Our God establishes earthly governments.

Our God invites unworthy sinners to participate in His blessing. The Lord calls us to the heavenly banquet.

The Lord came to His city and His temple to teach His people, but the leaders of Israel rose up against Him. When they questioned His authority, Jesus responded with three parables meant to drive the leaders to self-evaluation and self-condemnation. The stories speak of family ties, contractual obligation, and the favor of a royal invitation. Each should have led to a proper response, yet each parable showed that Israel’s leaders were refusing to give God the fruits of faith He patiently sought. Our God patiently seeks fruits.

The Verse of the Day reminds us that one day, everyone will bow before Jesus of Nazareth and confess Him as Lord. Some will do so in grief and others in joy. God wants real repentance from every sinner so they might bend the knee to Christ in true obedience and confess with gladness that Jesus is Lord. The Church prays that God would rule our hearts through Word and Sacrament, that our repentance might be real and our obedience truly pleasing. Our God wants real repentance that leads to true obedience.

What is our God like? Over the next four Sundays, the Church hears Jesus tell four parables which reveal characteristics of our God. Today’s lessons cause the worshiper to ask: Is God fair? No, He’s not. He doesn’t give us what we deserve, and that’s called mercy. In fact, He gives us what we don’t deserve, and that’s called grace. Our God is incomprehensibly gracious.