{"id":1180,"date":"2023-10-09T08:43:51","date_gmt":"2023-10-09T15:43:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/?p=1180"},"modified":"2023-10-09T08:43:51","modified_gmt":"2023-10-09T15:43:51","slug":"a-story-of-a-determined-harvester","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/?p=1180","title":{"rendered":"A Story of A Determined Harvester"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(Matthew 21:33-43)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were a camping family. They knew the outdoors. Their experience level could be considered way above average in terms of handling different types of geography, weather, and wildlife. Being outdoors was almost as natural to them as the daily routine back home, even for the kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of this explains why the parents didn\u2019t bat an eye at giving the okay when their thirteen-year old asked if he could go for a hike, even though they were camping in bear country. When he returned from his hike, everyone was pretty excited when he shared that he saw a bear on his hike, from a safe distance, of course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following day his parents again granted him permission to go on the hike, as he was excited by the possibility of seeing a bear again. This time he came back even more thrilled, because not only did he see the bear again, but it had even chased him very briefly this time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the parents were certainly a bit more apprehensive about letting him hike the same trail for a third time the next morning, not only were they were both confident in his experience ability to take care of himself, but they also reasoned that after two days in a row, the probability of a third bear encounter a was extremely low. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were understandably shaken up then, to say the least, when he stumbled back into camp with cuts and scrapes and his clothes all disheveled. Sure enough, once again he had come across the bear\u2019s path, but this time it charged at him and attacked him. He couldn’t get out his bear spray in time to deter the bear, but once he fell to the ground and played dead, eventually the bear became disinterested, left him alone, and wandered off. He was extremely fortunate to get by with only very minor injuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would you think of those parents if they were to let their son go on that same hike a fourth time (let alone the third time!)? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, as you consider your answer to that question, how does your view of those parents compare to your view of the landowner in Jesus’ parable from Matthew 21, verses 33-43? Both were knowingly putting others at risk! While the actions of the tenants in Jesus’ story are of course inexcusable, at what point does the landowner bear responsibility for knowingly putting others in harm\u2019s way by sending additional servants – and eventually even his own son! – back to the vineyard? Surely in today\u2019s world he\u2019d be looking at a lawsuit from the other servants or the families of those injured or killed! What justification could there possibly be for such action?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surely the most shocking element of Jesus’ story is the landowner’s insistence on continuing to send servants after seeing how the tenants treated the servants he sent previously! The landowner appear to be completely irresponsibly, negligent – reckless, even!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But is the “irresponsible landowner” the only view of the vineyard owner can have, or do the details of Jesus’ story possibly provide a different perspective? Consider all the measures the landowner took in the first place. He\u2019s the one who planted the vineyard on his plot of land – it belonged to him, not the tenant farmers. In order to keep the vineyard protected, he built a wall around it, complete with a watchtower to monitor everything. He even had winepress built on-site to make it as easy as possible to press the grapes into wine, so that they wouldn\u2019t first have to be transported somewhere else for that step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One could say the landowner went to great lengths to set up his vineyard to be successful. And what was the purpose behind all of it? \u201cWhen the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit\u201d (v.34).<\/em><\/strong> He simply wanted fruit. That was, after all, the goal. It\u2019s why he got into the business in the first place, so that his vineyard would bear fruit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we keep that in mind, is he so crazy after all for sending additional servants to collect what was his? He simply wanted his business effort to generate a profit. He wanted to see the results of the blood, sweat, and tears he had put into the vineyard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, if we put the best construction on the landowner\u2019s continued efforts at sending additional servants, he was giving the tenants multiple opportunities to do the right thing. Each group of servants was another chance for them to realize their mistake, change their ways, and treat the servants well while sending them back to the landowner with an abundant harvest. So not only did the landowner care about his fruit, but also the tenants tending his fruit. He wanted them to do the right thing and serve faithfully in his vineyard.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does this parable of Jesus teach us about God? God is a determined harvester. And from that truth, we can draw out two applications for today: 1) don\u2019t belittle the fruit collectors and, 2) do bear fruit.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t Belittle the Fruit Collectors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBelittle\u201d is an understatement for how the tenants treated the fruit collectors! Jesus\u2019 parable states, \u201cThe tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.\u00a0Then he sent other servants\u00a0to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way\u201d (v.35-36)<\/em><\/strong>. The tenants didn\u2019t just tell the fruit collectors to bug off or go fly a kite. They could have just refused to let them into the vineyard at all. But instead they went to the extreme in their treatment, beating, killing, and stoning them. To do so was not just an injustice against the servants who were merely acting on behalf of the landowner, but a direct assault against the landowner himself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus is clearly addressing his listening religious leaders through this story, as the parable calls out Israel\u2019s past – and present – penchant for persecuting prophets. In that regard, the Old Testament isn\u2019t just a history, it\u2019s essentially a RAP sheet listing the crimes Israel was guilty of committing against the prophets God sent to collect fruit. Again and again God\u2019s people incriminated themselves in their treatment of God\u2019s prophets. In every season of Israel\u2019s history, God patiently sent one prophet after another to speak messages of repentance and promises of comfort for those who turn back to God. And in every season of Israel\u2019s history, God\u2019s prophets were belittled, rarely listened to, but often attacked and even killed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The culmination of this was unfolding in the present during Holy Week as the prophet Jesus spoke this parable to those who would yet again fulfill it when they would murder God\u2019s only perfect prophet on Good Friday. And, in the verses immediately following this Matthew reading, Jesus’ listeners knew full well that he was accusing and convicting them. \u201cWhen the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus\u2019 parables, they knew he was talking about them.\u00a0They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet\u201d (v.45-46)<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do we realize how Jesus’ story accuses and convicts us as well? Or do we presume that since we\u2019ve never been guilty of assaulting or murdering a man of God that this cannot apply to us? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But have we belittled those God has sent to serve us with his Word? Have we despised the preaching of his Word and reception of his body and blood by tending to other cares and concerns in this world as of much greater priority? Have we ignored attempts of elders to minister to us by not even responding to their efforts to do so? Have we downplayed when the pastor cares enough to call to our attention that we’ve been noticeably absent from regular worship? Have we ignored invitations to study his Word together and deepen our faith? Assuming you are a member of a congregation, have you forgotten that you were not forced into membership in that congregation, but willingly chose to be under its spiritual care? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though we may convince ourselves otherwise, we have blood on our hands when we belittle God\u2019s efforts at sending his servants to collect fruit and minister to us. It\u2019s so easy for us to convince ourselves of how unlike those rebellious, stubborn OT Israelites we are, and that we\u2019d never stoop to their level. But are we better or worse off if we learn nothing from their example and exhibit what is the same attitude of heart toward God, but refuse to admit it?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does that kind of attitude deserve? At the close of Jesus\u2019 parable, even his enemies determined those tenants ought to get what they deserve: \u201c\u2018Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?\u2019 \u2018He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,\u2019\u00a0they replied\u2019\u201d (v.40-41a)<\/em><\/strong>. They condemned themselves! And if we confess our guilt of the same sin, then we, too, are condemned. We, too, deserve to be brought to a wretched end! There is nothing more wretched than hell and being eternally separated from God and his love – and we\u2019d have no one to blame but ourselves because we admit that\u2019s the sentence that such actions deserve!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there is more to Jesus’ story. As with other parables, there is a son. The landowner finally sent his own son, thinking his own flesh and blood would surely be respected. Instead he was rejected. Instead he was murdered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That, thankfully, was by God\u2019s design. Yes, someone had to get what those wicked tenants – what we – deserve! But the one paying that price was not at all the one who deserved it. The Son, Jesus, died for the tenants. They thought they\u2019d kill him and get the inheritance, but the truth is, Jesus came to die to give them an even greater inheritance: heaven. The Son died to satisfy the Lord\u2019s wrath against rebellious sinners. The Son died to satisfy the Lord\u2019s wrath against you and me.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So we will never bear it. We will never feel it. We will never experience what it\u2019s like for wretches to be brought to a wretched end, even though it\u2019s the wretched end our own actions deserve. Jesus did that for us. And what does he need from us in return?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do Bear Fruit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, he doesn\u2019t need <\/em>anything, but we can\u2019t but help give <\/em>him everything. Our firstfruits. Our best. The harvest he longs to have from those that he took such care to bring into his vineyard. We have no fear of repercussion for our sin, as our punishment has already been carried out. Now we are free to bear fruit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And oh, there are so many ways for us to bear fruit, aren\u2019t there? So many ways for us to express the depth of gratitude that God hasn\u2019t cast us out of his vineyard, his kingdom, but lovingly keeps and protects and serves us here. Think of the fruit we can bear individually and together! Think of how God uses that fruit to invest back into his kingdom and build it up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than simply listing all the different ways we can bear fruit, let us consider how we can participate in one particular way: mission work. God bears so much fruit in and through us as we carry out his mission to make the good news about Jesus known everywhere. He does that through us individually and as we work together as Christians to carry this out (here’s an awesome example!<\/a>). Your prayers will bear fruit in mission work. Your offerings will bear fruit in mission work. Your lips will bear fruit in mission work, as you tell others about Jesus, or consider full-time ministry to lead and equip others to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However you can, in as many was as you can, bear fruit! God will take our fruit and build and bless his vineyard, his kingdom, through it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Matthew 21:33-43) They were a camping family. They knew the outdoors. Their experience level could be considered way above average in terms of handling different types of geography, weather, and wildlife. Being outdoors was almost as natural to them as the daily routine back home, even for the kids. All of this explains why the… Continue reading A Story of A Determined Harvester<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[305,65],"tags":[308,5,66,109,36,306,108,307],"class_list":["post-1180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tell-us-a-story-series","category-sermons","tag-fruit","tag-jesus","tag-parable","tag-preaching","tag-sermon","tag-story","tag-teaching","tag-vineyard"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p842FN-j2","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1180"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1180\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1181,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1180\/revisions\/1181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}