There’s much of God’s word I am yet to understand, and so, my mind remains open to the Spirit revealing to me new truths that are yet to be discovered.
 
There’s a parable in the Book of Matthew that had me scratching my head for quite some time until recently. Intending for His listeners to learn something of great importance about the Kingdom of God and its citizens, Jesus presented to them the ‘Parable of the Vineyard Workers’ (20:1-16).
 
Socialist forms of government would be glad to claim this parable as God’s endorsement of their ideals that promise, no matter how much or little a person does at their place of employment, they will receive the same reward as every other worker.
 
However, capitalists don’t see it that way. While socialism promotes a policy of ‘same reward for every worker,’ capitalists understandably protest at this parable with cries of ‘that’s not fair.’ Why?  Well… “When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat’” (vv. 10-12).
 
Friends, this ‘tough nut to crack’ parable is a window that reveals a priceless truth of the Kingdom of Heaven where the Government of God is unlike any earthly government.
 
In this vineyard workers’ parable, God is shown as the ‘Landowner’ who based the wages of the workers on His brand of justice, and mercy. There’s a huge difference between living on ‘merit’– getting what you deserve than living on ‘mercy’– getting more than what you deserve.
 
The Kingdom of Heaven does not function as a socialist or capitalist form of government. God’s Government is based on justice and mercy! Justice and mercy are not extreme opposites, but travel together in the same direction on the same pathway. While justice goes so far, mercy goes further… as far as we need to go.
 
On the cross at Calvary, Jesus embodied both justice and mercy. On the Day of Judgment no one will need to cry out for justice, for that is the place and time when every person will receive it. Yes, every person will receive justice! However, mercy is what we need! Without mercy, justice will take us to hell!
 
Our God is not biased towards any person. He has no favourites, and His mercy is not automatically dispensed… it must be sought-after before judgment. How then can a person obtain mercy from God? Simply, through prayer, by… 

1. Asking for mercy 

Most people pray for healing, guidance, and provision, but rarely does any person pray for mercy. God longs to be asked for mercy for He is MERCY-FULL! One reason why people don’t ask for mercy is because they think they are too good. It takes a visit to the cross to be convicted that we are rotten to the core.
 
Luke recorded…“Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: ‘Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: I thank You, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give You a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (18:9-14.)
 
                  God’s mercy is available to every person who asks for it! 

2. Passing it on 

In addition to asking God for mercy, there is a recipient responsibility. In another parable, Jesus compared the Kingdom of God with a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. One servant owed the king a great deal of money and was not able to pay his debt. He begged the king for more time. The king, filled with pity for the servant, released him and forgave his debt! Immediately after, the man went to a fellow servant and demanded payment of a much smaller debt owed to him. The servant begged and pleaded, “Be patient with me, and I will pay it.” However, he was refused …”and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.” When the king learnt of this, he called in the servant he had forgiven and said to him, “Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you? The king rescinded the mercy He had shown to the servant and “sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.” Then Jesus said, “That’s what My heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart” (Matt. 18:23-35).
 
Friends, have we not been taught to pray, “Father, forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us”? (Matt. 6:12). Unforgiveness is a circuit breaker that prevents the flow of God’s mercy into our lives!
 
              Mercy must flow through those who have been shown mercy!
 
In addition to “Asking for mercy” and “Passing it on,” there is one more requirement of recipients of God’s mercy. (Concluding Part II next week.)
 
Bill