The readings for Pentecost 18 are taken from Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; Philippians 2:1-18; and Matthew 21:23-32.
Not fair? Unjust? The corruption of Adam in us blames God for guilt and the consequences of contradicting His design/will for us.
Ezekiel warns how the thinking/sayings of the Israelite men show how they don’t care what damage their ways make for others or for God AND they insist that they are right in being this way. God warns: He is looking for repentance. God owns all souls and has no pleasure in them dying.
Paul wrote to the Philippians about the nature of God, evident in the incarnation of Christ. How fair is it for the Creator to bear ALL the consequences of human rebellion in order to restore us to life? God has given us the mind of Christ—power to give oneself for the sake of others rather than power to take what belongs to others for yourself.
Matthew records how the Jewish religious leaders were still as stubborn and self-righteous as their forefathers, whom Ezekiel had warned. Jesus responds to them with the same wisdom and truth He gave to Ezekiel. The parable of the two sons is what God was saying through Ezekiel about who is accepted by God. Rebelling against God while pretending to love and serve Him is catastrophic. Following where Jesus leads, even though our human nature still wants to rebel, is the work of the Word/Spirit of God. This is real, not pretended.