But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway.
Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go.
“Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.”
Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.”
Matthew 21:28-31 NLT
This was Jesus' teaching on the day following His triumphant entry into Jerusalem - what we refer to as Palm Sunday. If we'd heard this exchange between the father and the first son, many of us would have offered our opinion about parenting such disobedience, and how to fix it Texas style - quick, fast and in a hurry.
This is one more illustrated sermon of God looking at the heart of a person rather than what is seen on the outside. I believe He was trying to drive home the point to His disciples before the nails were driven home.
It's not so much what we do when people are watching. If we'd taken this parable at face value with one son saying no way and the other agreeing to go, we'd have gotten it all wrong.
Do we do the same thing? Do our hearts convict us? Do we hear AND obey? Do we reason ourselves into obedience or into rebellion?
It's Monday following Palm Sunday - how does your Monday appear to have gone?
Prayer:
Father,
Let our hearts and minds be renewed in You so that they ALWAYS override our poor choices - especially those made for appearances' sake. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
Showing posts with label Easter week. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Easter week. Show all posts
Monday, March 29, 2021
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Maundy Thursday
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying,“Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Matthew 26:26-29 NASB
To be married in the Jewish faith requires two ceremonies; the kiddushin and the nisuin. Today, they do both in the same day. However, in biblical times, these were totally separate ceremonies, performed as much as a year apart. The kiddushin was the engagement - but far more binding than today's version. The significance of verse 29 when Jesus said He would not drink of the wine again until He would drink it new with us is this. Christ had already declared Himself the bridegroom back in Matthew, chapter 9. The kiddushin made the bride a legal wife, but without the mutual obligations being made complete. It was sealed with wine. They did not live together as man and wife until the bridegroom came the second time to gather his bride for the second ceremony, the nisuin.
During the time of the kiddushin, the husband would leave the bride to go build (or prepare) a place for his wife and future family to live. They would not be together until the house was finished and the groom's father decided when it was finished. Then the bridegroom would come to fetch his bride, and the nisuin would be performed and it, too, would be sealed with wine.
In John 14:2-3 NASB, Jesus declares, In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
Read again Matthew 26:29, "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
On Thursday of Holy Week - if we throwback to the original Thursday of Holy Week, we find Jesus proclaiming the kiddushin - providing the promise to His bride, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again..."
The question is - Are you ready for the nisuin? Revelation 22:17a-b, Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Anyone who hears should say, “Come!”
Prayer:
Father,
Open our eyes to see You. Open our minds to know You. Open our hearts to say, "Come, Lord Jesus, come!" Create in us the heart of the bride awaiting her groom. Let us work to fulfill our duties during this time away from each other and let us watch for Your returning with joyful expectation! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Matthew 26:26-29 NASB
To be married in the Jewish faith requires two ceremonies; the kiddushin and the nisuin. Today, they do both in the same day. However, in biblical times, these were totally separate ceremonies, performed as much as a year apart. The kiddushin was the engagement - but far more binding than today's version. The significance of verse 29 when Jesus said He would not drink of the wine again until He would drink it new with us is this. Christ had already declared Himself the bridegroom back in Matthew, chapter 9. The kiddushin made the bride a legal wife, but without the mutual obligations being made complete. It was sealed with wine. They did not live together as man and wife until the bridegroom came the second time to gather his bride for the second ceremony, the nisuin.
During the time of the kiddushin, the husband would leave the bride to go build (or prepare) a place for his wife and future family to live. They would not be together until the house was finished and the groom's father decided when it was finished. Then the bridegroom would come to fetch his bride, and the nisuin would be performed and it, too, would be sealed with wine.
In John 14:2-3 NASB, Jesus declares, In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
Read again Matthew 26:29, "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
On Thursday of Holy Week - if we throwback to the original Thursday of Holy Week, we find Jesus proclaiming the kiddushin - providing the promise to His bride, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again..."
The question is - Are you ready for the nisuin? Revelation 22:17a-b, Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Anyone who hears should say, “Come!”
Prayer:
Father,
Open our eyes to see You. Open our minds to know You. Open our hearts to say, "Come, Lord Jesus, come!" Create in us the heart of the bride awaiting her groom. Let us work to fulfill our duties during this time away from each other and let us watch for Your returning with joyful expectation! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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