Parables about the
March 18 Sermon on
Luke 15:11-32, Matthew 25:1-13
Immediately following this is a
Second related sermon on another
parable, and
“Law and Gospel”
This week we’ll be studying four of the parables of Jesus – two today
and two on Wednesday. It may be the most
enjoyable and instructive part of our Lenten Bible study.
Some one wrote that a parable is like a Trojan Horse.
It looks harmless, you let it in and then - Bam! It’s got you.
Because a parable begins with a story – a man had two sons – it seems
innocuous but engaging. Jesus draws us
into the story about them – and suddenly, at the end, we realize he’s really
talking about us.
Usually there is not a single meaning to the parable. You may hear one message, and I another – and
we’re both right. That’s the beauty of a
parable. The Spirit can use it to speak
to you.
All four parables have something to do with getting into heaven. When you reach my age, that topic has
increasing interest. But even if you’re
not concerned about that, the parables teach us about the Lord and His
expectations for us.
Today I’ll begin with a familiar parable that isn’t from the last week
in Jesus’ life, because it provides an insight for understanding the other
three.
In the parable about the father with two sons, the young son had
wandered off to do his own thing – seek only his own pleasure.
Sin is always self-destructive, and so those pleasures lead to
misery. So reduced to poverty, living
with the pigs, he comes to his senses, and starts back to his father’s house.
When he got there, he said 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and
before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
But the
father said Young man you’re
grounded!
I might have said something like that – You’ll have to earn your way
back into this family. Prove that you’re
responsible and then we’ll restore your privileges.
But this is no earthly father, for Jesus is revealing the heavenly
Father’s love and grace.
Actually, the son barely gets a chance to repent – hardly get the words
out of his mouth – before the father runs up to him and hugs him.
Instead of punishing him, this father puts find clothes on him – some
new shoes – and tells the servants to prepare a great meal.
When the older brother returns, he hears the sounds of a celebration –
music and dancing.
But this parable is not about
earthly fathers and the celebration is a metaphor for the kingdom of
heaven.
Doesn’t Jesus make the kingdom of heaven sound like fun?
God, even now, is coming to you with His amazing grace. He hugs you, says “I love you – forgive you”
– and invites you to the great celebration.
The message “Repent before you wind up in the pigsty.”
I doubt that most of you today can really identify with that guy in the
pigsty. And he’s not really the main
character. The point of the parable is
always at its conclusion, so let’s read the other son.
Who was really sad when that prodigal son
returned? The fatted
calf.
When the elder son hears that his no-good brother has returned home,
and that his father is having a feast in his honor, he refused to go in. The
father comes out to plead with him to welcome his wayward brother and celebrate
together.
Listen for the anger and resentment - even jealousy in the older son’s
reply.
“For all these years I have been working like a slave
for you - never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me a
celebration with my friends. But when this son of yours came back...
You’re not being fair. Don’t those who work hard and do good deeds
–even sacrifice – have rights? Don’t
they deserve more! That sounds like a legitimate complaint, at least by human
thinking.
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In the elder brother we see the shadow side of morality – the tendency
to establish one’s own goodness and rightness at the expense of others. Somehow that’s human nature – a particular
sin for those who walk in God’s way – to look down on others who seem less
spiritual - To note the obvious sins of others - and even to judge. The Lord couldn’t possibly use someone like
that working for Him.
Is the elder son lost in his own way?
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The other parable I want to cover is the one about the Ten
Bridesmaids. Perhaps you’ll remember the
story. The bridesmaids are waiting with
their oil lamps for the groom and the wedding group to come so they can greet
them. Then, they’ll escort them inside
and begin the marriage feast – the wedding reception.
Back then a wedding reception was a big deal – fine food and drink,
music and dancing – a lot of fun and something to look forward to. But as you read the parable it becomes clear
this isn’t about a celebration here on earth – and not really about a wedding,
for the groom is really the Lord Christ himself – and thus the wedding feast is
an image for heaven.
These 10 bridesmaids had been given an assignment - but 5 were wise and
5 were foolish. The wise were prepared
to do their job when he came - even if he were late at an unexpected time. Just keep your lamps burning.
The foolish were not prepared - their lamps were running out of oil and
burning dimly - going out. The groom
came when they didn’t expect it - and they let him down - and thus didn’t get
into the wedding celebration.
The parable is another warning: remain faithful, serve the Lord, and
always be prepared to stand before the Lord.
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Perhaps Jesus was looking at that mixed group of disciples before him
that day – and also envisioning his future followers. And he’s worried.
Some are zealous, committed, and others are lax or foolish. The committed know there will be a day of
reckoning and are striving to be prepared.
The lax are spending recklessly against their moral credit, thinking
that judgment is a long way off. They
presume God’s grace and would test his patience.
So His parables address the insiders - those who call Him Lord.
First, two sons of the father - members of the family
of God.
Then ten bridesmaids - friends of the groom, Christ,
who have assignments from Him.
But some, like the prodigal son, will wander away to satisfy their own
selfish desires. He invites them to
repent - come back - for God waits for them with love and mercy.
Perhaps some who never left the way and remained faithful will be
offended that the Lord treats these sinners the same as them. They won’t want to accept them as equal partners
in the fellowship.
Are you jealous because I am generous? asks the Lord.
Die to the idea that you’ve earned a special relationship with the Lord
– but rather understand that all are lost without God’s grace.
Then a contrast. Ten accepted their assignment
from the Lord. But only five were really
prepared and followed through.
The foolish let him down. The
Lord will accept no excuses, and door will be closed to them.
What to do?
Remember the prodigal - God’s grace and mercy awaits you if you will
repent.
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The parable of the prodigal son is the key to understanding the other
parables we’re studying.
For Jesus will point out different ways in which we
could fall short, so everyone in some way needs to repent.
Repent isn’t something you do only once.
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The Christian life is one of repentance - of constantly turning away
from our selfish desire - turning away from temptations - turning away from
anything that would pull us off God’s path.
The Christian life is one of repentance - of continually turning toward
the Lord - of again taking up his way - deny self, take up the cross and
follow.
The Christian life is one of repentance - of relying solely on God’s
grace and mercy - of trusting His love for you no matter what.
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When Jesus speaks of being ready for the kingdom – he’s not only
talking about heaven – but also about a transformation in our lives right
now. A foretaste of
the kingdom now in your life.
In His teaching about the kingdom, it seems that Jesus would stretch
our minds. On the one hand, the kingdom
is a future consummation of God’s purposes – literally the kingdom of
heaven. But on the other hand, in
Christ’s preaching, the
We can begin to experience the life in God’s kingdom now – even though
its fullness is only in the future.
There is an urgency about the present
moment. An opportunity here and now -
The opportunity of the kingdom – friendship with God – a life lived in accord
with divine purpose – that begins now.
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A Sermon on the parable of the sheep
and the goats Matthew
25:31-46
Explained using the Lutheran idea of
the tension between
Law and Gospel
My
plan was to cover two parables tonight, but I’ll postpone the parable of the
talents until Sunday. Tonight I’ll look
at Jesus’ final parable: The separation
of the sheep and the goats at the Last Judgment.
The
sheep - the righteous - are surprised when the Lord praises them, hailing them
as “Blessed of my Father”. They ask “'Lord, when
was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food? And when was it that we saw you
a stranger and welcomed you…
On the
other hand, the goats are shocked when the Lord says “Depart from
me into the eternal fire; for I was hungry and thirsty, and you gave me
nothing, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me…
At
first glance, it seems like we’ve gotten to key questions on the final
exam: Did you personally give food and
drink and clothing to the poor and needy?
Did you welcome the strangers and visit the sick and so on?
If
you didn’t, you’re out.
Do
I have to do all those good things to get to heaven?
Am
I saved by grace through faith?
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The
answer is yes to both - saved by grace and you should do good stuff.
In
Lutheran theology that paradox is expressed in the phrase Law and Gospel.
Theology
reminds me of
So
by “law” in this discussion, I don’t just mean God’s law, as in the Ten
Commandments or the laws of the book of Leviticus. I also include as law any verse of the Bible
says you should or shall, ought to or have to.
So law includes statements of Jesus like Love one another as I have served, or If you do not forgive others, then the heavenly Father will not forgive
you. In the Last Week of Jesus’
Life, you’ve heard a lot of law - demanding sayings of Jesus.
I’ll
also redefine gospel. In this case I’m
not referring to a book, like the gospel of Matthew - because it includes both
sayings of law and of gospel. Gospel in
this sense means the promises of God to you - promises that are unconditional
and are true without any merit on your part.
They’re good news - the literal meaning of the word gospel. Good news because they are more than you
should expect or deserve.
The
heart of the gospel is that, as Paul says, Christ died for your sins, and was
raised for your justification. So the
end of the last week in Jesus’ life is all about the gospel – Jesus died for
you - just as in contrast, the teachings in the first part of the week were
largely law. The word “gospel” covers
all the promises of God to you, whether they’re from the Old Testament or New.
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The
point of the Law and Gospel discussion, is that
proclamation - teaching and preaching - should include both the Law and the
gospel - both the demands God places upon us and also the promise of grace he
makes to you.
If
I spoke only of the law - the demands - it could be discouraging: I can never
do all that. Or it could lead to
legalism. We’ll edit and redefine God’s
law into something more reasonable that we have a chance of keeping. And we’ll assume God grades on a curve.
So
if I‘m more law abiding that you, then I’m OK.
I’ll show everyone how good I am at keeping God’s law, while pointing
out how others fall short. Then since
I’m better than others, I’ll get to heaven.
But
then I’m guilty of spiritual pride and of judging others. I’ve misled myself by using the wrong
standard – mine rather than God’s. Thus
I’ve missed the point of the law – and of grace.
The
proper function of the Law is show me my need for Christ and His help - to
bring me to the gospel and God’s promises -- to show me that I can only be
saved by God’s amazing grace – grace alone.
I can’t do it on my own and need to put my faith in Christ – and Christ
alone.
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But
that does not negate the demands of the law.
Rather it helps me in following its demands.
First,
I come to realize that those demands are good - they are the way to the
abundant life Jesus promises.
Second,
I believe his promise that He will empower me with his Spirit - He will help me
meet its demands, so I can enjoy a better life.
Third,
because of His promise, when I fail in meeting its demands, I can simply admit
it, pick myself up and try again.
In
short, the gospel promises to empower me to keep striving to meet the law’s
demands. Which is why
I concluded on Sunday, the Christian life
is one of repentance. We keep
recognizing our mistakes and failures - then we turn away from them and turn
back to the Lord’s way. We may even learn
from our mistakes - learn to rely more and more on the Lord - on His guidance
and power.
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Now
let’s apply that to the parable.
If
you are saved by grace through faith, you will want to do those things
mentioned in the parable because you are striving to follow Jesus. So you’ll keep trying. If you stick with the program, at least some
of those things will begin to come naturally, because your attitudes are
becoming more like Christ’s.
So
in the parable, the sheep are surprised when they are commended by Jesus. When Lord did we see you hungry – or stranger
– or sick?
They
weren’t doing those good things in order to be saved - or even because they
expected a reward. They were in the
habit of doing those things because they were followers of Jesus - and they
were guided - and empowered by His Spirit – and they’re surprised that Jesus
remembers their deeds.
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Because
they were saved by grace, their faith was active in love - in works of charity.
Faith
is more than a set of beliefs.
Faith
is also trust in God, which is actively expressed by trusting that his way is
the right way for my life.
So
in that sense faith without good works is inactive - dead.
In
Lutheran writings of the reformation era, the discussion of salvation by grace
through faith is always immediately followed by one on how authentic faith will
lead to doing good works. They’re not a
requirement for heaven, but rather a consequence of leading the Christian life.
Salvation
isn’t only in the future, but is to begin now.
Saved by grace means beginning to overcome the old selfish life and
taking up the new Christ-like life.
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In
the last Week of His Life, Jesus made a lot of demands, like those in the
parable we studied – feed hungry, visit the sick, welcome
the stranger.
Through
His word, Christ keeps confronting me with His law, as guide to keep me on the
right path. Those reminders should
prevent me from being complacent or thinking I can make my life work out
without His guidance and help.
So
I should turn to His promises – the gospel – and rely on His grace and
power. Thus Christ is continuously
working to transform me into a faithful disciple – one for whom acts of charity
come naturally. So
that on the last day, with the other sheep, I’ll be surprised when the Lord
reminds me of spontaneous deeds of love that I’ve forgotten. But He remembers and will say:
Well done, good a faithful
servant, enter into the joy of your Lord and master.