Matthew 21:33-46
Grace peace and mercy from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The context of this reading is interesting for two reasons and at two different times in the first century. First we have Jesus who rode into Jerusalem to cheering crowds, He proceeds to chase the money changers out of the temple, and then He is challenged about His authority by the Pharisees. The people love Him at this point He has thus far successfully challenged the religious leaders. The religious authorities were all about the law at least as they perceived it and cared little for the people. Instead of caring for the flock they placed a heavy burden on them. The people see Jesus as a prophet, and many believe He is the Messiah, the one that can bring relief from their burden.
The second context of Matthews’s gospel is at the time it was available to the people. Most scholars believe that Matthew wrote the gospel between 60 and 65 AD. As scribes copied the script it would be a few years until it would be shared among the early followers of the Way.
A few years takes us to 70 AD when the Romans suppressed a Jewish revolt and destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus had predicted this event would occur and it ties in with the tenants of the vineyard being cast out and new tenants allowed in.
This also was a time of persecution in the church. Not only was Rome against the early Christians. Now the Jews were openly attacking them because of the events in Jerusalem.
Looking again at the context at the time of that first Holy Week and the parable; the owner of vineyard is God, the tenants are the Pharisees, the new tenants are the Gentiles, and the son we all know is Jesus. The servants sent before the son are the prophets sent throughout Old Testament times including John the Baptist, often ignored and sometimes suffering because the people were so stubborn in their ways. In this parable Jesus is also exposing the murderous plot the leaders would soon execute to remove Jesus and His followers from significance in Jerusalem.
The religious authorities saw Jesus as an agitator subverting their authority, and as such could trigger the Romans to take action against Israel and destroy the nation. In that respect we can rationalize that the Pharisees are acting in a logical manner to preserve the nation.
As we look through history this parable can correlate too many events in history where the Church leaders suppressed people calling for reforms. Many of those people lost their lives because they would not recant their beliefs, notably John Hus a reformer 100 years before Luther. Hus was burned at the stake for his efforts to reform the Church. Luther would probably have succumbed to the same fate if not for other events occurring at that time.
What about the Church of today? Over the last 30 plus years the church has lost its significance in western culture. Europe has entered a post-Christian era where the influence of Islam is quickly subverting the last vestiges of Christian influence in many of the countries of Europe.
Closer to home we have many churches closing because they have lost focus. In the parable Jesus tells us that the event triggering the revolt of the tenants is the request by the owner for His share of the fruits. Share cropping was common place in Palestine, in exchange for working the owners land to grow crops the owner was paid a share of the crops.
First fruits are what God asks of us as we live in His creation. We usually associate that with money in our culture. The tithe of the Old Testament is more than money, its time, talents, and treasures. Most importantly it’s our focus on Him.
If our primary focus is not on Him and working to His glory why would He bless us? If we fall into that trap of selfishness then we are like the tenants of the vineyard. God is not going to bless those who do not recognize He owns the vineyard and give back first fruits with joy in their hearts. Any focus other than on Him is carrying out our selfish wishes like so many have done in the past.
There is a congregation I happen to be very familiar with that has been blessed with four pastors over 50 years. They have been blessed with fairly stable attendance and some growth over those years. They have had some significant internal battles and two lengthy vacancies, but through all of that they have remained strong. Every reasonable effort is made to openly share all aspects of the congregation’s life from planning to finances. Although I don’t agree with everything that has been done there over the years one thing I can say has been consistent, their focus on God. Everything done there has a focus of glorifying God. Adult education and Sunday school are high priorities and well attended. The day school fills a need in the community and is a tool of outreach. They are willing to try events to reach the community and keep trying even when results are less then optimal.
I suspect that every successful church has the same common theme. God and sharing the Good News are their primary focus. Everything fits into that theme. Every initiative is a tool used to accomplish the mission.
Of course there are plenty of churches that are stumbling as well. I suspect we can also see a common theme there as well.
Here are the dangers of a church that focuses on something other than God. The joy of serving God is lost. Without that joy they don’t look outward only inward. Typically there are divisions within the congregation that paralyze efforts to change. The major concern is always how to keep the lights on. Encouragement of each other as believers is only superficial without Jesus taking priority in their lives. Education takes a back seat to all other activities. Essentially the congregation becomes stagnant if not stifling without God as the foremost reason for existence.
Healthy churches are always looking outward for ways to build up the flock and get the message out into the community. Regardless of success rates they keep trying because they recognize that is part of being good stewards of God’s blessings.
In our heart of hearts and before God this morning each of us needs to ask some very important questions. What truly is my primary focus in life? What truly is the primary focus of this congregation?
If the answer to either question is not our Lord, then ask yourself what do I plan to do about it?
In the name of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
