I know that often when I read one chapter and then later read the next one somehow in my mind I think the two chapters are two different stories that happened at two separate, distinct times. But I'm realizing that this is not always the case.
For example, Matthew 20 starts out with the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Jesus told this parable right after the rich young ruler of Matthew 19! Making the connection between the two stories helped me a lot.
As I've already mentioned, today's chapter is Matthew 20. It covers, as I mentioned previously, the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus again predicting his death, a mother's request, and how two blind men received their sight. There are a lot of things that I liked about Matthew 20...so I guess I'll just start at the top!
Let me paraphrase and tell you the parable of the workers in the vineyard. If you want to read it for yourself, the parable's found in Matthew 20:1-16.
Basically, there was this guy who went to the marketplace to hire workmen to work in his vineyard. He went to the marketplace just as the sun was coming up, and made a deal with some men that they would receive a denarius for their work. Later in the day this guy did the same thing--at the third, sixth, nineth, and even the eleventh hour--and hired more men to work in his vineyard. Every time, he agreed to pay them a denarius at the end of the day.
The end of the day came, and with it pay time. The vineyard owner told his foreman to pay the men starting with the ones who were hired last. When the foreman came to the men who had worked all day, he payed them one denarius, just liked they had agreed with the vineyard owner. And--catch this--everyone, including the guys who had worked all day got the same amount of money.
Now the guys who had been hired first got a bit angry. Why didn't they get more then the guys who had worked for just one hour? Shouldn't they get more because they had done most of the work, in the heat of the day? The vineyard owner came up to them and said, "Didn't we agree that I'd pay you a denarius for your work? Can't I do with my money what I want? I decided to give everyone the same pay."
Jesus' point? The first shall be last, and the last first.
OK. Onto the next story! I know that this is just another of Jesus' truly awesome miracles, but I was still very touched with the story of two blind men receiving their sight. Let the Bible tell you this story:
"As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" ~Matthew 20:29-30
From what I've learned throughout the years, blind people in Bible times didn't have much if any transportation. I'm sure that these blind men had heard of Jesus, even believed that He could heal them! But how could they get to the Great Healer?? So you can understand these blind men's excitement when they heard that Jesus was passing right by. And what happens?
"The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"~Matthew 20:31
What happens? The crowd tells them to stop, to shut up and be quiet. But these blind guys know that this may be their only chance to see Jesus, and they were sure that he could heal them!! I admire these two men that they didn't shut up when the crowd told them to do so. Don't give up pursuing Jesus, even if the world tells you to give up pursuing him!
The blind mens' faith was rewarded in verses 32-34:
"Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight." Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him."
There are so many good lessons that I could pull from this story. Jesus stopped. It doesn't matter how much he has going on, or how big the crowd, Jesus stops for you. Yes, you! Little, not "important" you...he makes time for you, helps you, cares for you. Jesus stops for you. I just love that.
"Immediately they received their sight and followed him." ~Matthew 20:34
Jesus had done a radical, life-changing thing to these two men. Immediately, RIGHT AWAY they followed him. When Jesus does a radical, life-changing thing to me and you, we need to follow him RIGHT AWAY. It's not just the transformation, the receiving of sight. It's the continual relationship and connection that you have with Jesus. And having, keeping that connection is extremely important.
As I said earlier, I just love this story.
OK! Ready for your shower with SOAP? I still think I like the story of the blind men better than the one that follows, but this one has some good points as well.
Scripture:
"Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave" ~Matthew 20:26,27
Observation:
Have we seen this before? Sounds like Jesus is still uttering his "the first shall be last and the last first" lesson that he's been teaching for quite some time. Still, this verse comes after an interesting little story. See, the mother of James and John (spurred on by her sons, I'm sure) petitioned Jesus and asked that when he would set up his kingdom, that one of her sons could sit on his left and the other on his right. Jesus told her that it was not his place to decide such matters. Plus, he said, those spots are reserved for those who my Father has chosen to sit there. Naturally, when the other ten disciples heard about this request, they were pretty mad. That's when Jesus said this verse, going on to say that "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." ~verse 28.
Application:
First shall be last, and last first. Whoever wants to be come great must serve first. It's human nature to want to be first, the best, the one in control. But we need to remember that "the first shall be last". We need to pray to God for humbleness, and that we will do whatever God asks us to do....even if that means mopping the floor.
Prayer:
Dear God, help me not to get all proud and stuck-up like some people have. Please give me humbleness, and a willingness to do whatever you ask of me. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
P.S.--To learn more about this blogging-through-the-gospels program, or if YOU would like to join yourself (you're more than welcome-jump right in!!) click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment