Day 7: Coming into Jerusalem (Matthew 19-21)

By the end of Matthew, chapter 21, Jesus has entered Jerusalem.  He's still speaking in parables, but (it seems to me) they are becoming more urgent.  In the next couple of days, as you read Jesus' parables, imagine the cross in the background.  We are only a few days away. 

Theologian Robert Farar Capon calls the upcoming parables "The Parables of Judgment."  The parables we heard earlier, in Matthew chapter 13, are parables of the Kingdom. (Because they all start with the words, "the Kingdom of heaven is like...").  I'm not sure we can divide them all so neatly, but as you read ahead, and perhaps consider what you are reading to be harsh and difficult, remember that others have wrestled with the same thoughts.

I couldn't help thinking about the juxtaposition between the familiar and the odd in these passages of Scripture.  Despite the fact that I have preached on the Gospel of Matthew for several years now (but who's counting), the verses about being eunuch for the Kingdom of God still sounds foreign to me.  Does Jesus mean more than those who are either voluntarily or involuntarily celibate?  What do you think?

There's the familiar story about the rich young man who asks Jesus what he must do to be saved?  Give all you have to the poor, Jesus says.  The young man goes away sad.  But somehow I am not as familiar with Peter's exchange with Jesus, "Lord, we've given up everything for you?  What are we going to get?" and Jesus' answer, "In my kingdom you will sit on twelve thrones and receive back one hundred-fold everything you gave up."  Well, then.  (I thought I remembered that Jesus also promises persecutions, but that must be in another Gospel.  Let's watch for that one, later.)

It sort of makes more sense when the mother of James and John tries to secure the best seats for her sons, a little later.

The parable of the tenants who worked all day and the ones who worked for one hour:  is it a parable of generosity?  or a parable of unfairness?

YES.

There is more teaching and less healing going on, now, although Jesus does stop to heal two blind men who ask him.  But it's worth noting that the action is far more skewed toward teaching than to healing.

Then Jesus rides into Jerusalem, heals people, cleanses the temple, hears the praises of children, angers the religious leaders.  (This is getting worse and worse.)

He curses the fig tree, which seems to me the opposite of healing. 

We close with two parables.  The less familiar of the two is the story of two sons, one who says he will obey his father, and then goes out and does whatever he wants.  The second who publicly disrespects his father, and then later goes and does what his father wants.  Which would you want as your son? 

Jesus makes it sound like a no-brainer, but actually in a culture that values honor, being publicly disrespected by your children (even though secretly obeyed) is not a very attractive option. 

As you read through Matthew now, what sort of picture of Jesus do you have?  What adjectives would you use to describe him?  What attracts you to Jesus?  What might give you pause about him?

Do you think you would follow him?