Matthew 21:1-17

Matthew 21:1-17 NIV

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”

The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’ ?”
And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

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The Triumphant Entry is celebrated the Sunday before Easter, Psalm Sunday or Passion Sunday. It is the beginning of Holy Week, ending with Good Friday and the Easter Vigil over the weekend. Palm Sunday celebrates how Jesus was hailed by the crowds of Jerusalem gathered for Passover with shouts of Hosanna, which means "Lord, save us."

I notice first that Jesus approached the city from the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives is prominent in messianic prophecy, for it is said the messiah will appear there upon the great and terrible Day of the Lord. It is a day of judgement, when Israel will be crushed and taken into exile. Half of the city will remain and the Lord will pursue Israel's enemies and crush them. He will bring back the exiles and God will reign on the earth forever.

On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem... The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord , and his name the only name.
Zechariah 14:4a, 9 NIV

Jesus' riding upon a donkey is also fulfillment of messianic prophecy from Zechariah 9:9. Matthew quotes a lot of scriptures in this passage. Psalm 118 is a pilgrim song sung as they approach Jerusalem.

Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
Psalm 118:25-27 NIV

You can see that the events of that day is a reenactment of these long held hopes in messiah. Jesus is fulfilling these prophecies. Jesus cleansing the temple of moneychangers is yet another fulfillment. Jesus quoted Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. As Hezekiah cleansed the temple of defiling idols (2nd Chronicles 29), Jesus removed the corrupt moneychangers. The temple is God's dwelling place on earth. Christians later understood the church to be the new temple and the dwelling place of God is in the community of believers.

Finally Jesus quotes Psalm 8 verse 2. The praise of the children is yet another prophetic fulfillment. The point of all this is to reveal that Jesus is the answer to God's promises to Israel, just not in the way Israel expected.

The tension in the story sets the pace for the rest of the week, for while the crowds welcome Jesus as their king, the religious leadership did not. The cross is looming large.

Two more interesting facts: Bethphage and Bethany are villages mentioned. These were both on the Mount of Olives. Bethany was located on the summit, Bethphage about halfway up.

Bethany means "house of misery". It's there that Jesus is anointed by Mary, or some unnamed woman, for His burial. It's where Lazarus died.

Bethphage means "house of young figs." Young figs are not ready for eating. In the next story, Jesus saw a fig tree on the way to the temple and approached it hoping to eat some of its fruit. There were no figs ready to be eaten. So the name of the village foreshadows this story.

I am moved in two ways by the Triumphant Entry. First I attach to reading the story the many wonderful moments in worship, celebrating this event in the life of our Lord. Just as the city was electric with joy over welcoming their righteous king, so is the church as we celebrate our Lord, who is the King of kings. Secondly, this passage in Matthew reveals how the Bible is such an amazing book. It's like no other book in the world. The connections between the history of Israel and their prophets to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus are plentious. I'm always amazed by the depth of meaning in names, places, and the actions of Jesus. Reading the gospel accounts helps me to know that I am part of this great work of redemption which God has carried out from the very beginning of time. My sense of self worth soars. While the world may belittle us, God's love speaks louder and elevates us. It makes me want to grab a palm branch and wave it shouting in celebration, "Hosanna! Lord, save us!"

Matthew 20:29-34

Matthew 20:29-34 NIV

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!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 
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.

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Jericho was the first city to be conquered by Joshua and the Israelites as they took possession of the promised land, which God had promised to Abraham and his descendants forever. You may remember that the Israelites marched around the city walls for seven straight days. On the last day they shouted and blasted trumpets and the walls of Jericho fell.

In today's story there is a different kind of conquest occurring. The enemy is not Canaanites, but blindness. Two blind men call out to Jesus. I think, in Matthew's typical fashion, the two men represent the spiritual blindness of both the Jews and the Gentiles. They are unable to recognize the visitation of God in the person of Jesus. And the weapons for overcoming the enemy are not shouts, trumpets and swords, but the compassion of Christ.

The men call out to Jesus addressing him as the Son of David, a messianic title. They had hope that Jesus was God's promise fulfilled to raise up a righteous king to save Israel from their enemies. Hope is the key to faith and seeing with spiritual eyes.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Hebrews 11:1, 6 NIV

These two blind men sought Jesus with hope and faith that they might see. The crowd stood in their way, but they didn't let that stop them. They cried out all the more. Perseverance in our hope is key to gaining the healing and holiness that comes through faith. How often do I give up on prayer when things get difficult. How easily do you fold when obstacles stand in your way? Learn from these men and their example. Persevere in hope. Never give up and never give in to the temptation to despair.

When Jesus stood before them, He asked, "What do you want me to do for you?" The answered very clearly, "Lord, we want to see." When seeking the Lord's help, be specific about what you want Him to do for you. Continue to pray with confidence in His compassion for you. He will give you the aid you need.

It's important to note that what we ask for must be in harmony with God's purpose to bring the reign of His love upon the earth. What I need and what I want are not always the same. Christ will always give what is needed. So if that raise doesn't come that your praying for, or if your infirmity isn't healed, keep watching for what the Lord is giving you. Sometimes suffering with an infirmity is a path to spiritual growth. The Israelites suffered much in the wilderness Breyer reaching the promised land. The journey forged them into a people ready to take possession of the land. Above all, we need to grow in our sight, knowing Jesus more and more.

As Jesus and His disciples make their way to Jerusalem the children and the people will greet Him with Hosanna. But it won't last. The same crowd will later turn on Him and shout "Crucify Him!" They sadly will not see that the kingdom of love is upon them. How often do we miss seeing the moment of God's visitation in our lives, even when we join others in worship?

May the Lord have compassion and open our eyes that we may see and follow.

Matthew 20:17-28

Matthew 20:17-28 NIV

Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” 
Then the mother of Zebedeeʼs sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
“What is it you want?” he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
“You donʼt know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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Death is victory, slavery is greatness; these are the upside down values of the kingdom of God. The world doesn't think of life this way. Jesus' horrific torture and death upon a Roman crucifixion stake is utter humiliation to the world. And to make yourself a lowly servant is to debase yourself. But Jesus is willingly heading to Jerusalem and His destiny to die upon the cross. He tells His disciples that to become a slave to others elevates your status in the kingdom. Those who are last in this world are first in the next.

Jesus reminds the disciples yet again that He will die in Jerusalem, but rise again on the third day. The mother of James and John asked Jesus to promise them the favored places of power when Jesus takes His throne, one to sit at His right and the other upon His left. Clearly she and her sons had not understood kingdom values. They're still thinking in the way of the world.

Jesus told them they didn't know what they were asking for. He asked if they could drink from the same cup as He, meaning His cross. They said they could. Jesus affirmed that they would indeed die for the sake of the gospel. According to tradition all but one the Twelve Apostles died for their proclamation of the gospel. James was the first of the Twelve to be martyred. In 42 A.D., he was arrested and, at Herod Agrippa's command, beheaded. John, the youngest Apostle, was the only one not martyred. However, in the year 95, according to catholicism.org, he was taken prisoner at Ephesus and sent to trial in Rome. Sentenced to death, he was boiled in oil before the Latin gate. He was miraculously preserved from the burning, yet he he did feel the pain. The miracle moved the emperor to nullify the death sentence and to send him in exile to the island of Patmos. He was later freed and died at Ephesus in the year 100 when he was eighty-eight years old.

Both men would later suffer terribly for the sake of the gospel, but now they are dreaming of political power with Jesus as their king. Jesus told them it wasn't in His authority to give them the privilege to sit at His right and left hand. Those places were reserved already for those God the Father had chosen. Ironically, those were the two thieves that hung at His right and left at Calvary.

The other apostles were angry with James and John for trying to get high places in the government of God's messiah. So Jesus had to pull them all aside and take the opportunity to teach them. He told them that they are behaving like gentiles, for their rulers are little more than bullies, lording it over their people. The Christian is not that way. We are to be servant leaders.

Jesus told them,

...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 NIV

He basically said, "I didn't come to this earth to be served like a pagan ruler. I came to serve and give my life as a ransom to set the world free." So in the same way we should not seek to be served, but rather look for opportunities to serve those in need.

I'm not a good example of service. There was a time when I might have been, but I'm too busy with my own agenda, my own earthly concerns to seek out the lost and the hurting and offer them help and hope. Most days I turn away and avoid the news. I notice the beggars at the intersections on my way home from work and I turn my eyes away, thinking that I have my own problems. I don't need to get involved in theirs. I doubt I'm alone in this.

I doubt many of us are looking for places of power in the kingdom of God, because we don't think of the church as the kingdom. But there are plenty who think their opinion should be heeded by their hired pastor, rather than accept his or her anointed leadership. We assume that our longevity, our support, and volunteering should give us the pastor's ear and influence over him or her. So when the music on Sundays doesn't please us, we complain. When the message challenges us, we send nasty anonymous notes and letters. Do you see the parallels to James and John?

But then there are those saints in the church who demand nothing. They are happy to serve quietly and do not seek any thanks or public recognition. There are those who give generously and no one knows they practically carry the congregation financially, while the rest of us enjoy the privileges they have sponsored.

As you think upon your journey with Jesus, would you be needing a sit down lesson on kingdom values? Or would Jesus point to your example, like that of little children, and say that the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these?

Matthew 20:1-16

Matthew 20:1-16 NIV

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
“About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.
About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
“ ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
“When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
“The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didnʼt you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Donʼt I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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I have a belief that treasure in heaven is based on good works. The more good works you do, the greater your treasure. Entrance to heaven is not based on good works, but in faith in God's mercy through Jesus Christ. We cannot do enough to earn our way into heaven. Christ has done all that is required. We only need to believe and trust in Him as our savior and friend. But works are important. Works that have a divine impact are the very result of faith. We were made for good works.

For we are Godʼs handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV

And according to scripture we will be judged by our works.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV

Jesus' parable flies in the face of my belief if read as a depiction of heaven. It would lead me to believe that all believers receive the same reward when we enter eternity. Yet that doesn't line up with other passages where varying levels of reward are discussed. What follows are several passages illustrating my point. Skim through a few.

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:2-4 NIV

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven...
Matthew 5:11-12 NIV

Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophetʼs reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous personʼs reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
Matthew 10:41-42 NIV

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Fatherʼs glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
Matthew 16:26-27 NIV

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Matthew 19:30 NIV

And probably most convincing of all, that there are varying levels of reward in the new age in the kingdom of heaven, is Paul's writing in his first letter to the Corinthians.

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each personʼs work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 NIV

I will admit that it could be argued that all of these passages have less to do with afterlife rewards and more to do with our quality of life now through the spiritual rewards that come from following Christ and becoming like Him in heart and mind. Jesus beckons His disciples to store up treasures in heaven. You decide what you believe.

Having stated my case about believing there are varying degrees of heavenly reward based on what we've done in this life, let's look at this parable from a different angle. I think this parable is less about reward, and more about God's mercy and generosity.

The late comers are given the same pay as those who worked all day from the landowner. This seemed unfair to the early workers. When they complained the landowner asked if they were jealous because of his generosity. They worked for the agreed to customary wages for a dayworker.

I certainly think it's unfair to pay the men who worked one hour a day's wage, but this parable is a metaphor pointing to the inclusion of gentiles into God's people. The Christians Jews struggled with this notion for a time. It could also point to the Jews who have abandoned law keeping righteousness and lived sinful lives. At Jesus' preaching they repented and came to faith, seeking forgiveness. It's never too late to come in from the dark and walk with Christ into the light of life. No matter when you respond to God's claim on your life, there is an abundance of God's love and mercy for you.

Whatever my reward, I don't think I'll be dissatisfied in heaven. I don't think I'll be unhappy with my lot. I've done some good. I've done some evil. I've neglected helping others and chosen to serve the needs of my family and my own comfort. God is just and I trust in His righteousness and His mercy through Christ. I doubt I'll be first in the kingdom because of my American tendencies toward luxuries and entertainment, but I don't think I'll be last in line either. And I hope I won't be jealous of the reward others receive. What's important is to help each other on the journey to be welcomed at the gates of paradise.

Matthew 19:16-30

Matthew 19:16-30 NIV

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” he inquired. 
Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

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“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied.

I love that! There's only one who is good, God alone. Compared to the perfect love of God there is no one who is good. There is no one who can claim righteousness.

The rich young man thinks perhaps he is good enough to gain eternal life. He wants to know what he must do. He approached Jesus and Jesus told him to keep the law of Moses and he would enter life.

This instructs us on how Jesus defined goodness. Goodness is not defined by our ideas, but by God's will and character revealed in the scriptures, specifically the Law of Moses. Oftentimes we may think to ourselves, "I'm a good person", and in general that's true. People are basically good. But compared to God, we are evil. The Law exposes our sinful inclinations when we are told thou shalt not.

Paul wrote,

I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting.
Romans 7:7-8 NIV

None of us are blameless before God. We're part of a corrupt and fallen world. We fall short of God's glory.

Jesus tells the rich man keeping the Law will give him life. Notice how Jesus lists the commandments.

Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
Matthew 19:18-19 NIV

What's present are the commands that can be outwardly observed. But what's missing are the commands having to do with devotion to God, like have no other gods, make no idols, don't take the Lord's name in vain, and remember the Sabbath.

The young man says he's kept the Law since he was a boy. He asks what he still lacks. Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions, give it to the poor and follow Him. The man couldn't do it. I don't think I could either. That's the point. Earthly wealth had become an idol, a god which had his heart. His heart was divided between devotion to God and his wealth.

The disciples were amazed for Jesus told them it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. They thought if the rich man, who was obviously blessed by God with wealth, couldn't get into the kingdom, then who could? Jesus told them that it was impossible for humans, but with God all things are possible.

Peter, the outspoken friend of Jesus, exclaimed that they (the apostles) had left everything behind (families, businesses and homes) to follow Him. Jesus promised that they would get 100 times over what they'd sacrificed for Him. They will inherit eternal life.

The church will judge the twelve tribes of Israel, which means the church will govern the kingdom under the lordship of Christ. The twelve tribes represent the whole people of God, the Jews. The early church thought of itself as true Israel.

A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a personʼs praise is not from other people, but from God.
Romans 2:28-29 NIV

The payoff for following Christ and fully committing all one's resources to that end means that one will be entrusted with more, including leadership in the new age. The church is setting the pace for human living and society by practicing love.

I'm not much for afterlife fantasies. Don't get me wrong because I do believe in an afterlife. Following Christ, however, doesn't have to have a payoff like a place of power in the future era, the completion of all things. It will be enough to be welcomed by my God. I have to wonder if Jesus' talk of the future was about the new heaven and earth, or about a time in human history when the gospel has truly transformed this world with love. Those hungry for power will not accomplish this impossible mission. Only the humble servants who are so full of God's love have that capacity. They can give it all away, and know they are the richest of people. For they have already entered into that future through faith. They are the change they want to see. They will be first in the age to come because they began their journey in earnest here and now. They are leading the way through the narrow gate that leads to life.

May we all find our way with God's help to enter through the impossible gate, the eye of the needle into the kingdom of God.

Matthew 19:13-15

Matthew 19:13-15 NIV

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 
When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

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We want our children to have the best, don't we? We put them in front of coaches, teachers and music instructors who have good reputations. We take them to reputable physicians and other health professionals. We involve them in notable community organizations to grow them and prepare them to become active and contributing members of society. We want the best for our children to give them the opportunity to reach their potential.

Parents brought their children to be blessed by Jesus. They wanted this prophet, this man of God, this Son of David, their messiah to lay hands on them. They wanted the same hands to touch their children that raised a dead girl to life, made the lame walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. They wanted their children to be touched by the hand of God who, through Jesus, was making Israel new.

The disciples shooed them away. They felt that Jesus was too busy and perhaps too important to be bothered with little children. They had already shown a tendency toward thinking of themselves too highly when they dreamt of positions of political power with Jesus on the throne. Jesus reminded them that if they want to be great in God's Kingdom, they must humble themselves like little children and serve others. The one who is last in this life will be first in eternity.

Jesus corrected His disciples beckoning the children to come to Him. He told His disciples that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these children.

What are the characteristics of children that made them the example for us all? I've often thought of this and have settled on three characteristics, like a typical preacher. (Three point sermon and a prayer!) Children are utterly dependant on their parents for care and guidance. They are inquisitive and filled with wonder as they discover the world. They trust willingly and without reservation until they feel unsafe.

Children depend on their parents for food, shelter, clothing, direction, education, and all manner of things. For infants and toddlers, parents are their whole world. What would it be like if we related to God in the same way? What if we admitted to ourselves that we are utterly dependant upon our heavenly Father?

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11 NIV

Children experience the world with wondrous curiosity. They touch, taste, and try new things as they grow. Everything is a wonder for a little child. Adults lose that sense of wonder and we become blind to the beauty and goodness all around us. The world causes us pain and we learn over time to live guarded, protecting ourselves from further pain. We get focused on family, career, etc., and we don't notice the God moments happening everywhere. The newscasters spin scandal and tragedy and controversy in a 24 hour schedule. We have to force ourselves to look on the bright side. But children have no jaded perspectives, no prejudice and no preconceived notions. They are open to discovery and ready to be amazed! Oh how I wish I could instill that childlike wonder in my heart again! How I wish I could give that to my adult children who are already feeling the burdens of life's daily grind and challenges!

Children trust without reservation parents and other adults in their lives like grandparents, teachers, coaches and instructors. Until their safety is threatened, until they are misled, children trust. They are more open to friendship with other children regardless of race, gender, nationality or religion. But it's not long before the influence of their peer group begins to fill them with prejudices about others at their school. It's not long before they turn to obeying their need to belong to the crowd, instead of their parents. And the brokenness of this world eventually causes children pain and they learn to fear. Trust is broken.

I honestly don't know how I can change and become like a little child again. I don't know how my heart can find wonder, trust and the joy that follows. Perhaps I first need to recognize my utter need for God. Then perhaps I could trust God to restore me to a childlike faith, filled with joy and wonder at all His good works.

Matthew 19:1-12

Matthew 19:1-12 NIV

When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” 
“Havenʼt you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’ ? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
“Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?”
Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.”

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Matthew 19 begins with a conversation about divorce and remarriage. It's not a popular topic to preach from the pulpit. In doing so the preacher will be poking painful places in the hearts of many in the congregation. Some stats show that 50% of marriages in America end in divorce.

There are many reasons for divorce. Some dissolve their marriages after the tragic loss of a child. Some divorce over fiscal difficulties. Some divorce because they fight all the time. Others divorce because they've grown apart and find there's not much they share other than an address.

Jesus was put to the test by the Pharisees as to whether it was lawful to divorce. In other words, according to the covenant through Moses, does God think divorce is right or wrong. Jesus referred to Genesis 1:27 & 2:24.

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh."

Jesus said what God joined together no one should tear apart. The Pharisees challenged Him because the Law of Moses specifically gives men the option to divorce their wives should they be unhappy with them.

If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord. Do not bring sin upon the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance.
Deuteronomy 24:1-4 NIV

By reading the entire passage you can see that the certificate of divorce is not the actual law, but the remarriage to a formerly scorned wife who had been with another man is the issue. The mention of the certificate of divorce seems almost matter of fact.

Just as it is in the church today, so it was in Jesus' day in the Jewish faith. The scriptures are interpreted differently by different groups. Some felt a man could divorce his wife for any action that may cause him displeasure, like burning his breakfast. But another school of thought embraced the idea that only when a wife sleeps with another man, should a husband divorce. Jesus embraced the latter.

Some have interpreted Jesus' teaching here to mean that if a man divorces his wife in order to marry another woman, He commits adultery. Jesus felt that our hard heartedness is the reason Moses conceded to divorce, but it's not what God intended for us.

Today we talk a lot about marriage, about how it is only between a man and a woman, to the exclusion of same sex unions. But there is little said about the divorce rate and adultery with remarriage while your former spouse still lives. For myself, this is one of the great hypocrisies of the church today.

The apostles were alarmed by what Jesus had to say.

The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.”
Matthew 19:10 NIV

The apostle Paul believed the return of Christ would happen soon within his lifetime. He felt investing in marriage relationships was a distraction. It is better to be chaste and completely unhindered in order to serve the Lord.

"I wish that all of you were as I am (That is celibate). But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lordʼs affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lordʼs affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband."
1 Corinthians 7:7, 32-34 NIV

Jesus understood people in the same way. Not everyone has the gifts and graces to live a chaste life. We are sexual beings. It's a natural thing to desire sexual relations with an intimate companion. It's unnatural to deny our sexual drive. In the church there are some who have the grace to turn their energies toward an intimate relationship with God. Some mystics, both men and women, have considered God to be their lover. Therefore they are free from concerns around sex. But not everyone can do this. Not everyone hears that kind of claim on their lives from God. So Jesus, just like Moses, concedes. Those who can keep God's command should, but He acknowledged that there will be those who cannot. Jesus gives no warning if one should choose to divorce and remarry. He merely acknowledges that staying together is best.

Jesus uses the eunuch as an example. Some are born without the ability to carry out the sexual function. Some are castrated by others and turned into eunuchs. Slaves, especially those who watch over the harem, were castrated by their masters as a matter of course. Castration was meant to make a male slave more submissive. There are also some who choose the life of service and become eunuchs by their own hand.

Today, this scripture speaks anew to many in the church who hear Jesus speaking to our moral controversy over homosexuality. The eunuch was asexual either by birth, made that way by others, or by choice. In the same way lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transvestites and transsexuals report a similar experience. There are some born that way. DNA has presupposed them to same sex orientation. Some were made that way by nature of what others have done to them. Some choose an alternative lifestyle.

According to Psychology Today, there's no convincing evidence to prove that a sexually molested boy will become a gay man, but it is recognized that such abuse will cause the boy to question his sexual orientation and, if gay, may hate his sexuality because He feels the sexual abuse caused his difference. I've talked to more than one lesbian woman who confided in me that because of what men had done to them in childhood, whether sexual, physical, or emotional abuses, they can never feel safe around men. They could never lie down with a man and feel safe. It would feel like more abuse and too traumatic.

There are some who just find the alternative sexual life to be more fulfilling than heterosexuality. They choose to be different as a means of self expression and self actualization. In some ways to be gay is an act of justice in their eyes. It's a way to say to the world, "I'm going to be true to my own self and no one will dictate to me how to live or who to love."

This world is made up of all sorts. Some can choose the holy customs of Jewish-Christian-Muslim faith. But not all of us can. I appreciate the acknowledgement on Jesus' part that people are differently gifted. Perhaps we can learn to appreciate those around us who live differently but love no less. Christian morals are not something everyone can embrace, but all people can embrace their need for love and acceptance, which God gives freely through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God is love and we ought to love one another.