Title: Fruits of the Kingdom of God
Fruit of God's Kingdom
Matthew 21:33-46, Fifth Sunday of Creation, October 2, 2011
Every Bible has its own historical background. Without that background, it is difficult to understand the Bible, and it may even distort it further. Today's sermon text, Matthew 21:33-46, sets the background of the clash between Christianity and Judaism. Christianity did not initially collide with Judaism. Rather, it had a close relationship with Judaism. According to the book of Acts, Peter and John made regular visits to the temple in Jerusalem, following Jewish prayer habits. When Paul was preaching the gospel to many Gentile regions, he visited the synagogue, the place of their religious meeting, on the Sabbath that the Jews kept, whenever possible. The fact that early Christianity accepted the Old Testament, the scriptures of the Jews, also means that the relationship between Christianity and Judaism was not hostile. Theologians have found that early Christianity in Jerusalem was established as one of several sects of Judaism: Nazarenes, like the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. It was not Judaism, but it was not completely separate from Judaism.
Today's sermon is a metaphorical explanation of the theological reasons why Gentile Christianity had no choice but to become independent from Judaism. The owner of the vineyard sent servants to receive the tenancy as promised by the tenants in time for the grape harvesting season. The peasants revolted for some reason. It is said that he killed his master's servants. This doesn't happen very often. It happens on special occasions when the owner takes more away from the famine. Does it mean that the owner of the vineyard in the text was a wicked man in the world? This story should be read with in mind that it is a parable. After this happened several times, the master sent his son away. They did so with the idea that the tenants would treat their master's son as much as he deserved, but the result was even worse. The tenants even killed their master's son, hoping to get rid of the heirs.
It is clear what this parable refers to. The owner of the vineyard is God. Servants are prophets. In the history of Israel, the prophets suffered many hardships and persecutions. The master's son is Jesus. The story of the tenants dragging their son out of the vineyard and killing him suggests that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ took place on Golgotha Hill outside Jerusalem. The end of the parable is that the master deals with the evil tenants, finds faithful tenants, and entrusts them to farm the vineyard (verse 40). The wicked tenants refer to Judaism, and the new tenants to Christianity. The writer of the Gospel of Matthew tells this in verse 43: “Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people that will produce its fruits.” According to these words, Judaism did not bear the fruit of the kingdom of God, and Christianity, especially Gentile Christianity, did bear fruit. This is reason enough for Christianity to separate itself from Judaism. Conversely, this means that if Christianity does not bear the fruits of the kingdom of God, independence from Judaism is not guaranteed.
fruit and faith
What are the fruits of the kingdom of God? First of all, it looks like piety and morality. It means following the teachings of the Church and living an exemplary life in the world. Galatians 5:22 lists nine fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, etc. James 2:17 warns that faith without works is dead. It is not wrong to say that early Christianity was characterized by morality. One of the reasons the ladies of Rome converted to Christianity at that time was the morality of Christianity. However, this does not distinguish Christianity from Judaism. In this respect, Judaism is superior to Christianity. The law itself is piety and morality. Therefore, it cannot be said that Judaism was deprived of the kingdom of God and that Christianity received it on this basis.
The fruit of the kingdom of God is directly connected with Jesus Christ. The reason Judaism was deprived of the kingdom of God is that it did not believe in Jesus as the Son of God and the Christ. Not believing in Jesus Christ means that you have not accepted the kingdom of God, and those who do not accept the kingdom of God are those who have failed to bear the fruits of the kingdom of God. How did the early Christians come to such recognition and belief? Do we have such awareness and belief? So, are they those who are bearing the fruits of the kingdom of God? This question cannot be overstated as one of the most important questions in the Christian faith. Because only here is Christianity different from Judaism, Islam, and the world, which use the same Old Testament as the scriptures and believe in God.
one who receives the kingdom of God
Now it is our turn to ask ourselves questions. Are we people who bear the fruits of the kingdom of God? It is not the Jews or the world who do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, but Christians who acknowledge Jesus, so we can say that they are people who bear fruit. This is God's grace. It is because we have come to recognize and believe in the kingdom of God that has happened in Jesus, even though we are no better than Jews or those outside the church in any way. Don't stop here, ask your question more clearly. What is the evidence that we bear the fruit of the kingdom of God? It is not a question that ends with being baptized and coming to church. Outward appearances are not enough to answer the question of the soul. The ultimate answer can only be given by the Holy Spirit. I can only give you a nice answer based on the Bible text.
Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus alone is the kingdom of God, the reign of God, and the ultimate life itself. If you know and believe that, pay more attention to what happened to him. That is the fruit of the kingdom of God. Those who bear such fruits receive the kingdom of God by grace. What I am talking about now is the gospel preached by Matthew.