Sermon Notes — September 27, 2026
“Not Gonna Do It”
Matthew 21:23-32 (NRSVUE)
Rev. Terry Carty
September 27, 2026
I think I have told you that I was first aware of a call to ministry just a few weeks prior to my graduation with an engineering degree. Out of the blue (I thought) I went to a pay phone (that really was a long time ago!), I called my mother, and I asked her to tell her church’s youth director that I would be moving back to Nashville and that I wanted to volunteer in the youth program.
A year later, I was helping lead the youth group programs, coaching the church
basketball team, and helping to plan retreats and mission trips. Four years after that I found myself doing the Friday night sending out communion message at the mission camps. Soon after that, I left my job and dedicated myself to full-time development of the Mountain T.O.P. mission camps. I have often said that the youth who came to the Mountain T.O.P. camps were great, but it was the adults who gave me the most trouble - complaining about the heat, the mattresses, the food, the showers. But of the adults, the pastors were the worst!
Sometimes during a mission camp week, pastors would chat me up as a colleague in ministry. In the conversation, a pastor might ask if I was ordained. I would smile and glibly reply, “No, but I’m a licensed engineer.” I can remember feeling them begin to dismiss me because I didn’t have that ordination credential. It was as if they were asking what gave me the authority to be preaching to and sending out these youth to do mission work.
Years later, when I became ordained in the Church, I made a commitment to use whatever authority I might have to empower others, not to overpower.
Our scripture story today has reminded me of my own self-consciousness. The chief priests and the elders went to Jesus and put him on the spot by essentially asking him,
23 “Are you ordained?” Have you been authorized? Who gave you permission? What right do you have for teaching in this Temple? Jesus’ response stopped them in their tracks. He put them on the defense, and he pointed out their shortcomings.
We live in a world that wants to know what your credentials are. What gives you right? For followers of Christ today, I suggest that authority is not about ability to control, but it is ultimately demonstrated when it produces healing and reconciliation – when it points to doing the work of God’s Kingdom.
Would you pray with me and for me?
Prayer: Holy Lord, help us today to hear the story of Jesus and words of your Holy Kingdom. Make us as excited to hear Jesus teach as those who were in the Temple with him that day. Help us to consider what we do with the authority and responsibility you have given us. Amen.
Here is the rest of this scripture story in Matthew 21:28-32 (Modified for young ears)
Jesus asked the Priests and elders: 28 “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same, and he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes [substitute ‘the people of low character and questionable morals’] are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes [‘the people of low character and questionable morals’] believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him.
I want to take a closer look at the parable. We are getting pretty familiar with stories about vineyards. Jesus refers to himself as the “true vine” and speaks about vines, branches, fruit, and the vine grower. He must have hung out with the vineyard crowd a lot. They understood his parables.
If the vineyard in this parable represents God’s work in the world, then what do the two sons represent? It became obvious in that situation that the priests and elders were now the ones in the spotlight.
One son immediately responded, “I’m not gonna do it” when the father told him to go out and work in the vineyard. Then he changed his mind and went.
The other son told his father that he would go, but then he stayed in his room playing video games all day. He didn’t go.
Jesus refers again to John the Baptiser who preached righteousness and called people to the wilderness. People saw him as a prophet of God and went to him in repentance. People sought to turn their lives around and do what pleases God.
I think that Jesus put the temple authorities on a balance scale with the people who were held in lowest esteem, the worst sinners in their society. And on that scale, the people who were regarded as outsiders responded to John. They changed direction, and they
3 received the baptism of cleansing forgiveness. They had once said no, but then they went. But on the other side, the religious insiders did not.
I think Jesus made it clear that the priests and the elders were like the son that said he would go work in the vineyard but never went. They had the opportunity, but they did not respond. They heard John’s call but did not believe him. They used their authority to control the religion of the people, but they failed to work in God’s vineyard.
What can we make of this parable today? We may not relate much to the priests and elders. But, when we hear about the father, two sons, and a vineyard, do we think about God and God’s kingdom? Do we put ourselves in the story?
There are people who say “no” but then change their minds and go work in the vineyard.
And there are people who say “yes,” they sound faithful, but do not go out to work. They do nothing to transform the world to the kingdom of God.
Now, I am not simply making the first son the “good son.” After all, when asked to do the will of his father, he did refuse saying “not gonna do it.” Jesus does not pretend that the initial refusal was good. But the first son’s “no” isn’t the end of the story.
Something happened between his “no” and his going. The translation I used today said “but later he changed his mind.” Other translations use “repented,” “regretted it,” or “thought better of it.”
Jesus took a hard line with the priests and elders because they did not change their minds. But the good news for us is that his parable tells us that there is grace in changing your mind. God has great patience. With God, even when you have said “no,” you can still say “yes.”
God gives us time to grow into the things that God calls us to do. With God, repentance is always graciously received. Is there anything to which you may have said “no,” but your heart has changed direction? I know each of us has experienced that at some time. Have you become more aware of God working in your life and want to find ways to say “yes?”
Our world is broken and the vineyard needs tending. The parable may cause us to ask ourselves “am I failing my father by not going to work in the vineyard?”
Have I been avoiding hearing the news because I think I can’t do anything about it?
Have I said “no” to using my voice or vote for the common good?
Is there injustice that needs to be addressed?
Is there anywhere that reconciliation or forgiveness is needed?
Is there ministry that I’ve been saying “yes” to without actually doing?
What is God asking us to do in the vineyard today? It is not too late to go.
Benediction
God calls us, even when we have said no. God gives us grace to change our minds and our ways. Now, by the authority of Christ, be ready to go. God is sending us into the vineyard.