The FaithOfJesus2 Daily Devotional

Focus:

kjv@Revelation:14:12 @ Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

( FaithOfJesus thread begun by rRandyP )

Today's Verse:

kjv@Matthew:21:28-32

kjv@Matthew:21:28 @ But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

kjv@Matthew:21:29 @ He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

kjv@Matthew:21:30 @ And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

kjv@Matthew:21:31 @ Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

kjv@Matthew:21:32 @ For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Today's notes:

Context: Which of the twain

Before - Elders challenge authority
After - this is the Lord's doing

What is man believing/doing?:

Chief priests and elders saying that they will go work Father's will but not, and not repenting
Lowly and despised by religious class refusing to go but then repenting

What is making man to believe/do as he is doing?:

because they know not the Father nor HIS will, their own will is more important as it leads them to power and authority, they believe not and challenge the authority of HIS messengers such as John
repentant sinners come to know the authority behind the message is from the Father and therefore know more about the Father and HIS will

Notes:

Repentance has been the key contextual thread since even before the barren fig tree, clear back to John's early call for fruit worthy of repentance, repentance based in the authority of God. Certainly it can be said that many of the multitude standing alongside Jesus at this time have repented but for shallow or duplicitous reasoning. At the same time it can be said that of those for some, even a shallow repentance has brought them to a familiarity with Christ and His works that they would not have known without it and that will likely lead them to a repentance more of the type Jesus is hungered for.

There is the authority that we believe God has given us. These men are presumably acting within this authority. It is a long established and well acknowledged authority. They believe that it is within their authority to keep others from being fooled into an authority that has not been given from God (something other than theirs). For them there is also the very real authority that is Rome's.

Jesus clearly has the authority over the sick and possessed and can win many a heart with authoritative doctrine, but where does that stand up against the blade of roman authority? When Pilot's soldiers take up ranks and march against this rebellious despised city? When all that these men have worked for by their authority is buried alongside them? Were such a thing to happen to this last visible remnant of Israel, could it not possibly be considered that this so called messiah's authority was from one like Beelzebub? The point is that there are very real judgments being made that are leading us down the course that this storyline is taking. A repentant change of course is not just as easy a call in the wilderness; and yet it is.

Key Messages:

What does this say about our present condition?

This course mirrors the course and decisions being made in many of our lives. It is a struggle between our best hopes and our self delusions framed in a context of real world pressures and consequence.
The perception of authority is very real and tangible and reacted to almost instinctively by all of us. More times than not the real perceived authority is not the type of authority we'd rather be under. The question then is "How do things get to this point?" and "How do things ever change from this?". In the case of Israel it was because they abandoned God's authority for that which they presumed/imagined God had given them separate from His. Stepping outside/against God's authority they stepped instead into the authority of their fears/inabilities/compromises/deceits; later that of their captors. The answer would be to return back under the authority of their Lord. That however requires them facing square all that they have done and turning opposite despite any/all consequence.
When dug deep into a hole, the consequence of turning back is often as steep as the consequence of continuing on; the only discernible guide present momentum. To brave such disheartening consequence one must be affixed to the firm belief of the much higher authority of God, seek only His will, do the work He knows to be needing to be done.

Further Resources:

Comment Board:Matthew:21:28-32
index:FAITHOFJESUSDEVOTION - Devotional Index
strkjv@Matthew:21:28-32 rwp@Matthew:21:28-32 mhcc@Matthew:21:28-32
FaithOfJesus2 - Devotion Index

< Matthew:21:23-27

Matthew:21:33-46 >