LWML Sunday 2020
Matthew 21:43
Modified from a sermon by Rv. Larry Krueger
October 4, 2020
Zion Lutheran Church + Nampa, ID
In 1998, the National Youth Gathering of the LCMS was held in Atlanta, Georgia. One of the main streets running through the city is Peachtree Street. In the southern Atlanta metro area, one there’s also a Peachtree City. Of course, finding a street and a city in Georgia with these names should be of no great surprise to anybody who knows anything about Georgia. After all, Georgia is well-known for the delicious peaches that the state’s people produce. Thus, it is known as the Peach State.
However, Georgia is not unique in being known for its production of a particular fruit. For example, if one were to think of the state of Washington, one would most likely think of apples. Similarly, a mention of Florida would bring oranges to mind. In Idaho, the state fruit is the huckleberry.
Just as states are known by the fruit each produces; the kingdom of God is recognized by the fruit its people produce. Of course, this fruit is different than that which is found on common branches or vines. Kingdom people produce kingdom fruit, which is in of itself, a work of the Holy Spirit in lives of God’s people.
The importance of this task cannot be over-stressed, especially when one considers the fruit has been taken away from others who failed to produce. Jesus teaches the lesson of our Gospel reading, which was directed at the refusal of the Jews to acknowledge and believe in Him as the promised Messiah. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parable, they perceived that he was speaking about them. Their perception was correct. They stumbled over the cornerstone of Christ. They had not been producing kingdom fruit. Now, they were rejecting the very Son of God and would be the ones who would be responsible for His death. They were following the pattern of their forefathers who had rejected the prophets and their message, which prophetic message was now being fulfilled in Jesus.
The result of their actions was stated very clearly and emphatically by Jesus. He stated in no uncertain terms, “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits” (Matthew 21:43). These words of rejection spoken to those who denied Jesus also carry special emphasis for those who receive the kingdom of God. The emphasis of His message is just as strong to the new tenants. Simply stated, “The kingdom of God will be given to a people producing its fruits.” What does this mean, “Kingdom people produce kingdom fruit.”
Let there be no doubt, to be kingdom people is a gift. The words of Jesus are clear. The kingdom of God is “given.” At the same time, let it be equally understood. The production of kingdom fruit is the expectation of kingdom people. As Jesus taught in the parable, the master will let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons (Matthew 21:41b).
This is not a new expectation for kingdom people. It was declared of old by the prophets, as recorded in Isaiah 5: “My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes” (Isaiah 5:1–2). God expects good fruit from His people. The message of John the Baptist was equally clear, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8).
As people of the kingdom, the production of our sanctified lives is kingdom fruit recognized through fruits of righteousness, namely, repentance, faith, and new obedience. As people of the kingdom of God, God graciously nurtures us and generously gives us everything we need to produce fruit for the kingdom. The words from verse 33 of the Gospel reading remind us of what the master has done: “[The master] planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower.” All this He did before turning over the vineyard to the tenants. The master supplied everything the tenants needed to produce fruit.
The same is true today. The Lord supplies all we need. The Holy Spirit calls us by the Gospel and enlightens us with His gifts. We are connected to Jesus, who is our lifeline for bearing fruit. This is His message in John chapter 15. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit … I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit” (John 15:5a, 16b). He empowers us through Word and Sacrament for this very purpose. Being fully nurtured by God, we walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work (Colossians 1:10).
God has been abundantly generous to us, His people. We lack nothing for the work of His kingdom. Yet, we all too often find ourselves making excuses instead of producing fruit. We even fall into the trap of the original tenants in the parable. We believe that what we possess is ours! Meanwhile, the psalmist reminds us, “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1). We have the warning of what happens to those who do not respond to His generosity, those who reject His Word and His Son, and those who do not produce. The kingdom will be taken away.
To you whom the kingdom of God has been given, it is fruit production season. This is what kingdom people do. By God’s grace, this is what the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League does, that we remember today. From churches to communities to the world, these Lutheran Women in Mission are well known for gathering mites for mission grants in their home districts and global work abroad. Their hands-on labors expand from congregation to community and around the world. The LWML is a blessing to many. “Kingdom people produce kingdom fruit” fits well the description of their purpose and mission.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Every healthy tree bears good fruit” (Matthew 7:17). As followers of Jesus, God makes us healthy in Christ. We are in the right state, namely His kingdom. We are in the right season, the fruit-producing season. So, Kingdom People, “Produce Kingdom Fruit!” Bear forth the fruits of repentance, faith, and the new obedience. May the kingdom of God be recognized by our fruit! To God alone be the glory! In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
*This sermon is modified from one provided by the Lutheran Women's Missionary League for LWML Sunday.