Reflections on Scripture with Dr. Leins
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:00 | the darkness |
| 0:07 | [Music] |
| 0:14 | hello |
| 0:15 | today |
| 0:17 | let’s talk about Looking Through The |
| 0:20 | Eyes Of God |
| 0:22 | our scripture is from the gospel of |
| 0:24 | Matthew the 20th chapter verses 1 |
| 0:27 | through 15 this is the parable of the |
| 0:30 | workers in the vineyard |
| 0:32 | but before we look at the words of Jesus |
| 0:36 | I want to tell you another Parable it |
| 0:38 | too is about workers in the vineyard but |
| 0:41 | it was not told by Jesus and it does not |
| 0:44 | teach about God’s grace |
| 0:47 | this other Parable was told by Rabbi Za |
| 0:50 | IRA |
| 0:52 | it was recorded in the Jerusalem talmud |
| 0:54 | a document that originated in Galilee |
| 0:57 | and was written in Palestinian Aramaic |
| 1:00 | that is it comes from the same place |
| 1:02 | Jesus lived and is written in the same |
| 1:04 | language that Jesus spoke |
| 1:06 | it’s a commentary on the mishnah that is |
| 1:09 | rabbinic oral tradition and for that |
| 1:11 | reason we don’t know exactly how old the |
| 1:13 | parable is it may have been told before |
| 1:15 | or after the parable of Jesus we just |
| 1:19 | don’t know so here is the rabbinic |
| 1:22 | parable |
| 1:24 | a king hired a great number of number of |
| 1:27 | laborers and he put them to work after |
| 1:30 | only two hours the king inspected the |
| 1:32 | laborers |
| 1:33 | he saw that one of them surpassed all |
| 1:35 | the others with his skill and Industry |
| 1:38 | so the king took him by the hand and |
| 1:41 | walked with him throughout his lands |
| 1:43 | until the end of the day when all the |
| 1:45 | laborers were gathered to receive their |
| 1:47 | wages |
| 1:48 | every one of them received the same |
| 1:50 | amount including the servant chosen by |
| 1:53 | the king |
| 1:54 | the other laborers grumbled saying we’ve |
| 1:58 | worked the whole day and this man has |
| 1:59 | worked only two hours yet he has been |
| 2:02 | paid a full day’s wage |
| 2:04 | the king replied I’ve done you no wrong |
| 2:07 | this laborer has done more in two hours |
| 2:10 | than you’ve done during your whole day |
| 2:14 | what is the point of this parable |
| 2:17 | Rabbi zayira wants his readers to |
| 2:20 | understand that the industrious and |
| 2:23 | skilled worker was praised and received |
| 2:25 | special treatment because he was a |
| 2:27 | better worker it’s that simple the |
| 2:30 | Pharisees teach the hard-working servant |
| 2:33 | like a Pharisee knows and keeps God’s |
| 2:36 | law and therefore receives God’s reward |
| 2:39 | so if you work hard if you keep all of |
| 2:42 | The Commandments all of God’s laws God |
| 2:45 | will give you a reward |
| 2:47 | that is the rabbinic teaching |
| 2:50 | now |
| 2:52 | in Matthew chapter 20 Jesus tells what |
| 2:56 | appears to be a similar parable |
| 2:58 | but his story has a very different |
| 3:00 | ending and exactly the opposite meaning |
| 3:04 | for Jesus the bonus is not given to the |
| 3:07 | best worker but instead is given to the |
| 3:10 | underprivileged and the unemployed |
| 3:12 | workers even if they come at the last |
| 3:14 | hours of the day all are given God’s |
| 3:17 | reward |
| 3:18 | the owner is happy to receive the weak |
| 3:21 | the poor the neglected and even those |
| 3:24 | considered worthless |
| 3:26 | everyone is welcome in the Lord’s |
| 3:29 | Vineyard |
| 3:30 | why because their actions are without |
| 3:33 | fault and they are exemplary workers no |
| 3:36 | absolutely not |
| 3:38 | they are welcome because of the vineyard |
| 3:41 | owner God himself |
| 3:44 | he is good and generous and gracious |
| 3:48 | the Pharisees were not ready for this |
| 3:50 | view of God it was hard for them to give |
| 3:53 | up their places of political status and |
| 3:57 | spiritual superiority |
| 3:59 | they rejected Jesus who taught about a |
| 4:02 | heavenly father who valued and cherished |
| 4:05 | the lowly and yes the sinful |
| 4:09 | point one |
| 4:11 | stinking thinking |
| 4:13 | in the the book The Brothers karamazov |
| 4:18 | Dostoyevsky has a chapter titled the |
| 4:21 | onion |
| 4:22 | Dostoyevsky tells the story of a wicked |
| 4:24 | old woman who is suffering in the fires |
| 4:27 | of hell she cries out to God to have |
| 4:29 | mercy upon her and he does God says if |
| 4:33 | you can think of one good deed that |
| 4:34 | you’ve ever done I will help you and the |
| 4:37 | old woman racked her brain and finally |
| 4:39 | she declared that once she gave a |
| 4:42 | neighbor an onion |
| 4:44 | God then gave her an onion she grabbed |
| 4:47 | hold of the stem and God began to pull |
| 4:50 | her out of the fire |
| 4:52 | but others saw her and began to hold on |
| 4:54 | to her skirts and her legs so that they |
| 4:57 | too might be pulled out The Onion stem |
| 4:59 | would have held them all but the old |
| 5:03 | woman kicked and hit them so that they |
| 5:05 | would fall back into the fire in fact |
| 5:07 | she jostled so much that the stem of the |
| 5:10 | onion broke and they all fell back into |
| 5:13 | hell |
| 5:15 | dostoyevsky’s point is that her undoing |
| 5:17 | was that she did Evil |
| 5:20 | she did not want anyone else to be saved |
| 5:23 | Jesus |
| 5:24 | would have told the parable differently |
| 5:26 | I think |
| 5:27 | though he might have agreed that the |
| 5:28 | Pharisees were Wicked if they didn’t |
| 5:30 | want anyone else to be saved but |
| 5:31 | themselves |
| 5:33 | Jesus might have told the parable like |
| 5:35 | this |
| 5:37 | all Sinners were condemned to Hell |
| 5:39 | including a wicked old woman |
| 5:42 | but God |
| 5:44 | sent the son of man to be with them |
| 5:47 | God offered the son of man an onion he |
| 5:51 | took it and held it tightly God began to |
| 5:53 | pull him up out of the fire and the son |
| 5:56 | of man called to all the people climb up |
| 5:58 | on me and reach safety one by one the |
| 6:02 | son of man was their passage from Hell |
| 6:04 | into heaven and finally as the wicked |
| 6:07 | old woman ascended into heaven |
| 6:10 | the stem of the onion broke and it was |
| 6:13 | the son of man who fell into hell he had |
| 6:17 | saved them all |
| 6:18 | at the cost of his own life |
| 6:21 | you see the difference |
| 6:23 | Dostoyevsky and the Pharisees thought |
| 6:25 | that the issue for God and for entering |
| 6:27 | the kingdom |
| 6:28 | was how good or evil their lives had |
| 6:31 | been |
| 6:32 | did they deserve heaven |
| 6:34 | was the woman hateful in her actions |
| 6:36 | were the Pharisees perfect in keeping |
| 6:38 | the law |
| 6:39 | and as for you do you deserve to be in |
| 6:43 | heaven that my friend is stinking |
| 6:47 | thinking |
| 6:48 | Jesus teaches that the Judgment of God |
| 6:51 | and the passage for entering into his |
| 6:54 | kingdom is not about what you deserve or |
| 6:57 | what you have done |
| 6:59 | it is instead what Jesus has done for |
| 7:02 | you |
| 7:03 | and because of your faith in him |
| 7:07 | the truth is that no one can perfectly |
| 7:09 | love and trust God and no one can |
| 7:12 | perfectly love and care for his or her |
| 7:14 | neighbor |
| 7:16 | we all sin in our thoughts and words and |
| 7:19 | deeds even though we walk in faith we |
| 7:21 | still sin and deserve God’s punishment |
| 7:25 | the Pharisees thought that they were |
| 7:27 | perfect and righteous |
| 7:29 | they were not |
| 7:31 | so they trusted in themselves |
| 7:34 | but Jesus teaches us to trust in him |
| 7:37 | Christ Alone is our righteousness |
| 7:42 | 0.2 anger because others are blessed |
| 7:47 | in the parable that Jesus told the |
| 7:49 | workers were angry when others got the |
| 7:51 | same payment that they received they |
| 7:54 | were jealous that others also received |
| 7:56 | God’s grace and mercy |
| 7:58 | Jesus was talking about the king and the |
| 8:00 | kingdom of God in God’s heaven no one |
| 8:04 | deserves what he or she receives and |
| 8:07 | everyone receives more than they are due |
| 8:11 | in the kingdom of God the worst receive |
| 8:14 | more than the best deserve |
| 8:17 | the weakest and most sinful receive as |
| 8:19 | much as the greatest because all deserve |
| 8:22 | punishment and condemnation but each and |
| 8:25 | every one who believes in Jesus Christ |
| 8:27 | receives the full inheritance of the |
| 8:30 | king and of his kingdom |
| 8:33 | the Pharisees were angry because Sinners |
| 8:36 | and tax collectors received God’s mercy |
| 8:39 | and Grace |
| 8:40 | Jesus taught that all receive salvation |
| 8:44 | by grace through faith |
| 8:46 | so I ask |
| 8:48 | are you angry |
| 8:50 | because someone else perhaps someone who |
| 8:52 | hurt you or wronged you |
| 8:54 | may go to heaven too |
| 8:58 | are you any less a sinner than he or she |
| 9:02 | really |
| 9:03 | are you comparing yourself to him or are |
| 9:06 | you comparing yourself to Jesus Christ |
| 9:09 | when we compare ourselves to our Savior |
| 9:11 | that changes everything |
| 9:15 | and oh isn’t it sad that the workers in |
| 9:18 | the parable had jealousy and not Joy you |
| 9:22 | see the all-day workers in the parable |
| 9:24 | have the privilege of working in the |
| 9:25 | vineyard of the Lord for the longest |
| 9:28 | time |
| 9:29 | others might only have had that blessing |
| 9:33 | for a few hours or for the last few |
| 9:34 | minutes of their lives |
| 9:37 | how long were they filled with sorrow |
| 9:39 | and suffering or loss and loneliness |
| 9:42 | without the king and his kingdom |
| 9:44 | so why did the all-day workers not |
| 9:46 | rejoice when their brothers and sisters |
| 9:48 | who were chosen last finally entered |
| 9:51 | into the vineyard |
| 9:53 | this too was stinking thinking to be |
| 9:56 | jealous when others are blessed |
| 10:01 | 0.3 Looking Through The Eyes Of God |
| 10:05 | in the parable of the workers in the |
| 10:07 | vineyard Jesus teaches that God has |
| 10:10 | opened wide the Gates of Heaven |
| 10:13 | Heaven is open to you no matter how long |
| 10:16 | or short you have worked in the vineyard |
| 10:18 | no matter how good or evil your life has |
| 10:21 | been you are invited into God’s kingdom |
| 10:25 | by the mercy and merits of Jesus Christ |
| 10:28 | It Is by faith alone in him that you are |
| 10:31 | saved |
| 10:32 | you may have harbored unforgiveness |
| 10:34 | against someone who has treated you |
| 10:36 | unjustly you may have thought that he or |
| 10:39 | she should never be invited into God’s |
| 10:41 | Vineyard and that God can surely never |
| 10:43 | forgive him or her |
| 10:46 | but |
| 10:47 | the Judgment of God against all humanity |
| 10:50 | is equal |
| 10:52 | all have sinned and fallen short of the |
| 10:55 | glory of God so if your offender also |
| 10:59 | receives the mercy of Christ |
| 11:01 | do not be resentful |
| 11:04 | are you saying that somehow you had |
| 11:05 | earned your place in the vineyard and |
| 11:07 | they did not know |
| 11:10 | you did not earn your place and neither |
| 11:13 | has he or she |
| 11:15 | all are guilty |
| 11:17 | but are Redeemed by grace |
| 11:20 | through faith in Jesus alone |
| 11:24 | beloved this Parable is a look Through |
| 11:26 | The Eyes Of God no one can earn what God |
| 11:30 | has so freely given |
| 11:32 | but no one of us has given God a true |
| 11:35 | and full day’s work not one except the |
| 11:39 | Son of God his day’s work was done while |
| 11:43 | nailed to a cross |
| 11:45 | it was done on your behalf the wages for |
| 11:48 | his work is your complete forgiveness of |
| 11:51 | sins and your eternal life in his |
| 11:53 | kingdom |
| 11:54 | why was this done for you |
| 11:57 | because God sees You Through The Eyes Of |
| 12:00 | God the eyes of his mercy and love |
| 12:05 | conclusion |
| 12:07 | too short to save |
| 12:10 | a story is told of a man who spent his |
| 12:13 | whole life collecting string |
| 12:15 | when he died his children found every |
| 12:17 | room in his house filled with all kinds |
| 12:20 | of string |
| 12:21 | thick mooring cable and thin thread |
| 12:25 | yellow and brown twine synthetic and |
| 12:28 | natural rope |
| 12:30 | there were shoestrings and Tennis |
| 12:32 | strings pull strings and musical strings |
| 12:35 | nylon strings and gut strings bow |
| 12:37 | strings and steel cord strings |
| 12:41 | they even found a small tin container |
| 12:43 | labeled strings too short to save |
| 12:48 | the box was filled |
| 12:51 | with strings too short |
| 12:54 | but were saved nonetheless |
| 12:57 | God is in the business of saving too God |
| 13:01 | Saves all kinds of people |
| 13:04 | he even saves those who are too short |
| 13:07 | Luke 19 tells us about a man who was too |
| 13:10 | short to enter the kingdom he was too |
| 13:12 | short on friends too short on kindness |
| 13:14 | and Too Short on religion he was just |
| 13:17 | plain too short |
| 13:18 | one day this Wee Man climbed up a |
| 13:21 | sycamore tree in order to get a look at |
| 13:22 | Jesus remember Jesus is in the business |
| 13:25 | of saving and he even saves those who |
| 13:28 | are too short |
| 13:30 | the Lord called to Zacchaeus up in the |
| 13:32 | tree hurry and come down for today I |
| 13:35 | must stay at your house the little man |
| 13:38 | who was short received the mercy of |
| 13:41 | Jesus and salvation came to his house |
| 13:43 | that day |
| 13:45 | beloved do you think that you are too |
| 13:49 | short Too Short on faith Too Short on |
| 13:52 | Holiness of life too short on Joy Too |
| 13:56 | Short on peace in your heart |
| 13:59 | it doesn’t matter how short you are |
| 14:02 | Jesus is in the business of saving those |
| 14:05 | people |
| 14:06 | who are too short |
| 14:08 | like you |
| 14:11 | amen |
| 14:17 | let’s go |
| 14:21 | who’s not cancer |
| 14:25 | [Music] |
| 14:29 | [Applause] |
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