The New Testament reading from the Treasury of Daily Prayer today is Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard. The story goes saying, "For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.³ And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴ and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ ⁵ So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. ⁶ And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’⁸ And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ ⁹ And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. ¹⁰ Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, ¹² saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last.”  A great hymn verse to keep in mind as you read this goes, "By grace! None dare lay claim to merit; our works and conduct have no worth. God in His love sent our Redeemer, Christ Jesus to this sinful earth. His death did for our sins atone, and we are saved  by Grace alone." (LSB 566:2).

 This text is a great way to get the week going after Sunday in the Divine Service and Bible study. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard shows us that our salvation does not depend on our works, no matter how long we've performed them, but rather depends on the generosity of God, on His grace and mercy. We are saved, not by how long we've walked the Christian life, but rather by the determined mercy of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. We are saved from sin, death, world, and the power of the devil, not because we've worked hard and deserve a good retirement package, but rather we are saved because Jesus loves us. May this text humble you whenever pride is taking over, or whenever you think you have a one up on your neighbor. But more than this, may this text comfort you in the midst of your failure and short comings this week. May this text comfort you in the knowledge and trust that you are saved by Jesus mercy and grace because He loves you. Your good works will fail you and leave you under the wrath of God and the assaults of the devil. But the generosity of God abides forever for you and will always overcome the wrath of God and send the devil packing back to hell where he belongs. Take heart today in the knowledge that you are a beloved recipient of the Father's generosity, the mercy of Jesus for your eternal life, forgiveness, and salvation.

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the peaceful voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I forgive you. I love you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull