Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 31:30—32:27; Matthew 20:1-16
"And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?'
"They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.' (Matthew 20:6-7)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. The man hired people all throughout the day, but then when it came time to pay them, he paid them all the same. Imagine if the kid, who never shows up on time and always takes off from work, got a paycheck that was the same as you, who worked so hard and was always responsible and on time? You wouldn't like that would you? Notice that the man in the story that Jesus tells never says he will pay the men what is fair. He says he will pay them what is “right” or literally, what is “just.”
What if the Lord gave you what you deserve? What if He dished out to you what you have coming for not loving Him, not keeping His name holy and for despising His Word? What if the Lord punished you based on how you treat your parents or what lust is in your heart and how you’ve hurt others with your actions? What then? If God sent you to hell for such sins, that would be fair. It would be what you deserve.
But, the Lord doesn't give what is fair. He gives what is just. And His justice is to give you what is Jesus'. His just-ness is to send Jesus to take away your sins—to give you life, instead of death; forgiveness, instead of punishment; salvation, instead of condemnation. Not because you deserve it, but because that is what Jesus has worked to accomplish for you.
Instead of fire, the Lord gives you the water of Baptism. Instead of a guilty verdict, He gives you the pardon of absolution. Instead of the dust of the earth for the curse of sin, He gives you the body and blood of His Son. This is not what you deserve, but what is just—what Christ deserves and has won for you. It's all yours. No matter whether you've had it your whole life or have only recently been made a Christian by the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God He doesn't give out what's fair, but rather what is just and righteous and saving in Jesus Christ. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
By grace God's Son, our only Savior, Came down to earth to bear our sin. Was it because of your own merit That Jesus died your soul to win? No, it was grace, and grace alone, That brought Him from His heav'nly throne. (LSB 566:3)