May This Never Be I

May This Never Be

[The introduction was changed based on current events that were in the newspaper. This change was not made in the text.]

I. That we despise God’s Word (vv9-12)

9 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

This parable has a very clear message, in fact... it is so clear that even the unbelievers understood it’s meaning. God is the Creator of all things. He created the earth, all the plants and animals, and all the people. He created you and me. In the parable, God is the creator and owner of the vineyard. The purpose of the vineyard is to bear fruit. The owner wants some of the harvest from the vineyard. It is his vineyard and he would like some fruit. A servant is sent to collect some of the harvest, yet the servant is not welcome. The servant is beaten and sent away.

It is easy for us to sit back and say that God deserves a portion of the fruit since it is His vineyard. But are you any different? Are you holding back from giving God the first of your fruits. The Old Testament called for a 10% tithe. Malachi 3:10 states: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts. Some of you may give 10% of your income to the church, but if it is given with a grumpy attitude... this is not what God wants. He wants you to give with a joyful heart. Scripture states: Eph. 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” Jesus gave us His life, by you want to hold back. Returning to God what he has given you is serious. We are to give with a joyful heart and without stipulations. In the parable, God sends not one servant, nor two servants, but three servants. He brings a message to the people and they reject His message. They beat up the servants and send them back empty handed. These three servants represent three Old Testament prophets. God delivered His word to the people through prophets, yet they either killed them or ran them out of town. Are you rejecting God’s Word? May this never be!

II. That we reject God’s love (vv.13-15)

Three servants have been rejected, so the owner of the vineyard sends his own son. Scripture states:

“Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’ “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “May this never be!”

If you were the owner of the vineyard, would you send your son to collect a portion of the harvest if the previous three servants had been beaten and sent back empty handed? It depends on how BIG your son is, but in the parable the father sends his son, the heir of the vineyard. Instead of beating him, they kill him. They kill the heir! Where is the love? Do you reject the love of God? Every time you commit a sin, you are killing the son! As I said before, the three servants are three Old Testament prophets. The son in the parable is none other than Jesus. The love of the prophets was rejected and the love of the Son was rejected. Will the owner of the vineyard stand by and say “oh, that’s ok, you were just having a bad hair day!” Certainly Not! Will God sit back and do nothing when they nailed His Son to the cross. Certainly Not. He loved you so much that He sent His son, knowing that He would die on the cross for the forgiveness of your sins. You cry out “May this Never Be!” The love God has for you is enormous, do not reject the Son’s love for you.

III. That we are crushed by God’s judgment (vv. 17, 18)

We cry out that “May it Never Be” that we are crushed by God’s judgment. Scripture states:
Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:” ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

What does it mean that the “stone the builders rejected has become the capstone”? Well a capstone or corner stone is a large square stone that is the first stone laid when constructing a building in ancient times. It was usually perfectly squared and the other stones were lined up according to the cut of the corner stone. If the cornerstone was faulty, then the building’s structure would be faulty, but if the corner stone was cut true and square, then the whole building structure was solid. Think of it this way, when you are laying tile on a floor, the most important tile you lay down is the first tile. Great care must be taken so it is lined up straight and true to the building or all the tiles will appear crooked. That first tile determines how all the others will be perceived. If you want a professional looking floor with straight tiles, the first tile must be straight. Jesus is that first tile. Jesus is the cornerstone. The builders, that is the people of Israel, thought they had a bad first tile when in fact, it was perfect. They rejected the right cornerstone when they rejected Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
The parable talks about the vineyard being taken away from the tenants and given to others. You are the others! The others are the gentiles. The kingdom has been given to those who did not reject Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, He is the cornerstone. This is a reference to Psalm 118:
The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.

This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Those who reject Jesus Christ as the Messiah will be called to Judgment. Those who have not rejected Jesus Christ,... they have already been judged as “NOT GUILTY”. To reject or discard is to do away with something that fails to meet the test. Jesus told his disciples that he was going to be betrayed, turned over to the religious leaders, crucified until death, and that he would rise on the third day. Well, the third day came and Jesus passed the test! He rose from the day showing us that He is the Messiah. This Jesus that was rejected by God’s chosen people really is the Son of God. May it Never Be that you reject Jesus Christ and the love He has for you. May it Never Be! To those of you who reject Jesus Christ, your foundation will come crushing down on you on judgment day. To those of you who do not reject Jesus Christ, but trust in His perfect life, His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead... for those who trust Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, the vineyard is yours.

I pray that May it Never Be that you reject the Word of God like the tenants who refused the messengers. It is important to stay in the Word of God. Surround yourself in the Word and trust the saving power of the Word. I pray that May it Never Be that you reject the love of God. He truly loves you and He sent His only begotten Son to die for you. Your love for Jesus only comes about when you understand how much he loves you. And I pray that May It Never Be that you are crushed by God’s judgment. Avoiding such judgment comes by staying in the Word. It is this very Word that came to you in your Baptism. It is the very Word that is heard today in this service. It is a joy to know that you have a God that really loves you and cares for you. He is the one that has done everything necessary for you to have eternal life. Salvation is yours! Amen