Have you ever rejected someone? Or at least rejected what it was that they had to offer? Most of us have.

I just rejected a well meaning man just this past week even though I have never met him. He called me on the phone and offered me something free on a trial basis. I must admit I didn't really even listen to what he was offering, I just said I wasn't interested and quickly hung up the phone. Perhaps you have rejected a similar offer in the same way. 

But on a much more serious note: You reject me when I invite you to attend Bible class and you do not come. You reject the Lord's invitation to gather together for worship whenever you skip church so that you can do your own thing. We reject the call to preach the Gospel to every nation when we do not use our time, talents, and treasures, to support and to carry out that work. Every time we sin we reject God's offer to be in charge of our life and when he calls us to do everything for his glory. 

So what? So I don't come to Bible class, worship every week, give more to church, volunteer? So I sin  a little every day. How serious is it really to reject what God has to offer? Well, Jesus himself (who was rejected by the religious leaders of his day) tells us in a parable just how serious it is when we reject him. He tells us the parable of the Vineyard to teach . . . 

The Serious Consequences of Rejecting Jesus

Context: Jesus tells this parable against the religious leaders who had rejected him just days before they would arrest him. They had just questioned by what authority he taught and performed miracles. Jesus answered their question with a question. "By whose authority did John the Baptist teach?" They wouldn't answer because if they said he did it on his own the people would be upset because they accepted him as a prophet. If they said "from God", Jesus would ask them why they didn't accept him. Jesus then told this parable to point out that even though he had come from God as God's Son, they had rejected him.

The vineyard stands for the kingdom of Israel. They were God's chose people and they were to give glory to him and to be a light to the Gentiles. At times God would send his prophets to call on them to repent of their sins and to bring forth fruits of repentance. Like us, they had often turned away from God by putting their trust in their own strength, the military might of other nations, false gods. Among their sins included only an outward keeping of the Sabbath and not being able to wait until it was over so they could make more money, robbing God in not bringing the proper offerings and sacrifices, being unjust to the poor, loose morals, and vengeance.

And so just as God calls us to repent through those who preach the law, God sent his prophets to lead them back to him. They offered forgiveness to all who repented. But rather than repent, what did they do? Jesus describes their rejection of the prophets in the is parable by saying they beat them, treated them shamefully, sent them away empty handed, wounded them, and threw them out. And when the vineyard owner sent his Son, they killed him.

This is exactly what happened in history. Read in the Old Testament how shamefully the Israelites treated the prophets. Recall again how they rejected Jesus and had him crucified. Even at the end of this parable they did not repent but 
19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

So what? The people were able to keep doing what they wanted? They didn't have to obey God. They had their independence. No one, not even God's son was going to tell them what to do. So what? Jesus ominously predicted what would happen to them in the not too distant future.
"What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others."
When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!"
17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written:
"'The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone'?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
And is that not what happened to the Jews? Oh, they had their temporary victory! But God took the promise of forgiveness from them. His apostles did try for a while to preach the Gospel to the Jews, but most continued to reject Jesus and the message about him. Therefore, God sent Peter, Paul, Silas and others to the Gentiles. Those who were not Jews by birth are now included in the family of God while the original family members are nowhere to be seen. Jerusalem itself with its glorious temple would be destroyed and remains in ruins to this day.

How does this apply to our own congregation? God continues to offer the Gospel to his people every time we hear the message of Jesus Christ. God offers opportunities to grow in the faith, to serve the Lord with gladness, to encourage one another. When we sin, God's law comes to us through the mouths of pastors and teachers who urge us to repent and to bring forth fruits of repentance. How do we respond? 

By God's grace, the Gospel has moved a committed group of members who are in worship regularly and who are committed to Bible reading and study either in groups or in their homes. I realize that many of our devout members who can't attend a formal Bible class do pour over the pages of Scripture for strength and assurance in their homes.

By God's grace, the Gospel has moved a committed group of members who serve the Lord with gladness in a variety of wonderful ways.

By God's grace, the Gospel has moved a number of members to give freely of the financial resources God has blessed them with to support our church and missions.

By God's grace, we bow at the foot of the cross, confessing our sins, pleading with God to have mercy on us, and being reassured of forgiveness.

But we would be fools if we think that all of our members have responded to the offers of God in the same way. What I am about to say is not going to win friends or influence people. When Jesus spoke along the same lines, it only intensified the Jews hatred of him because they did reject him.

There are a significant number of members who are like me when that telemarketer dials up my phone. They just aren't interested. They aren't interested in worshiping God. They aren't interested in growing in the knowledge of the Bible, they aren't interested in volunteering, in fellowshiping with the other members, in sharing the Gospel, in repenting of their sins, in giving more money to church, in changing their ways. They would rather reject these offers.

So what? God is not mocked. Although we as a church may not do much about it, be sure of this, God will. Although God is extremely patient, there comes a time when he just stops offering. He moves from those individuals and devotes his time and energy to others. Recall Jesus' ominous warning: 
What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others."

Conclusion: I can't force anyone to become more committed to Jesus. And maybe my personality isn't one that is winsome or attracts people. But it isn't me that the church is about. It is Jesus Christ. Jesus told his disciples, "Whoever listens to you, listens to me, and whoever listens to me listens to the one who sent me." When I invite you, or call on you to repent, or ask you to believe a promise, that is coming from Jesus and from his Father. Consider that the next time I offer you something from the Word of God and consider who it is that you are accepting or rejecting in your response. Amen.