Sermon Sept. 19-20, 2026 - Vicar Matthew Rich

Sermon - Vicar Matthew Rich

Title: Let us receive Jesus gladly!
Text: Matt. 20:1-16

Facebook live: Let us receive Jesus gladly!

13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong.
15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

Let us receive Jesus gladly! The sermon text is from Matthew chapter 20 verses 14 through 16.
Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity? So the last will be first and the first last. ESV

That's not fair!

This would seem to be a common way to react to this parable. We all expect to be paid for the time that we put in at work, but we would not expect someone to be paid the same for putting in less time for the same work. The world is full of numerous examples of this. Perhaps you and a work colleague are tasked with the same project, and you have to put in the majority of the time, but your pay is the same. Or you have a business partner who doesn't share the same skill set as you. You have been more productive but still have to split the profit. Maybe you have taken care of a loved one or friend for years, and at their passing, find out that their estate has been shared with those who never came to visit or to help with things.

Our response is sometimes like the response of the older son in the parable of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15 verses 27 through 30.

The servant was speaking to the older son...
And he said to him, your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound. But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, look, these many years I have served you and never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him. ESV

The older sons response to the celebration of his brother safely returning home and his father's forgiveness was to feel that he was being treated unfairly.
But what about the person that is giving? Are they not allowed to do what they choose with what belongs to them? Or do we begrudge their generosity? Sometimes we like to make ourselves the center of their generosity instead of giving thanks for the gift and the one giving.

God the father, in his love and mercy for his creation gave his only son for the Redemption of mankind.
In the third chapter of the Gospel of John, Jesus states,
“for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” ESV 16

Jesus spoke these words as a part of a reply to the Pharisee named Nicodemus. Nicodemus's question was "how can these things be?" in reference to being born of water in the spirit. Was Jesus really proclaiming that all who believe in him would have their sin forgiven through faith?
John writes in his gospel in the first chapter

He came to his own and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ESV 11-13
So, at what hour were you hired or brought into the vineyard? For many of us, the Lord marked and redeemed us in our baptism when we were infants. We had no interview; we were just a lost and condemned soul in need of the life-saving Gospel having our sins washed away by the water and the word.

Maybe you were older and heard the gospel proclaimed when you visited a church or were invited to Vacation Bible School. Or possibly someone you know simply shared a gospel message with you in a conversation or during a time of trouble. We had no qualifications, we certainly didn't deserve the job, we didn't deserve to be paid except for the wages of sin which we received in the fall, which is death! None of us were aware that we were being hired, but through the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus called and redeemed us.

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 3.
What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks are under sin, as it is written; “none is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks God. All have turned aside, together they have become worthless: no one does good, not even one.” ESV 9-12

But being hired or working in this Vineyard is different. The work has been done for us. We don't labor for our own salvation, Christ has paid the price for our sins. Through his life, death, and resurrection, he has atoned for the sin of the world. And by the grace of the Father through the work of the Holy Spirit has given us new life through faith in Christ Jesus.

As it says in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8-9,
for by Grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast. ESV

So we receive that which we do not deserve, the work that we are unable to do has been done for us, and the faith to believe all of this has been given to us as a gift!

Then let us receive it gladly!
How do we receive this gift?

It is through the Grace of God, trusting in Christ’s obedience to the father that he is the once and for all sacrifice for the sin of the world. And having received this gift of faith in Christ Jesus, let us rejoice with fellow Believers for the Forgiveness of sins and the eternal life that has been given to us.
Let's strengthen and build each other up in faith through the means that God himself has provided for us. Let us receive his Word through the proclamation of the Gospel. We can receive the Forgiveness of sins that is ours through his true body and blood that is received at his table. We can continue to strengthen our faith through the study of his written Word. We should continue in prayer and supplication for the entire body of Christ.

In our vocations in life, as a parent, a grandparent, child or sibling let us continue to build each other up in Christ. Daily at our jobs or in our homes, let's always be ready to share the Good News about the gift that has been given to us.

Do not look down on someone for the amount of time since they have received the gift of faith, instead let us look up and give thanks to the one who is the author of that faith.
The Apostle Paul says in Romans 15:7

Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you for the glory of God. ESV

When we have been brought into the vineyard does not matter. We are all sinners in need of forgiveness. None of us were able to save ourselves, even if we are the hardest of workers Christ chose us, so that those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God.

As Sons and Daughters of the Most High God, we should daily give thanks to our Heavenly father, that he graciously keeps us both night and day. And that the works of the Holy Spirit keep us in the work that was accomplished by Christ.

Some Christians have lifelong stories of going to church, Vacation Bible School, confirmation classes and a life full of service to Christ. Other Christians were active in their youth fell away for a while but heard the Lord's call and returned to the fold. Some like the thief on the cross next to Jesus, had never heard of or it was near the end of their life before they received that Gospel message. But thanks be to God that each has become a child of God, all of them receiving the gift of faith that brings forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.

Not all of us in the body of Christ have the same talent or gifts. Each has been given their own part in the body of Christ. The timing and use of our gifts are for God's glory. We may not understand or even be reluctant to use them, but God always knows the right time and right place.

We want to lift up our brothers and sisters in Christ to use those God-given talents and gifts to the glory of God. That encouragement could be attending a Bible study or devotional time, it could be helping to pack up a wild bunch of children on a Sunday morning and getting them to church. Maybe it's just the calm, firm commitment of being at worship service weekly. Sometimes it's the four, five, six or seven-year-olds answering the question Pastor asked in the children's message. No matter where the encouragement comes from, it is for the edification of the church.

We give thanks to God, The Giver of all good things. They are his gifts.

He gave his only son, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. That through faith in his victory over sin, death, and the devil, we might share an eternal life with him.

As we continue in the task given to each of us, let us, with the help from the Holy Spirit, keep our eyes focused on Jesus and his atonement so that all could receive the saving faith.

Jesus gave this command at the end of the Gospel of Matthew in chapter 28.
Go therefore and Make Disciples of all Nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold I am with you always, to the end of the age. ESV 19-20

There was no age restriction involved in any way, sharing or receiving! Jesus was speaking to the eleven disciples that were with him at that time, and he is speaking it to us today.

People here at Peace have been called to serve in many ways. Some have been called to serve as Elders, to assist Pastor in worship service and distributing communion. Others as teachers, educating the children at Sunday school or VBS. Many others serve by beautifying, repairing or cleaning the building , property, the Altar or other important parts of the church. And still others serve in quiet parts of the congregation, through prayer, phone calls and visiting, and so many other areas of need. Even some of the children serve as they assist the elders by collecting attendance sheets after the end of service.
Let each of us gladly use our talents and gifts to the glory of God. I see and hear much of this firsthand, as many of you have been praying for me, and have given me many words of encouragement. The Lord continues to strengthen me through these things as I prepare to serve Christ in a new way. Jesus taught us that all the law and the prophets rested on two Commandments. The first being, love your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all of your mind, and the second, love your neighbor as yourself. The law and the prophets point us to Christ through the Holy Spirit. May God continue to strengthen each of us through his Holy Spirit in faith and in service to one another.

We know through the law that we do not measure up to God's requirements, we all fall short, and at times we are the ones grumbling about the gift that we have received. Instead of focusing on God and His gift, we let the concerns of this world draw us away from Jesus. We lose focus on the forgiveness that was one for us on the cross on Calvary, that Jesus purchased us with his own blood, so that we may be his own.

So, whether we are first into the vineyard or the last one into it, we are Christ's. The amount of time does not matter. Take what belongs to you and go! I choose to give to the last worker as I give to you! Receiving this gift is the work of the Holy Spirit pointing us to Christ and his victory on the cross.
Jesus invited us into the vineyard with these words spoken in the gospel of Matthew Chapter 11,
“come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” ESV 28-30

Let us repent of our grumbling, let us love the Lord with all of our heart, soul and mind. Let us love our neighbors as ourselves.

Receive the Forgiveness that is ours through Our Risen Lord! He paid the total price for the sin of mankind, to all he has called to be his own. We can rejoice in the grace, mercy and peace that is ours through his all-sufficient sacrifice on the cross and gladly receive the gift of his salvation.
This is surely His to give!

But thanks be to God who gives us Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15:57 ESV

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