“We’ve Been Framed!”

“We’ve Been Framed!”

Matthew 19:30-20:16

I’m sure you all know the purpose of a picture frame, don’t you? Originally, it was to stretch the canvas over, and
to provide a structure to hang on the wall.. But soon, people began o make their picture frames very elaborate, so as to
highlight or set apart the picture from the wall behind it. But there are other types of frames, as well. Houses have
frames, or skeletons, to provide structural strength. So do ships. And the art of building frames is called “framing,” and
the work of a framer is to frame things!
Ah, but to frame a person usually means that someone has falsified evidence to make the innocent look guilty. It
is a peculiar usage of a word that originally meant “to benefit, comfort, or construct.” But there’s the rub, for this sort of
legal chicanery often means that someone “constructed,” or better, “fabricated” a false case. Or perhaps it might be used
to indicate that one has been surrounded by false evidence, as a picture frame surrounds its picture. Whatever the case,
however, it shall shortly become clear to you that by this parable, our Lord Jesus Christ has indeed framed us in a way
that is both frightening and wonderful! Consider that:

I. We’ve been Framed (set up) by Our Own Sinful Nature!!

A. We seek by nature to earn & deserve our entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven (the Vineyard).
1. The Landowner is God the Father, Son & Holy Ghost.
2. He graciously invites the idle workers into His Vineyard.
3. The first group of laborers meticulously negotiate a “fair price” for their day’s work. (vs. 2)
a. Then they no longer believe their wage is fair when others are paid the same for fewer hours of work!
(vss. 10-12)
b. They call God’s Grace, unfair! (vs. 15 – They are no doubt members of Vinekeeper’s Local #666)
c. They have been framed by their own sin, selfishness & greed!!
d. Jesus tells this parable against the Jews of His day, who believe themselves superior to others.

B. But grace that is earned & deserved is not grace at all! (Rom. 4:4-5)
1. The later groups of laborers did not negotiate a wage, but trusted the employer’s good grace. (vs.4)
a. They were simply glad to get a job at all. (vss. 5-7; Gen. 2:15; Ecc. 5:18; Gen. 3:17-19)
b. They considered it a privilege to work in the Vineyard!
2. Their wages are therefore not earned, but gracious gifts!!! (vss. 9-10)
a. They have been doubly blessed with both useful work and unearned wages!
b. These who were last hired are the first rewarded by the grace of God! (Is. 55:8)

II. We’ve been Framed by Jesus to Reveal His Gracious Invitation to Serve in His Kingdom!!!

A. He calls us into His Vineyard (Kingdom) by the Gospel.
1. He is seeking us through this parable.
a. From the standpoint of God’s Kingdom, all men are idle, useless & unproductive apart from Christ!
b. He seeks out those who have been brought to realize this by the Law, and gives new meaning to their
lives. (Is. 55:7)
c. His death on the Cross gives meaning to our lives, even in the Kingdom of Heaven! (Eph. 2:8-10)
2. Strangely, this is the same Gospel call as “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest!
a. In that saying we are laboring under the guilt of our sins.
b. Here in this parable we find we have nothing to offer God for His favor.
c. But Jesus allowed Himself to be framed for our sins, and to suffer and die in our place. He who owed
God nothing gave everything, so that we who owe God everything might do nothing to be saved!!!
TBTG!!! (Is. 55:9)

B. By His grace He even grants us the privilege of serving (working) in His Vineyard!
1. Our “work” in the the Kingdom of God is a labor of love, not a slavery of sweat. (Phil. 1:23-25)
2. Even this work is His work in us! (Is. 26:12-13)
a. Yet He rewards us for it here on earth with Christian friends, His Word & Sacraments, and even
material blessings!
b. And He has prepared for us in heaven unimaginable blessings! (1 Cor. 2:9)

Yep, we’ve been framed alright – framed by grace! For our Lord Jesus Christ has both prepared and paid for an
eternal wealth of glory for us! And He did not tell this parable in order to condemn us, but only to warn us against the
self-righteousness that would remove us from His Kingdom. Here He seeks our eternal welfare, as always; and He would
by these words encourage us to continue in that grateful, humble, childlike spirit which, having done everything
commanded it, would answer: “I am an unworthy slave, for I have done only what was my duty” (Luke 17:10). May God
grant such grace to each of you this very day. Amen.