The Two Sons and the Wicked Husbandmen

Jesus’ two parables in St. Matthew 21:1-14 are directed against the Pharisees, but they teach all of us. On the two sons,  though the first was insolent and brash in saying to his father that he refused to go work for him, yet because he later repented and went, it was not counted against him. So also we know that God does not hold our sins or shames against us either, when we repent and turn to Him for grace. This also the publicans and harlots did coming to Jesus. But the Pharisees would not; thus their hypocrisy is laid bare. In the second parable, it is clear that the landowner’s fury against the wicked tenants was indeed carried out in God’s judgment against the Jews in Jerusalem in ad 70 as a result of their killing of Jesus. But let us beware, for if He did not spare even His chosen people when they refused to repent, neither will He spare us without repentance. Thus let us gladly learn  that His mercy is abounding and His forgiveness for Christ’s sake is complete, and in learning this, let us also go to work in His vineyard, each according to his station in life. Sermon for Midweek of Trinity XX.