I wonder if this is where the saying "An idle mind is the devil's playground" comes from? If not, its what I thought of when I read about the people just standing around doing nothing and the vineyard owner coming to hire them.
The workers who are hired last get the same wages as the workers who are hired first, which the firsties don't think is so dandy. However, tis what they agreed to.
Here's what else this parable made me think of.....Prisoners on death row who, at that eleventh hour, repent and ask for forgiveness. They receive the exact same treatment as the monk who has dedicated his life to Christ. The only peace I find with it, is that God will know their heart, and will know if its a true repentance or one just out of desperation.
Again we read about the disciples vying for the sweet spot next to Jesus in heaven and Him denying them that place, as it is not for Him, He says, to decide.
And more blind men, given sight. I like to think that this is a way of Him telling us, to not follow blindly. Have faith, yes, but not blind faith. Understand what you are agreeing too, so that you will better know where you are going and can see the road that will lead you there. If you follow blindly, it may be easier for someone to cause you to stumble, as you are always relying on someones else to show you the way. You may even take a wrong turn at Albuquerque.
And then the scene in the Temple, a very dramatic scene in Jesus Christ Superstar, where Ted Neely, playing Christ, hits some super high notes. I love this story, because I feel like maybe some churches have become a den of robbers.
We have the tree not bearing fruit, forced to wither up.
1 comment:
I really like your assessment.
Ok, I want to disspell some of the myth in the verses about the workers getting the same wages. This is not supoprt for socialism as some liberation theologists would have you think. You can see, that by saying that they are taking it completely out of context. This is a private person employing other individuals. And they agree to their wages. The owner says, I choose to give... See that he CHOSE. He goes on in the next verse to say, Am I not permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? Besides again the use of the word choose, this definitely denotes private property. The owner goes on to say he is being generous. Giving someone what they deserve is not being generous. Generous is giving them more than what they deserve. So, taken completely into context with one another we can see that these couple verses do not, in any way, espouse socialism. And in context with the rest of the chapter are a metaphor for our earthly service and heavenly reward.
And yes again, Jesus not only makes it clear that none of the disciples are above the rest, but He also makes it clear that it's not even His decision. So the idea that Jesus gave His authority/power to Peter above all other disciples is simply not true.
Jesus getting angry in the temple and turning over tables and driving out the money changers makes it clear that getting angry is not a sin, in and of itself.
Jesus talks about faith and how important and powerful it is. It is important to note here, that, as Chrisitans if we are willing to serve God, and adhere to His will, then we have to keep in mind that that will supercede any of our own selfish desires/requests. So you may not always get what you want, but God will always give you what you need (spiritually). That is still a matter of faith, though, because you're having faith that He has your best interests at heart.
Jesus again elevates John the Baptist in honor. The vineyard owner and his servants and son is a metaphor for the prophets, John the Baptist and disciples, and Jesus. The Jews rejected all of them. Matt. 21:43 is what some white supremacist groups try to use to say that the Jews are no longer God's chosen people, and that the gentiles are. But like I always say, if you read the WHOLE Bible, it's clear that God's promises are for all. He is not talking so much of Jews as He is anyone who rejects Him.
Tomorrow is Luke 18:15-19:48
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