Festival of All Saints
Posted on November 1, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. Matthew 21:28-44 (NKJV)
21:28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They said to Him, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
33 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. 35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. 37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”
41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”
Devotion
Do words mean things? When you and I say words—they may or may not mean certain things. But when Jesus says words—when the Word Made Flesh says Words—the Words do mean certain things. And this short verse from Matthew 21 says words that mean things not only in this world but also in the world to come.
First off, Jesus says the words here, He wants us to know this. And what He says is this: “Every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men.” Every means every. There are no sins that cannot be forgiven. But there is an exception. Except the sins and blasphemies against the Holy Spirit. What does this mean? It means that for one to reject the work of the Holy Spirit is to reject the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus goes on to explain that even those who might reject Him, Jesus, will be forgiven. They will be forgiven even as some of His apostles, family, and early church leaders did before His resurrection and ascension. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven—because of his unbelief. And why would that be? Because the Holy Spirit is always pointing to Jesus as our Savior. The Holy Spirit has bound Himself to Word and Sacrament to form and strengthen our faith in Christ, the Son of God and the Son of the Virgin Mary.
Prayer: Grant, we beseech Thee, Merciful Lord, to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Festival of All Saints
O Almighty God, Who hast knit together Thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son, Christ our Lord: Grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love Thee; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
