July 15: Affirming His Grace.
HIS APPEAL.
"Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you."--Matthew 21:31
There are true followers of Jesus in the most unexpected places. Our ministry, Jesus 101, recently received a wonderful letter from a prisoner describing his response after reading our booklet, "Luke: Salvation for ALL." "Even though I am incarcerated," he wrote, "my soul has been set free!" He ended his letter with an excited "Woo-hoo!" As I was reading it, it occurred to me that some people in jail are feeling free, while some others in the church pews may actually feel incarcerated. Quite a paradox, isn't it?
Matthew 21:31 is one of the most shocking verses in the New Testament. It's part of the parable of the two sons that Jesus used to respond to the chief priests and elders who questioned His authority (see Matthew 21:23). In the parable, a man appeals to his two sons to go work in the vineyard. The first son responds negatively but later regrets his answer and goes (verse 29). The second responds positively but then changes his mind and doesn't go (verse30). Jesus asked them: "Which of the two did the will of his father?" and they answered, "the first" (verse 31). Jesus gave the shocking interpretation: "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you" (verse 31). The most unlikely ones had believed, but the chief priests and elders had not (verse 32). Tax collectors and prostitutes, despised by the religious leaders (see Luke 18:11), were getting to the kingdom ahead of the law-abiding, Sabbath-keeping priests and elders. Those who had religious ancestry and pedigree were in peril of being excluded from the kingdom (see Matthew 8:11, 12). In the most literal sense, the last were first, and the first were last. The appeal of Jesus is meant for each one of us, whether we consider ourselves religious or unlikely followers. In the Gospels, the religious folk are always in the gravest danger because they don't recognize their need. Let's respond faithfully to the appeal of Jesus by examining our own hearts and accepting His grace, which none of us deserve.
My Response:_________________________________________________________
HIS APPEAL.
"Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you."--Matthew 21:31
There are true followers of Jesus in the most unexpected places. Our ministry, Jesus 101, recently received a wonderful letter from a prisoner describing his response after reading our booklet, "Luke: Salvation for ALL." "Even though I am incarcerated," he wrote, "my soul has been set free!" He ended his letter with an excited "Woo-hoo!" As I was reading it, it occurred to me that some people in jail are feeling free, while some others in the church pews may actually feel incarcerated. Quite a paradox, isn't it?
Matthew 21:31 is one of the most shocking verses in the New Testament. It's part of the parable of the two sons that Jesus used to respond to the chief priests and elders who questioned His authority (see Matthew 21:23). In the parable, a man appeals to his two sons to go work in the vineyard. The first son responds negatively but later regrets his answer and goes (verse 29). The second responds positively but then changes his mind and doesn't go (verse30). Jesus asked them: "Which of the two did the will of his father?" and they answered, "the first" (verse 31). Jesus gave the shocking interpretation: "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you" (verse 31). The most unlikely ones had believed, but the chief priests and elders had not (verse 32). Tax collectors and prostitutes, despised by the religious leaders (see Luke 18:11), were getting to the kingdom ahead of the law-abiding, Sabbath-keeping priests and elders. Those who had religious ancestry and pedigree were in peril of being excluded from the kingdom (see Matthew 8:11, 12). In the most literal sense, the last were first, and the first were last. The appeal of Jesus is meant for each one of us, whether we consider ourselves religious or unlikely followers. In the Gospels, the religious folk are always in the gravest danger because they don't recognize their need. Let's respond faithfully to the appeal of Jesus by examining our own hearts and accepting His grace, which none of us deserve.
My Response:_________________________________________________________
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