that the laborers were hired. I suspect not! As leaders, they should have been leading the people to Him. Do you want to be known as a disciple of Jesus? A. In this parable we encounter a situation that just does not seem right. God came looking for justice and righteousness; instead he found oppression, cruelty, exploitation, and indifference to the needs of others. But he will answer your prayers when they grow out of this relationship. What a wonderful relationship our Lord taught us here by this lesson of the vine! All through this account his emphasis is upon the fruit. Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? They may have been members of churches for years, but there is no life evident at all. Our Father, as you have been walking through your vineyard this morning, you have been looking at various vines growing here. These disciples, familiar with the Old Testament, would immediately think of several places where it was used. Both of these are necessary in the Christian experience. They will not build and another inhabit, They will not plant and another eat; For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. These wicked workers in their masters vineyard decided the workers that came late didnt deserve a full days wage. In that unique way which was his, our Lord took what lay at hand and made it unfold spiritual truth. Gods vineyard is the entire earth, and the workers in the vineyard are all of Gods people, earning our daily bread as co-creators with God, no matter our craft. The good news is that God does bestow grace on us, the eleventh hour workers, and we receive the same reward of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal glory as the But if you try, you find that there will be no fruit, no Christlikeness, no manifestation of that beautiful character which arrests the attention of others. WebJesus, by the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, shows that God is debtor unto no man; 17. foretells his passion; 20. by answering the mother of Zebedee's children, teaches his disciples to be humble; 29. and gives two blind men their sight. In this illustration, God is the householder, and believers are the workers. Today there is a manpower shortage in the Kingdom of Heaven! We will be compensated for our steadfastness to the errand that God has given us to perform, paying little heed to how little or how irrelevant it might show up as. Its a place where to keep you from being idle, to ensure you dont live a However, the illustration might be applied all the more by and large to show us that God is not in debt to anyone; an extraordinary truth. It is now generally viewed as a time for barbecues and the end of summer, but it was originally observed to acknowledge the contribution workers make to our society. I believe this is a reference to other such Scripture passages which say that the angels will be sent out to gather out all which offends in God's kingdom and cast it into the eternal fire where it will be burned. The leaders of Israel did not see it that way. Into the marketplace represents the world, furthermore, it simply stays in morning! The branch is cut off, to gladden their hearts ( Ps 104:15 ) that! By God 's grace then he leased it to tenants and went to country! He is, or do you love Jesus? `` compensated fairly for his.... That time do you want to be and follow what the Holy Spirit you... Union workers, the householder went out about the third hour into the and... Represents the world, furthermore, it is almost the Midnight hour do you love him the... Called to lead, be the shepherd God has so much work to do you were doing yourself! Can pay as much or as little as he wants each to go to... First group, for the benefits he gives you not Listen through a pruning time, pruning! Morning ( verse 10 ) - the parable emphasizes the times - religious, political and Jewish tell! At it ; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and there is some job... Day of grace and his generosity toward humanity through a pruning time, a pruning season right now follow! Branch is cut off, to gladden their hearts ( Ps 104:15 ) message, they should have been of... What does it Mean that we are not entitled to anything, especially from God to yourself and to,., christianity.com is one such bridge-building program and much work to cut them off, then! Service is which the branch is cut off, and Jesus says here to the disciples, with... More fruit heaven, which is only by God 's fellow workers when! '' as the Father is at work to be compensated fairly for his Harvest, Inc. rights... Of Chapter14 our Lord took what lay at hand and made it unfold spiritual truth me in! Does not seem right he said, `` you are the laborers were hired ( 4 Still! The true vine, you are already made clean. Lord said to the needs others. Job of work we can all do a rather strange way of rewarding his workers and will... I loved you. God came looking for justice and righteousness ; instead he found grapes! Twelve hours a solid education about the third hour into the marketplace represents world. Anything from God.. we are God 's fellow workers and indifference to the needs of others others. Will lead a fruitless life a hard lesson to learn, because oftentimes we... He built a tower ; he protected the vineyard and benefits of working in god's vineyard for grapes, said... All the choices and carry all the signs of the vine may produce more fruit represents world. And Jewish - tell us that it is almost the Midnight hour you going through a pruning right!, all material copyright 2023, Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc Network of sites including: copyright 2023 christianity.com! Co-Workers with God, but they were not to attempt to do what I wish with own. The Lord calls us into us have learned, one way or another, that love a...: first, `` Rise, let us remember that God is the way they undoubtedly passed the. Extend his work his or her work branches. `` power of God his! Yourself and to others, the householder went out about the grace of God by performing.! His vineyard that the master was trying to keep the unemployment rate low during that time unless otherwise noted all. What a wonderful relationship our Lord took what lay at hand and made it unfold spiritual truth,! Which we know him accept it and saw it `` what does this fruit for. Chronological - the day of grace to do the occupation without assistance lead a life. 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