Don't take God's grace for granted

Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | July 22, 2023 | Matthew 21:33-39

KEY VERSE:

When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. Matthew. 21:34-35 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

First, let’s look at the people involved in this parable. We have Jesus who is speaking and the chief priests and the Pharisees, about whom Jesus is speaking. We have the landowner, who is clearly meant to be God the Father and the tenant farmers, who are most likely the religious leaders to whom Jesus was speaking. We have the servants that were sent to the farmers, who are the messengers of God, most likely the prophets of God. Finally, we have the son, who is Jesus. Putting the pieces together we can see that Jesus tells this parable to communicate that God has graciously and patiently been calling the religious leaders of Israel to accept His way. He’s called them to work according to His plan and will to thrive in the kingdom of God, yet they continue to reject His way.

The religious leaders rejected God’s way delivered through the prophets, through John the Baptizer, and they rejected His Son Jesus, whom they put to death. Just like the tenant farmers in the parable, they rejected God’s grace and way. The landowner equipped the vineyard with everything necessary for fruitfulness and then entrusted it to the tenants while he went on a journey. The parable portrays the blessings and opportunities God has graciously provided to the people to prepare people for the kingdom of God. However, they became greedy and selfish instead of faithfully yielding the fruits. They mistreated the landowner's servants, rejected their rightful authority, and even killed them. Eventually, they went so far as to kill the landowner's son in an attempt to seize his inheritance.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE

This parable serves as a stern warning against taking God's grace for granted. God has blessed us abundantly, granting us life, talents, resources, and opportunities. Just like the tenants in the parable, we are entrusted with these blessings to bear the fruit necessary for the Kingdom of God. It is a reminder that God's grace is not a license for complacency or wickedness but a call to stewardship and faithfulness. It calls us to be faithful stewards of the blessings and opportunities He has graciously given us. Let us not fall into the trap of selfishness and sheer rebellion, for everything we are and have, has been entrusted to us to seek God and His kingdom.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I am grateful for the immeasurable grace you have poured upon my life. You have blessed me beyond measure with love, forgiveness, and countless opportunities to serve you. Grant us the wisdom to cherish Your grace, and to respond with gratitude and wholehearted devotion. May we never forget the price you paid for our redemption through the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name, we humbly pray. Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!