I will probably do another post on what a religious person is but want to cover what a religious person is real quick before you get too offended too fast. A religious person in my opinion is the same as a Pharisee in the Bible. They tend to be very knit picky about God's laws. They are always looking over other peoples shoulders waiting for them to mess up and call them out. They look for reasons, even minute reasons to point and make you feel inferior. They are all about tradition, traditions of their particular denomination, traditions of their particular church. Their tradition holds as much weight as God's scripture, although they will never admit this fact, it holds true in their hearts. They bind heavy burdens that are hard for men to keep. They are uncompassionate by nature, they know what to do but will not lift a finger to actually help do it. We however are going to talk about parable that Jesus teaches to His disciples.
Preview
Jesus has just gotten done speaking to the rich young ruler. His disciples are in awe that a man as good as the rich young ruler has just walked away from Jesus. They are in shock almost, they want to know who can be saved? If not a man with credentials as this, then who? I don't know how the disciples are still this blind at this point but Jesus goes onto explain anyone who leaves all behind and follows Me will receive one hundred fold and inherit eternal life. He throws in a line right at the end though
30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
What does this verse mean though? The first will be last, and the last will be first? We shall see....
Parable of the vineyard workers ....
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle," and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’" 8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
Can we at least admit that when we read this passage of scripture there seems to be a blatant unfairness on the part of the landowner. It almost seems like trickery doesn't it. It definitely doesn't seem compatible with our natural human mind. Should we have to earn what we get, shouldn't people have to work as hard as we did? Shouldn't they have to work the same number of hours we did to receive what we got? I will be quiet honest, for the longest time I had a very religious mindset, this parable made me angry at the landowner [God] I internally thought how could He does this, the Bible says He is just but this doesn't seem to be so. This bothered me, why did it bother me, because I was religious at one time. I think we all are to a certain degree, it is our default state, it is what we naturally gravitate towards. We want to earn our salvation don't we, its easier that way at times, we know where we stand in our own mind at least, we magnify our good works and justify our sins. One of the most quoted Bible verses is Isaiah 64:6 6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; This verse is almost hard to swallow, that our best deeds on our best day is a filthy rag.
What's the point....
Is Jesus trying to teach us that we need to know all the conditions before we decide to work for someone? Is He trying to teach us that we should wait around til the end of the day so we don't have to work as long? I'm obviously being silly, God is trying to teach us about Himself. Was someone angry about what God did in this parable? These men who were hired first get paid last. These men are thinking while in line, if this guy pays an entire days wage for one hour, just think about what we will receive. Religious people always want others to have to earn what they receive from God, this infers that they do not truly understand the message of the gospel, the gospel is a gift. Can you earn a gift? No its free. If you do anything to earn it, its no longer a gift its payment for service. Religious people always get mad when God gets good, especially with people who don't deserve it. Religious people want "sinners" to have to work for it, go to church, keep the rules, wear stuffy clothes, go on mission trips, keep a spotless record.
The legality of grace....
Question? Can God do with anything He wants with what is His? Of course He can, He created all things. Imagine you painted a beautiful picture that the world was in awe of [The Mona Lisa] and after a time you decide to rip it up. Can you do that? Yes you can because it belongs to you. This may not be popular but is very legal and legitimate. Why then would we try and limit God on doing what He wants to do with what is His. This is in direct correlation with another verse that is very hard to swallow: 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
Israel’s Rejection and God’s Justice
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh,“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
God unpacks a lot in these verses,but if you want to sum it up God basically says I AM righteous and holy, I can do how I please because I am all knowing, I am the creator, I can make you into an vessel I choose. There is way too much theology to be unpack here in this blog but I will one day I hope. Could God if He so desired chose to give me anything He wanted? How about money? How about land? How about joy? In thy presence is fullness of joy. How about happiness. Happy is the man who's God is the Lord. What about forgiveness? If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. What if I don't deserve it? What about love could He give me that? God is love. What about the greatest life there is, greatest home, best friends you could ask for? What if God wants me to succeed, can He do it? What if I didn't earn it? Could God turn an average Joe without a seminary degree into the greatest preacher in the land? He sure could. Simon Peter....was He educated? Classy? Wear nice clothes? Seminary trained? Use only the KJV? Nope, the greatest miracle about the gospel is you need nothing for God to use you, all you need is to know Jesus. This trips religious people up, they want you have to go to school, act like they do, believe like they do. God gives the gifts, not one particular denomination.
The Generosity of the Landowner....
God wants to bless you. God wants to give you stuff. I know what your thinking,he is one of those prosperity guys. Well yes and no. God did promise us that if we delight ourselves in the Lord then He will give us the desires of our heart. Some people and pastors have misinterpreted this to mean that God will give you a nice house, a jet, lots of money, a ferrari, and a boat. If you genuinely delight yourself in the Lord, His desires become your desires, the desires of your heart become joy, love, relationship, helping people, kindness, discipling others. God causes you to have a new heart, surely you knew this. John 3:16....For God so loved the world that HE gave... the very nature of love is giving. Romans 8:32- “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” God will give us all things once your character begins to match His. Jesus said that we could ask for anything in His name, does this mean we can ask for a new car? No, we can ask for anything according to His character.
A similar parable....
Jesus also tells a story in Luke 15 about the prodigal son. Most of us have heard this parable. Who got mad in this parable? The older brother. He said
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
Every time I heard a pastor preach on this they emphasize a different character in the story, which is fine. I want to look at the older brother for minute. What was his attitude toward God? He looks at serving and obeying as a command ,not a joy. He gets mad that his brother gets all these gifts and lavishness even though he doesn't deserve it. Can you hear the heart of the religious person in the older brother here? I identified with the older brother in this parable for a long time, until God opened my eyes to see that I was self righteous and I was actually just as guilty as the younger brother. How can God extend to me the grace of letting me have anything that I want at anytime even though I don't deserve it but get mad that He does the same thing to others when they come back to Him. The very heart of this passage is the great desire of God to give to the undeserving, to His children. Do parents not want to give to your children? Absolutely you do, what did they do to deserve it? Nothing, they are your creation, you love them, therefore you give, without reserve. Do we deserve God's goodness, His salvation, His desire to know us? If your religious you think you do but Jesus called the Pharisees "Blind guides"
The Pharisees and Sadducees...
It sounds like I'm being really harsh on the religious minded people.... I am only trying to open blind eyes. I do not claim that I see all of God's word clearly without the power of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees were more like middle class business men who had authority in the community, they disassociated themselves from the common man. The Sadducees were the religious elite [Chief priest, high priest] and tended to be wealthy. The Pharisees and Sadducees did not get along, but found common ground on trying to get rid of Jesus. They both however loved the control they held over the common people with their laws and traditions. Many of the parables that Jesus tells offend this particular group of people. Luke 15 The Parable of the Lost Sheep, of the 100 sheep, 1 goes missing. What would Jesus do? Go look for this sheep, rejoice once He found it. What would religious people do? Say "well its their fault, they should have never gotten in that situation, they should learn to do right and straighten up" What do you know about sheep? I raised them for a year while working at OHS. They are dumb, they need help to survive, finding their way, this is God's picture of how we need him. Lost people usually don't know they are lost, did you come to God or did God come to you? Could you straighten up your own life without God's help? Luke 16: 19 tells us about the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man dressed really well, fared well money wise, he thought these made him righteous, he didn't need any held, he didn't need God. Lazarus was the complete opposite, he needed everything, the dogs licked his sores, he was ignored, he needed the crumbs that fell from the table of the rich man. Notice the rich man didn't persecute Lazarus, he didn't tax Lazarus, he just ignored him. Religious people ignore the people that God came to save. It may not be what we do, but what we leave undone. A commonly held myth among many people is "I will love them from a distance." You cannot love from a distance, love is messy. Name any relationship that you truly value, you have been through fights, disagreements, great times. Love does life with people, in their mess, in their situation.
Preview
Jesus has just gotten done speaking to the rich young ruler. His disciples are in awe that a man as good as the rich young ruler has just walked away from Jesus. They are in shock almost, they want to know who can be saved? If not a man with credentials as this, then who? I don't know how the disciples are still this blind at this point but Jesus goes onto explain anyone who leaves all behind and follows Me will receive one hundred fold and inherit eternal life. He throws in a line right at the end though
30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
What does this verse mean though? The first will be last, and the last will be first? We shall see....
Parable of the vineyard workers ....
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle," and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’" 8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ 9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. 11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
Can we at least admit that when we read this passage of scripture there seems to be a blatant unfairness on the part of the landowner. It almost seems like trickery doesn't it. It definitely doesn't seem compatible with our natural human mind. Should we have to earn what we get, shouldn't people have to work as hard as we did? Shouldn't they have to work the same number of hours we did to receive what we got? I will be quiet honest, for the longest time I had a very religious mindset, this parable made me angry at the landowner [God] I internally thought how could He does this, the Bible says He is just but this doesn't seem to be so. This bothered me, why did it bother me, because I was religious at one time. I think we all are to a certain degree, it is our default state, it is what we naturally gravitate towards. We want to earn our salvation don't we, its easier that way at times, we know where we stand in our own mind at least, we magnify our good works and justify our sins. One of the most quoted Bible verses is Isaiah 64:6 6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; This verse is almost hard to swallow, that our best deeds on our best day is a filthy rag.
What's the point....
Is Jesus trying to teach us that we need to know all the conditions before we decide to work for someone? Is He trying to teach us that we should wait around til the end of the day so we don't have to work as long? I'm obviously being silly, God is trying to teach us about Himself. Was someone angry about what God did in this parable? These men who were hired first get paid last. These men are thinking while in line, if this guy pays an entire days wage for one hour, just think about what we will receive. Religious people always want others to have to earn what they receive from God, this infers that they do not truly understand the message of the gospel, the gospel is a gift. Can you earn a gift? No its free. If you do anything to earn it, its no longer a gift its payment for service. Religious people always get mad when God gets good, especially with people who don't deserve it. Religious people want "sinners" to have to work for it, go to church, keep the rules, wear stuffy clothes, go on mission trips, keep a spotless record.
The legality of grace....
Question? Can God do with anything He wants with what is His? Of course He can, He created all things. Imagine you painted a beautiful picture that the world was in awe of [The Mona Lisa] and after a time you decide to rip it up. Can you do that? Yes you can because it belongs to you. This may not be popular but is very legal and legitimate. Why then would we try and limit God on doing what He wants to do with what is His. This is in direct correlation with another verse that is very hard to swallow: 10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”
Israel’s Rejection and God’s Justice
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh,“For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? 22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
God unpacks a lot in these verses,but if you want to sum it up God basically says I AM righteous and holy, I can do how I please because I am all knowing, I am the creator, I can make you into an vessel I choose. There is way too much theology to be unpack here in this blog but I will one day I hope. Could God if He so desired chose to give me anything He wanted? How about money? How about land? How about joy? In thy presence is fullness of joy. How about happiness. Happy is the man who's God is the Lord. What about forgiveness? If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. What if I don't deserve it? What about love could He give me that? God is love. What about the greatest life there is, greatest home, best friends you could ask for? What if God wants me to succeed, can He do it? What if I didn't earn it? Could God turn an average Joe without a seminary degree into the greatest preacher in the land? He sure could. Simon Peter....was He educated? Classy? Wear nice clothes? Seminary trained? Use only the KJV? Nope, the greatest miracle about the gospel is you need nothing for God to use you, all you need is to know Jesus. This trips religious people up, they want you have to go to school, act like they do, believe like they do. God gives the gifts, not one particular denomination.
The Generosity of the Landowner....
God wants to bless you. God wants to give you stuff. I know what your thinking,he is one of those prosperity guys. Well yes and no. God did promise us that if we delight ourselves in the Lord then He will give us the desires of our heart. Some people and pastors have misinterpreted this to mean that God will give you a nice house, a jet, lots of money, a ferrari, and a boat. If you genuinely delight yourself in the Lord, His desires become your desires, the desires of your heart become joy, love, relationship, helping people, kindness, discipling others. God causes you to have a new heart, surely you knew this. John 3:16....For God so loved the world that HE gave... the very nature of love is giving. Romans 8:32- “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” God will give us all things once your character begins to match His. Jesus said that we could ask for anything in His name, does this mean we can ask for a new car? No, we can ask for anything according to His character.
A similar parable....
Jesus also tells a story in Luke 15 about the prodigal son. Most of us have heard this parable. Who got mad in this parable? The older brother. He said
28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
Every time I heard a pastor preach on this they emphasize a different character in the story, which is fine. I want to look at the older brother for minute. What was his attitude toward God? He looks at serving and obeying as a command ,not a joy. He gets mad that his brother gets all these gifts and lavishness even though he doesn't deserve it. Can you hear the heart of the religious person in the older brother here? I identified with the older brother in this parable for a long time, until God opened my eyes to see that I was self righteous and I was actually just as guilty as the younger brother. How can God extend to me the grace of letting me have anything that I want at anytime even though I don't deserve it but get mad that He does the same thing to others when they come back to Him. The very heart of this passage is the great desire of God to give to the undeserving, to His children. Do parents not want to give to your children? Absolutely you do, what did they do to deserve it? Nothing, they are your creation, you love them, therefore you give, without reserve. Do we deserve God's goodness, His salvation, His desire to know us? If your religious you think you do but Jesus called the Pharisees "Blind guides"
The Pharisees and Sadducees...
It sounds like I'm being really harsh on the religious minded people.... I am only trying to open blind eyes. I do not claim that I see all of God's word clearly without the power of the Holy Spirit. The Pharisees were more like middle class business men who had authority in the community, they disassociated themselves from the common man. The Sadducees were the religious elite [Chief priest, high priest] and tended to be wealthy. The Pharisees and Sadducees did not get along, but found common ground on trying to get rid of Jesus. They both however loved the control they held over the common people with their laws and traditions. Many of the parables that Jesus tells offend this particular group of people. Luke 15 The Parable of the Lost Sheep, of the 100 sheep, 1 goes missing. What would Jesus do? Go look for this sheep, rejoice once He found it. What would religious people do? Say "well its their fault, they should have never gotten in that situation, they should learn to do right and straighten up" What do you know about sheep? I raised them for a year while working at OHS. They are dumb, they need help to survive, finding their way, this is God's picture of how we need him. Lost people usually don't know they are lost, did you come to God or did God come to you? Could you straighten up your own life without God's help? Luke 16: 19 tells us about the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man dressed really well, fared well money wise, he thought these made him righteous, he didn't need any held, he didn't need God. Lazarus was the complete opposite, he needed everything, the dogs licked his sores, he was ignored, he needed the crumbs that fell from the table of the rich man. Notice the rich man didn't persecute Lazarus, he didn't tax Lazarus, he just ignored him. Religious people ignore the people that God came to save. It may not be what we do, but what we leave undone. A commonly held myth among many people is "I will love them from a distance." You cannot love from a distance, love is messy. Name any relationship that you truly value, you have been through fights, disagreements, great times. Love does life with people, in their mess, in their situation.