Dodging a despot’s paranoia

𝟭 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝟮𝟮:𝟴 ” 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲? 𝗡𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲. 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆.”

David was a rising star in Israel. The esteem he was held in had surpassed that of King Saul. That didn’t just irk Saul, it drove him into deep suspicion.

There was presumed treachery that filled Saul’s heart and his thinking:

𝟭 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝟭𝟴:𝟴 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝘆; 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗹𝘆. “𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀,” 𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁, “𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺?”

Now, Samuel the prophet had already told Saul that he had been rejected as king – by God. Saul’s hold on power, then, was only by human means. And in the tradition of royal families, there was a dynasty to be upheld and defended. Threats like David needed to be eliminated.

But David had no intention of overthrowing Saul; he served the king with exemplary loyalty. He was NOT, as the king accused, lying in wait for him. He was fleeing for his life from a murderous tyrant.

The paranoia that governs the life of some in power causes acts of malice towards even the most innocent and upstanding people under them. Indeed, the worst thing you can do under a tyrant is do your job well. Any acclaim that comes your way is perceived as something taken away from the despot. There can only be one star – the ruler.

While autocratic, tyrannical, even murderous rulers do exist in the world even today I am thankful to never have one running political things where I have lived; at least to the extent of hunting down their enemies to kill them physically. However, the controlling spirit of stultifying leadership is everywhere, and I have seen that.

If I’m under such an authority, I do think it’s God’s will and self-preservation to escape or hideout in the corners such as David did. While it is part of any employment to do what it takes to advance the corporation or organization, being slain in reputation, limited in future development or otherwise discredited and disparaged is harmful to the soul. I have been there; and my refuge was lateral movement. Escape is not always possible, so shelter is advisable. I prayed, I moved as I saw opportunity.

If I AM in a role of authority, woe to me if I become jealous towards those who report to me – I need to fight that zealously. For indeed, may they be more gifted and productive than I am. I need to promote them, even above and beyond me, seeing my role in their lives as nurturer, even for a short season. And in that role, I rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15), at any advancement.

Hierarchy is solidly scriptural and may I live in the structure with a heart after God.

Scourge of the unfaithful

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟮:𝟰𝟳‭-‬𝟰𝟴 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲.

Peter had asked whether Jesus’ parable of readiness for his return was given for the disciples only, or all people. Jesus responded by describing the phases of judgment that will occur when he returns for his bride, the church. The overall advice to draw from the passage is “Be Ready”. That is, fight any temptation to slough off and become lax or negligent in one’s responsibilities. The picture is of diligence.

The word for “beating” means to flay or scourge – to whip, that is. It’s punishment in some form. The servant in this case is a believer in Christ who has not maintained a life directed by what s/he has learned and practiced. The shirking or malpractice of a life Jesus has saved will be punished to varying degrees. It’s hard to know what form it will take – if this refers to judgment that occurs after this life. If it is in this life, the blows can take many forms, including loss and removal from prominence.

The blows to be rendered to the disobedient servant is a clear warning to desist in abusing or ignoring what has been formed in the life of the servant. That admonition should be enough to get the believer’s attention.

The final sentence (“Everyone to whom …”) both predates and corrects the following Marxist statement:

“𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑”

.. as that translates into redistribution of goods by the state. The oppression wrought by forced acquiescence to that iron-fisted edict has physically killed millions.

Jesus is speaking of willful giving – heaven’s purposes surely do require more from those with more. But it is out of the obedient heart of the servant and as directed by God that the “more” proceeds. It is to God that the servant of the gospel reports, and it is for (and truly, to) God the well-endowed servant gives. The demand is an expectation of love.

The passage is stark in its declaration of judgment for believers. The servants described are NOT those outside of Christ. It’s chilling in its duty-bound cause and effect proclamation, but what do I expect to happen to abusers within the Kingdom? Or do I judge them as not part of the Kingdom because of their bad words and actions? I am not the judge, I beat no one and can look on no one with an eye for revenge or payback. That’s God’s job.

For me, the message is to remain diligent in my relationship with Jesus and my fellow believers. Do NOT let my love grow cold and keep trusting God for all he will do.

Undesirable heroes

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭𝟬:𝟯𝟯‭-‬𝟯𝟰 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻, 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆𝗲𝗱, 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝘄 𝗵𝗶𝗺, 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗛𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗶𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝗺.

In his story to demonstrate what a “neighbor” is, Jesus made a hated Samaritan the hero of the story. The ethnicity and place of origin of this character was no mistake – Jesus was confronting national pride and exclusion. That tendency in Jesus’ teaching and actions is nothing short of an agenda. It stands as an unexpected point of focus for a Messiah who people expected to establish the nation of Israel as supreme over all others.

It confronted pride head on. That a Samaritan could be the only righteous person in the story while the religious leaders (priest and Levite) simply could not be bothered was a deep and cutting criticism of the current state of Jewish religiosity. Jesus never opposed the Law of Moses nor its faithful observance. But he pointedly opposed the corruption that came to dominate that faith during his days on earth.

Though the story was particular towards neighborliness, first century Judaism was hardly the only faith community practicing tribal and racial self-declaration of righteousness with literally nothing to show for its claims. To this day religion self-aggrandizes and puffs up its authorities and managers of ritual and law. And to this day it is anywhere from derogatory exclusivity to murderously hateful towards those outside its organization. Yet, says Jesus, it is outside corporate religion where true neighbors are found in heart and practice. And loving one’s neighbor is loving God, says the Law which the religious rulers claimed to uphold.

Am I like this Samaritan? Can I be bothered to help the bleeding, naked, dying victim? Do I even see that person? Certainly, the lesson goes far beyond a physical victim of violent crime. Indeed, it is the inner wounds that may need binding up and dressing. Indeed, there is a convalescence of soul that I can be a part of.

And do I allow my “least desirable” neighbors to be heroes in my stories and life? Permitting them to be good neighbors makes me a good neighbor. Telling the stories of their righteousness and heroism lifts them up in my consideration and that of others.

REturning despite circumstance

𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝟭:𝟭𝟲-𝟭𝟳 “𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗹𝗶𝗷𝗮𝗵, 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱.”

John the Baptist was to have the ministry of turning – more precisely REturning – people back towards their God. Commensurate with that was a reconciliation between the generations and repentance of sin to Biblical “wisdom” or righteous precepts. It was to be done to prepare the people for someone and something greater to come.

John would later point to Jesus as that “someone” to come. But inherent in this proclamation is a statement that the people of Israel were not ready to receive their Messiah. They had strayed (or were led astray) from following the ways of the Lord. In occupied, oppressed Israel, the compromised state of mind and path in life is understandable. It’s remarkable the God chose this time to send John the Baptist and Jesus.

Part and parcel of John’s message was that oppression and discouragement were no excuse for not following the Lord. Indeed, there was a thriving and overcoming implicit in the ministry of the suffering and dying Messiah. THAT was not expected by anyone in first century Israel. What the people expected and wanted was a Messiah who would throw off Roman rule and re-establish Israel as THE world power. Jesus would indeed conquer Rome, though not through military/political power. John’s ministry prepared the people for righteousness in the midst of suffering and overcoming despite trial and opposition.

Where do I explain away my ethical shortcomings and compromises with “what I’ve been through”? Where do I do that for groups of people of whom I’m a part? It doesn’t wash and it doesn’t mesh with the gospel I profess to follow. Perseverance and patience (literally “longsuffering” in the original Greek) are products of following Jesus. Do I pray for them to develop and be lived out in my life? If not, I need to.

𝗛𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝟭𝟮:𝟭𝟭 𝗡𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗳𝘂𝗹. 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻, 𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗶𝘁.

Fellowship of murderers

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝟭𝟱:𝟳‭, ‬𝟭𝟭 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗮𝘀 …. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗯𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱.

The annual prisoner freedom ritual was meant to keep the peace between Rome and those of occupied Israel. There is no biblical record of it being done throughout the Roman Empire, but that would be consistent with the concessions made to maintain control yet allow some local political fervor to simmer. Indeed, the Pax Romana (Peace of Rome) operated at the tips of swords and spears. So, not really peace at all.

That Barabbas was a murderer (likely of one of the opponents of Israel) was an appeal to his candidacy for release. But that he was a murderer at all was perhaps more so, for his advocates were actively using Roman force to murder the One who served neither their aspirations nor that of Rome – Jesus Christ. He was far scarier than any mere criminal or insurrectionist, because His insurrection was against their sin and corrupt authority. He had to go.

The riddle of the cross is that when humankind does its worst, God’s best results. Murderers free murderers and at some level even flaunt their actions with a destructive arrogance that hurts themselves more than anyone else. God pays love forward through His Son and establishes eternal supremacy over the small reign of small people.

The cross wins. Always and forever. In my life and that of all humanity.

The hearts of sheep and goats

Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

…

45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

Among the parables, there is none as less-veiled as this one, where the King judges the sheep and the goats.  The sheep are to be saved eternally, the goats, condemned.  And the measure of judgment is their former treatment of “the least of these”.  As Keith Green pointed out, the distinction is what these people did or didn’t do.  A casual reading would therefore conclude that people are saved by helping the downtrodden alone.  So, a life of charity, performed with whatever motive, produces eternal salvation.

That take on the parable is proven false by the words of the sheep and goats themselves – they had NO IDEA what they had done to warrant this judgment.  So, they did not do what they did with any eternal aim. 

Jesus is citing the fruit of salvation.  His followers will care for the “least of these” by the prompting of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  There is no accounting of the work; it simply flows.  Even when there is not ostensible effort extended (for whatever reason), there is prayer and compassion in the hearts of his people. 

It is a sobering call to compassion.  If I claim to follow Jesus – and I do – do I have instances of helping those who cannot help themselves and can never pay me back?  Do I pay love forward?  I certainly intend to, and taking inventory, I certainly have.

Should I cease to care and therefore to act, for reason of pain or injustice or personal priorities or simple negligence, I start venturing into goat territory.    Love grows cold if not renewed in Christ; it is a chief strategy of the enemy of my soul to advance that. 

The parable acts as a good thermometer, then, a vital test – not of actions but of the heart. 

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

… that is, those who were not formerly praising God now are, because of the heart-driven actions of his sheep.

Prophets and profits

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟯:𝟯𝟰‭-‬𝟯𝟱 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀, 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗳𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵, 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗔𝗯𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗭𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗮𝗵, 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗿.

The parable of the landowner who sent his servants to collect rent was very thinly veiled. The religious rulers and authorities in Jerusalem were rebellious tenants, lording what they knew and what they had over the people. Any prophet sent to call them to righteousness that was the heart of the Law of Moses, was maltreated, even killed. Such talk threatened their position. Prophets endangered their profits.

The generation of leaders alive at the time Christ’s arrival in Israel were to bear the guilt of all who came before. That’s because it was no mere prophet visitation they witnessed – it was God the Son. Their crucifying him would carry the guilt weight of all who came before; such was the miraculous and doctrinal witness they had seen. They had seen it and attributed it to the work of the devil, blaspheming the Holy Spirit, the only unpardonable sin.

There is no payback in justice, only a making right of wrong. In that there is punishment for the wrongdoer and some of that is severe, even eternal. The prophets uniformly strongly advocated for justice for the poor, and ministry on behalf of the downtrodden was central to Jesus’ purpose on earth as well. Many of the miracles not only restored physical well-being but elevated their recipients to a better, more productive and permanently rewarded life. Arguably, the prospect of lifting people up (from under foot) was the central terror of the religious leaders. They NEEDED poor know-nothings to exploit and serve them. In the theology of the religious rulers, the poor pleasing them was the same as pleasing God.

Do I resist the prophet? Do I cling to position and whatever power I have come into – including the power of influence? I certainly do not want to. While New Testament prophecy is to undergo testing (𝟭 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝟱:𝟮𝟭 𝗧𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱), corrective words spoken tend to be opposed.

Without question, “prophets” can be equally intoxicated with power as anyone else, but there is a real deal. Authentic prophecy is not necessarily pleasing; it brings me up short.

It was God’s love that motivated Jesus. It was God’s love that motivated those who came before. Love pulls no punches but is expended for my good. A strong ploy goes on in the mind where the supposed motives of those who don’t please me become malicious and oppressive. While that can happen, let me learn to take those thoughts captive and let God speak. For I need to hear all God says.

Generosity and Labor

Matthew 20:15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’

The master of the field had decided to give equal wages to all his workers no matter how long they had worked.  The ones who had been at it the longest were upset by this, since they only earned the same as those who had worked a few hours.  It was a labor dispute.

Then the master replied with the questions above.  There are 2 aspects to his words:

1. The protesting workers had been paid what they had agreed, but considered that they had control of what all others were paid.  They wanted equal pay for equal work but the master decided differently.  At the heart of that is an assumption that they thought the money was theirs to distribute, not his.
2. The master’s intent was generosity.  In a day and in a place where people lived hand to mouth, a day’s wages would ensure a family ate that night only.  He wanted no one to starve.  Nobody in the story was lazy, they were just unemployed, even into the late afternoon.

For 1., state-level socialism does in fact remove ownership of fields and the wherewithal to pay workers from society.  The state is the master and its wages and conditions are engineered and metered.  The workers get their way – equal pay for equal work.  Except that corruption invariably creeps in and work ethic degrades because there is no reason to work well or even care about one’s toil.  There is no advancement and there is no reward for extra diligence.

Ownership of resources allows for incentivizing good attitude and extra work.  If a “master” grows in wealth, his/her resources can be re-invested in people and entities that will continue to grow.  Greed notwithstanding, the organic seeding of resources has the often-realized potential of causing people and corporate entities to thrive.  Individuals can accumulate wealth as well, becoming “masters” in their own right; it’s part of the system. 

As a follower of Jesus, I believe all I have belongs to God.  Not a few times have people accused and insinuated that I need to give here or there – to them or others in need.  Yet what I have is mine to steward, to pray for wisdom about how and where to give and invest.  I am allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me.

For 2., the scourge of the wealthy – their greed – is vividly exposed.  If I want to protect freedom of resource distribution and the growth of my estate and the community and nation, I MUST practice generosity.  Greed is why socialism arose and why it keeps its place as an alternative to free enterprise.  And greed is not only the practice of the well-to-do (though being greedy with a lot has larger impact).  Ten thousand mini-misers have the same effect as one wealthy one.  The workers in the story were not generous to be sure; they wanted what was coming to them and a strict limit to what the late arrivals were paid.  They did indeed begrudge the generosity of the master.

God is infinitely generous.  His reward is not “fair” as humans would compute it, but abounding in grace as an expression of unconditional love.  If I receive the free gift of salvation – and I do – I cannot with integrity begrudge the generosity of my God towards those who don’t deserve it in my eyes.  Let me learn this deeply.

Mercy, not sacrifice

Matthew 12:6-8 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

The religious rulers in Jerusalem at the time of Christ were sensitive to keeping the letter of the Law.  They believed, and it was not without reason, that lawlessness would be the downfall of Israel and there would be a catastrophe akin to the exile to Babylon 600 years prior.  However, as Paul would later write:

2 Cor 3:6 … the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

For the former lawlessness was not born of relaxing a tight-fisted observance of Mosaic Law, it was born of hateful and selfish hearts.  While the Law spelled out a litany of crime and punishment couples, it was always in God’s heart to forgive.  Penitent, soft and caring hearts that echoed that of God were the outcome the Lord sought.  THAT was the Israel founded through Moses, and THAT was the Israel Jesus sought as well.

Mercy over sacrifice is a clear ordering of attitude.  It’s God’s attitude toward humankind, and it SHOULD be the attitude of people towards one another.  Jesus’ saying he was Lord of the Sabbath puts the Law in its place.  His saying that someone greater than the temple was a shocking revelation of Emmanuel, God with us.  Jesus is greater than any moral code, for mercy triumphs judgment.

Let me, then be merciful as I receive mercy.  May I let God’s light shine on the darkness in my life and heart and be set free through the blood of the Lamb.  I need mercy to triumph, as we all do.

Opposition endured

Hebrews 12:9 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Opposition is to be expected.  The claim the Jesus is God the Son will be abrasive to those who say there is no God and those who believe God having a Son to be blasphemous.  They will do whatever they can to discredit, disqualify and marginalize the message of the Gospel.  They will overplay grace to the point of eliminating sin from consideration.  They will overplay judgment to the point of becoming God’s agents of wrath.

To contrast this opposition to modern polarized battles of culture wars, if I’m not careful, the imbalance of both sides will penetrate my own thinking.  The over-reliance and -emphasis of policy will dull the edge of the sword of the Word.  Platforms and ideologies that allow or punish whatever groups think are evil blur the redemption Jesus accomplished.  All can be forgiven.  All can be made righteous and holy.  Human reason and its formulations have forever opposed God’s purposes.  It’s easier to back a candidate or party or ideologue than follow Jesus.

It’s hardly that Jesus stands for lawlessness or lack of conviction.  That’s absurd.  But his compassion goes deeper than those confronting him as does his heart-searching conviction of sin.  Laws cannot be made to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ; it’s something only the Holy Spirit can do.

As the passage implies, weariness and loss of heart are real dangers.  The arguments Jesus had (and there were many) – challenging his authority, identity and actions – show the nature of the opposition and his radical clinging to justice and grace.  To be sure, that opposition led to his death.  Before that, it was assassination of his character and denunciation of his message.  He endured it all and won.  May I (and we) do the same.