The British Government is accused of promising a ‘world-beating’ testing regime, but seemingly the results haven’t matched up to their aspirations. We, perhaps, have said that we’d do this or that, but then failed to complete the task. It’s promises and reality.
The lectionary reading from Matthew 21:23-32 (for Proper 21A or Ordinary Time 26) brings yet again confrontation. Yes Jesus with the leaders of the Temple in Jerusalem, but also for us: questions which we are asked – and do we deliver?
Context
In between the passage from last week and this week, we find that Jesus has moved from Jericho to Jerusalem. He has entered the great city on a Donkey and a Colt (Zech 9:9), which must be painful. The crowds are shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David“. This is supported to a degree in Mark 11 but not quite in the equivalent passages of Luke 19:38. This shout of praise originates from Psalm 118:25-26, albeit the word Hosanna is not present in English translations. This Hebrew word, Hoshi’a, was a cry of help. The word which means “save now” or “please save“, has now become a statement of confidence [1].
Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem possibly mirrors the triumphant arrival of Simon Maccabees (1 Macc 13.51) 150 or so years earlier. Or it could be seen as totally subverting the typical entry of a Roman Emperor returning from the travails of battle. What did the locals really think of this Jesus entering Jerusalem? It’s promises and reality.
Jesus then goes into the Temple and subverts the current process of the Temple operation. He denies the exchange of money into sacrifices, into means of paying the Temple Tax. Moreover, he denies people to carry anything through the temple (Mark 11:16, not in the other Synoptic Gospels).
Jesus then heals the sight, cures the lame. What are your thoughts on the healing seen in there Bible? Immediately after this we read:
“But when the Chief Priests and scribes saw“. How poignant that those sitting in lowly seats, without power, are healed and can now see, but those in power, have yet to see. But were they healed?
Confrontation
Jesus enters the Temple. You can possibly imagine those on the door, seeing Jesus’ arrival, sending messages to the Chief Priests and Scribes “Trouble’s arrived!“
Odd that when they confront Jesus, they ask him “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” So they acknowledge that he has authority…but from where: God, Satan, or himself? It possibly goes back to “who do you say that I am?“
As a school teacher in the past, often one of the best approaches was to ask a rhetorical question, allowing students that opportunity to find an answer themselves. Spoon-feeding may not help people in the long run. Jesus asks them a question about John’s Baptism… Surely the Baptism was one small aspect of John’s ministry? All that time walking around, leading people.
But this question provoked the Chief Priests. They cleansed many people through water, they had authority to do so, they were priests – but John wasn’t. He never did have the authority to baptise. They were torn: go with Heaven as the answer to Jesus’ question “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” and they’ve sided with Jesus.
Go with men and they faced a rabble, listening from the side lines, as John was considered a prophet. So agree with Jesus or face the public? Go with the truth or condone a popularist ideology – sounds quite a modern political perspective perhaps… It’s promises and reality.
Authenticity
Jesus then takes the problem away from them, and poses another conundrum. Back to the Vineyard motif, but quoting directly from Isaiah Chapter 5. Two sons, one is reticent to go off to the vineyard but eventually does go to work; the other promises they will, but never quite makes it.
The damning bottom line: the tax collectors and the prostitutes will be in the kingdom of heaven before you. Our attention may be drawn that others whom we even might not feel deserve to go to Heaven are able to get there, and miss the entire point. It’s promises and reality.
The Chief Priests and the Scribes will be going to Heaven as well.
Matthew 21:31
The first son under-promised and over-delivered, whilst the second son over-promised and under-delivered. The overtly demonstrably evident promises of the Temple Priests never came to fruition.
What’s the takeaway from this passage?
Our words need to be backed up by what we do. No, it isn’t that we are saved by actions, but through the whole ‘having faith in God and then looking to deliver‘. By believing in God’s love, we can respond accordingly, and show that love to all whom we meet. It’s promises and reality.
It’s realising that ‘prayer is a verb’.
Jesus upturned not only the tables, but the perceived sanctity of the normal. Over the past few weeks we have learnt that relationships are key: showing God’s love is crucial. We have seen that we need also to focus upon our own life, the way we act, in our being with God. Notice here, again, that what happens ultimately to others, such as the Chief Priests, is up to God. Just thank God that we all our loved. Our role is to deliver our promise to God, to fulfil God’s promise to us.
[1] Gooder, Paula., Journey to the Empty Tomb, (Norwich : Canterbury Press, 2014), pp. 8-9
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