Matthew 21:33-46
After the end of the Civil War in the US, former
slaves and poor whites became tenant farmers, also called sharecroppers.
Without slaves to work the crops, landowners divided their land into small
plots, provided small houses, seed, and equipment to the tenants. The
expectation was that out of the harvest, the advance expenses would be repaid
and the owner’s share of the crop – perhaps 50% -- would be profit for the
owner.
If
the tenant farmer was skilled and the harvest was good, it was enough to live
on for the tenant and a small family. Most years, it was a challenge to pay the
landowner and have enough left for oneself and the family. If the tenant wasn’t
skilled or the crop failed, the landowner had the right to remove the tenants
and find other willing tenants.
This
is essentially the same as the situation described in Matthew. Jesus tells a
story about tenant farmers. The tenants decided they did not want to give the
owner his share of the crop. We don’t know if the absent landowner was unfair
or if the tenants were evil. We just know what Jesus said. The tenants killed
the slaves the owner sent to collect the crop. Then they killed more slaves.
Finally, they killed the owner’s son, assuming they could keep the land for
themselves.
Jesus
asked the Pharisees and priests what the landowner should do in this situation.
They replied with the very human response – basically, kick those no-good-nicks
off the land and put new tenants there.
The
chief priests and Pharisees correctly saw that Jesus was talking about them. Jesus
was implying that they, the designated leaders of the Jewish people, were
terrible tenants of God’s land and they were going to lose their power and be
replaced. As in previous stories, they were powerless to do anything about it,
because of the crowds.
We
should notice that it is the leaders who state the outcome of the parable, not
Jesus. The reality is that the leaders who were alive in Jesus’ time died long before
the calamity of the destruction of the temple. They and others like them
continue to rule for another 40 years. I’m sure it seemed to them that Jesus
was wrong. Even the upstart Christian sect had little impact on their
leadership for many years.
After
the destruction of the temple in 70CE, the sacrificial system ended because
there was no place for offering sacrifices, and those who were in charge lost
power. While people continued to visit Jerusalem for the holidays, the city was
no longer the year-round center for faith practices.
The
local synagogue became the more important location, and the sacrifice was not
animals and grains but prayers. While the leaders were not immediately thrown
out of power by Jesus’ death and resurrection, their successors were eventually
replaced to a great degree by local rabbis. The goal of revitalizing the faith
was accomplished, even though it took time, God’s time.
…
What did Jesus want the leaders and all the people to do? Bear fruit. What does
Jesus want us to do today? Bear fruit. Although it might be fun to imagine
apples and oranges hanging from our fingers, bearing fruit as Christians means
something different.
On
Blue Bloods TV show Friday night, a man was being sought for a crime he
committed several years earlier. Since that time, he realized he needed to
change, and has been working to help others in the community avoid the mistakes
he made. He has served his time, although not in prison. Through God’s grace, a
man who could identify him as the shooter in the old crime decides to hold his
tongue. They have both borne fruit.
I
read the newsletters from my former congregation, Hope in Plainwell, Michigan. This
month they reported on an organization called Women Who Care. The mission is to
gather women who will commit to giving $100 four times a year. They meet
quarterly for a meal and a meeting.
Each
woman nominates a charity by writing it on a slip of paper with her name. Three
slips are drawn, and the nominator tells why she nominated that charity. All
the women vote, choosing one of the three charities. This time, the chosen charity
was Hands 2 Hands, a weekend food program like our Citrus County Blessings. With
40 women in attendance, Hands 2 Hands received $4,000. Together, these women
are bearing lots of fruit.
Williams,
Arizona, is a small city, population about 3,000, but representing about 44
square miles of land. It’s near the southern end of the Grand Canyon, so in
tourist season, the residents do pretty well. But, other times of the year,
finances for the families get pretty tight. The local Kiwanis Club recently
held a pajama drive, seeking funds and pajama donations for the needy children
of their area. In one month they were able to give 250 sets of bed-ware. That’s
a lot of fruit, and a lot of warm children.
Right
here at Hope, Hans gave of his time and talent to create a beautiful new altar
for us. Together, we share a meal from this table and enjoy the fruit of his
labor as well as the fruit of the vine in the meal Jesus gave us.
…
We are the sharecroppers in Jesus’ vineyard, and he expects us to bear fruit,
and to share that fruit with others. What fruit do you bear? Do you find
forgiveness in your heart for someone who wronged you? Do you give generously
of your time to mentor others? Do you give generously of your money to help
those in need?
Since
it is time to turn in your commitment cards, are you praying about the amount
you give to Hope, to support the ministries of this congregation, so we can
bear fruit in our community, in Florida, around the country, and around the
world? Do you give generously of your time and talents, and agree to serve on
committees, to guide the ministries of this congregation?
Today
we join with millions of Christians around the world in sharing the fruit of
the vine and the bread of Holy Communion in World Communion Sunday. We recognize
that together we are sharecroppers in God’s vineyard and celebrate Jesus’
Lordship over us all. Together, we bear fruit, lots of fruit, and offer it all
to Jesus.
Please
pray with me. Lord Jesus, we give you thanks for the gifts you give to us: the
work we are to do in your vineyard, the talents we have to share with others,
the money that fills our pockets, and the blessing of forgiveness. We gather
with you around the table and enjoy the taste of your goodness. Amen
