The parable of the vineyard, first told by the prophet Isaiah, becomes in the mouth of the Lord Jesus the summation of all sacred history. The Lord makes it clear that...
The parable of the vineyard, first told by the prophet Isaiah, becomes in the mouth of the Lord Jesus the summation of all sacred history. The Lord makes it clear that the whole history of the Almighty's attempts to proclaim His will and His truth to humanity was a history of resistance. The messengers through whom God addresses people were 'sometimes beaten, sometimes killed.' In this series the Lord also speaks of the final Messenger - of Himself, who, according to the word of the prophets, came into the world to open to people the possibility of salvation - a possibility that did not exist before and does not exist outside Christ.
The bitter words of Christ expose the religious leaders who constantly resisted the saving action of the Creator for the sake of their own quite base interests - and here we, too, have something to think about. After all, this is not about some pagans who are 'darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart,' as the apostle Paul writes in today's passage from Ephesians. It is not even only about bishops, theologians, and ascetics, as we might render 'chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees' in our own terms. All who are called by God, all who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of being His people, turn out to be wicked workers in God's vineyard.
That is why today's words of the apostle are so important, calling us to 'be renewed in the spirit of our mind,' so that we do not become the same kind of worthless workers.
2
2:1 My brethren - The equality of Christians, intimated by this name, is the ground of the admonition. Hold not the faith of our common Lord, the Lord of glory - Of which glory all who believe in him partake. With respect of persons - That is, honour none merely for being rich; despise none merely for being poor.
2:2 With gold rings - Which were not then so common as now.
2:3 Ye look upon him - With respect.
2:4 Ye distinguish not - To which the most respect is due, to the poor or to the rich. But are become evil - reasoning judges - You reason ill, and so judge wrong: for fine apparel is no proof of worth in him that wears it.
2:5 Hearken - As if he had said, Stay, consider, ye that judge thus. Does not the presumption lie rather in favour of the poor man? Hath not God chosen the poor - That is, are not they whom God hath chosen, generally speaking, poor in this world? who yet are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom - Consequently, the most honourable of men: and those whom Godso highly honours, ought not ye to honour likewise?
2:6 Do not the rich often oppress you - By open violence; often drag you - Under colour of law.
2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name - Of God and of Christ. The apostle speaks chiefly of rich heathens: but are Christians, so called, a whit behind them?
2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law - The supreme law of the great King which is love; and that to every man, poor as well as rich, ye do well. Lev 19:18.
2:9 Being convicted - By that very law. Exo 23:3.
2:10 Whosoever keepeth the whole law, except in one point, he is guilty of all - Is as liable to condemnation as if he had offended in every point.
2:11 For it is the same authority which establishes every commandment.
2:12 So speak and act - In all things. As they that shall be judged - Without respect of persons. By the law of liberty - The gospel; the law of universal love, which alone is perfect freedom.For their transgressions of this, both in word and deed, the wicked shall be condemned; and according to their works, done in obedience to this, the righteous will be rewarded.
2:13 Judgment without mercy shall be to him - In that day.Who hath showed no mercy - To his poor brethren. But the mercy of God to believers, answering to that which they have shown, will then glory over judgment.