Most of what we read today is a review from the last several passages, but as it often true with Scripture, I see some new things.
My thoughts tend toward the obvious when I read the parable of the evil farmers. Toward the end of the passage the religious leaders understand Jesus is talking about them, so the farm must be the Jewish people, the priesthood and the means of worship.
But I see a larger picture as well. God fashioned the whole earth, creating animals, plants and planets. He took great care and created with wonderful detail, and into this creation he placed mankind. Seeing that man was alone He created a partner for him, and gave them authority to rule over the planet. In one sense we as humans are the evil farmers…because we wandered away from God. We didn’t teach our children that God is the true author and creator of everything, and instead we filled their heads with lies about how we all came from a galactic accident. Seeing this, God sent his prophets to straighten us out, but we wouldn’t listen. In time we even killed the Son of God, Jesus by nailing Him to cross. What do you suppose the King will do when He decides to revisit the earth? Honestly we are all blessed and fortunate that Jesus is loving and forgiving, or we wouldn’t have a chance.
Thinking of the Sadducees, we know they didn’t believe in the Resurrection. There are many people today who believe that this life is all there is, so in that regard they would be like the Sadducees. Jesus addresses their question about who the wife be married to in heaven, but then goes on to address a question they didn’t ask. In verse 26 He says “as to whether or not the dead will be raised..” They didn’t ask about that, but Jesus addresses it because (as he later comments) they have made a serious error. What is the error? Assuming that death is the end of life, the end of everything. According to Jesus, it very clearly is not the end of anything, but the beginning of an eternal existence. The idea that there is no life after death was so serious an issue, Jesus brought it up with them asking about it. I suppose that if we didn’t believe in life after death, or in judgement after death, we wouldn’t prepare for it. And if we enter into eternity unprepared we will be dismissed from God’s presence and ushered into hell. Don’t forget the teaching about the wedding guests who were invited but showed up unprepared, or the 5 virgins who ran out of oil and missed the opportunity to enter heaven.
When Jesus asks about the Messiah being born of David, and yet David calls him “my Lord” he is pointing out that David saw the Messiah as superior to Him. In their custom, those who were older were more respected, and more likely to be called “my Lord”. The Son of David couldn’t be addressed by David as “my Lord” unless He was older than David…. Aha! Jesus is simply pointing out that He existed before David, and perhaps somehow David knew that the Eternal God would one day be introduced into the timeline from his family tree. Or, David was simply speaking as the Holy Spirit carried him along.
Concluding today with a brief thought about tithes and offerings.
1. Jesus watches as the people contribute. I think this tell us it isn’t inappropriate for the pastors to know what people give.
2. The woman who put in little is credited with contributing much…because it was the larger percentage of her income. Jesus praised her sacrifice, because he knew of it. He announced it to others as a way to teach them. I don’t think the widow lost her blessing because Jesus told others what she had done. Therefore, if someone finds out about a deep sacrifice and uses it to instruct or motivate others it shouldn’t remove the blessing from the person who originally gave.
Hoping and praying for a quick end to the virus, and a good day for you!
PR