Matthew 12:33-37 A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

What comes out of our mouths is determined by the intent of the heart. Motives determine the content of our conversation and judgments. It is impossible to expect good out of the mouth of a person whose heart is bent towards evil, just like it is impossible to expect good fruit from a bad tree. “The tree is known by its fruit.” Whether good or evil, every person has a treasure from which they dig out their words. On the day of judgment, we will be judged based on our spoken words. By our words we will be justified or condemned.

The Pharisees spoke evil words against Jesus as they accused him of casting out demons in the name of Beelzebul, a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Jesus tries to have them see that the real issue is their heart’s condition from which those words flowed. To follow Jesus is to be careful about the words we speak because they display our heart’s condition and will determine our future on the day of judgment.

Father, change my heart so that my words may be right and true. Help me watch what I say that I may honor you with every word.

Psalm 9:7-10 God's Justice is our Security

Lady Justice depicts justice by the symbols she bears. The sword symbolizes the court's coercive power; the scales in her hand represent competing claims that are weighed; and the blindfold represents impartiality in doing so. As good a system our justice may be, it has one great flaw: humans are the ones weighing and coercing. Humans are limited in knowledge, wisdom, and power.

Psalm 9 depicts God as the King enthroned to rule with justice. He is the one who is keeping track of our lives. One day, he will call everyone to give an account for everything. God will weight every thought, word, and deed. God is Almighty to enforce his law. God is truly impartial in his judgments. God is truly just.

The knowledge that God rules with justice and the promise of a Judgment Day brings security to the believer's life. We have a God we can trust. His promise enables us to relinquish revenge and embrace love. Our relationship with him compels us to seek truth and practice impartiality ourselves. 

Our security is not in the justice system of this earth. It is not found in an alarm system installed in our homes and cars. It is not in our bank accounts, retirement funds, or medical plans. Our security is in a God who rules with justice and one day will exact justice upon the whole earth for the dead and the living. It enables us to love and suffer with endurance and patience until that day.

Father, may the knowledge of your justice fill my mind and heart and give me the security I need. May I always trust you. Don't allow me to wander away from you to seek security in other things or people. May I live with a great sense of expectation for Judgment Day. Amen.

Matthew 20:1-16 Laborers in the Vineyard

This parable compares the kingdom of God with a master of a house who goes out to hire workers. Our Master Jesus Christ is in the business of hiring workers for the kingdom. People who are idle represent people who are of this world and those who are hired become part of the kingdom. From a kingdom perspective, not matter what I do, I am idle unless I am working for the kingdom. The master is hiring throughout the day until the eleventh hour.

Some were hired early in the morning, others at the third, sixth, and eleventh hour. The early morning workers were promised a denarius (a day's wages) for their work, but all the others were told "whatever is right I will give you." The early morning worker could very well represent the Jews as the ones first chosen by God to receive his law. Those hired later are the Gentiles to whom the apostles turned when the Jews did not respond to the good news of the Gospel. There is also a sense in which the workers could represent the different stages in life of a person that comes into the kingdom. Some start at an early age; others come to the kingdom very late in life (the eleventh hour). 

When evening came, at the end of the day, the workers are called to receive their wages. Again, we can follow the dual meaning of the end of the age, judgment day as well as the end of our lives. Both represent the call of God upon us, the end of our work, and the day of reckoning before our God. Those who were hired last, were called first and payed the same amount promised to the early workers. The basis of our reward in heaven is not the amount of our work, but the grace of God. This is not to say that there are no degrees of rewards but what is in view here is the basis or merits of our pay. The basis of our wages is God's grace and generosity.

The workers hired at the end of the day were "made equal" to the early morning workers. Jews and Gentiles are equal in the sight of God. The barriers between them have been removed by the gracious work of Jesus Christ. I have to be careful not to begrudge God's generosity when I see someone come into kingdom work after me and have awesome results and effectiveness early in their ministries. God is the one who gives and takes away. Whatever my lot, it is by God's grace and mercy. I should be happy to see others come into the kingdom late and be used mightily by my God. The first will be last because God has designed that way so that we may not boast and become arrogant in our work. The last will be first so we can learn to humbly rejoice with our co-workers in their accomplishments.

Lord, prepare my soul for pay day. May I not begrudge your generosity when I see the eleventh hour workers paid the same as me. Give me joy everlasting to celebrate their work in the kingdom. Keep be from boasting. Keep me from arrogance. Help me be alert to seek and find new workers for your kingdom.