Love Unites and Divides Part 1 (Matthew 20:1-16)
Gary McManus, 01/25/2015Part of the Words that Divide, Words that Unite series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Know what you believe.
What we believe draws us together AND
separates us from others.
God’s word divides and unites.
No one can serve TWO masters.
(Matthew 6:24)
We are Christians; not Buddhists, not Muslims,
not Jews, not anything else. We can’t be.
AND WE are ONE in Jesus Christ.
[Romans 15:6, Ephesians 4:5-6, 1 Corinthians 8:6]
Today we discover words that divide and unite
in a very unexpected way. This is Jesus’ story.
It is a parable perfectly expressed.
Jesus is teaching how things are in the Kingdom of God.
The landowner’s behavior probably says a lot about
the harvest. At the end, all the workers are
lined up so the early workers see and hear
the pay of the late-comers.
. . .The grumblers felt wronged times 2:
--they worked ALL day for one denarius and
-- they worked through the heat of the day
( which in the middle east can be considerable).
“Friend” is not a good translation.
It is used when reproaching someone.
It is used when the person being addressed is in the wrong.
God is so generous and loving that God is NOT fair;
Matthew 5:44-45
How does God’s love DIVIDE and separate people?
God’s love is so big, so gracious, so open and
giving that some people can’t handle it.
It divided people in Jesus’ day.
See Matthew 9:11, Matthew 11:19.
Jesus will say: “whoever comes to me”
(John 6:35-66)
The goodness, graciousness, and
love of God DOES offend some people.
Jesus knew and included it in his story of two sons.
That’s why we have trouble praying
for our enemies isn’t it? -- God’s extravagant love.
God’s word unites and divides.
(Ephesians 1:5, Romans 9:14-16) Amen
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What we believe; words that unite and divide.
The most fundamental statement of faith for
Christians: Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God.
(Matthew 16:16)
Serving and worshiping our God is an EXLUSIVE act.
[See 1 Corinthians 10:21
Matthew 4:10 references Deuteronomy 6:13.
Then see Exodus chapter 20 and Joshua 24,
Full Chapter]
[Pssst (secret): There really aren’t ANY other Gods.]
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