Think about this ... “Matthew chapter 20 comprises the parable of the ‘lord of the vineyard’ on the way to Jerusalem (vv. 1-15); an exposition about the Passion of the Messiah by Jesus to the Twelve (vv. 16-19); the request of James and John and their mother to be first in Christ’s kingdom (vv. 20-23); a dispute settlement by Christ among the Twelve (vv. 24-28); and the healing of two blind petitioners on the way to Jericho (vv. 29-34). The chapter is a chronological follow-up of chapter 19. The main lesson of the parable of the ‘lord of the vineyard’ (v. 8) is that all the workers of Christ’s kingdom have equal status and equal reward regardless of the time and place of hiring. Further, those who were hired the last will be paid the first. Considering the facts that the immediate context of this parable which is Peter’s earlier query on the reward of discipleship (Matthew 19:27), that there was a constant contention for the first place among the Twelve, that not all the Twelve were hired at the same time, and that Jesus was heading to Jerusalem to establish a heavenly kingdom which the Twelve mistakenly understood to be an earthly dominion, we can safely conclude that there was another kind of strife among the Twelve connected to the highest income in the kingdom. Positional ascendancy and income supremacy intoxicated the twelve closest associates of Christ at the most critical time of His earthly ministry. Right after He reminded them of His soon betrayal, arrest, torture, crucifixion, death, and resurrection, two of the twelve and their mother requested the highest and closest positions besides Christ in His kingdom (vv. 21-22). What an incorrigibility! Amazingly, Christ did not turn irrational but rather re-directed their minds on His sufferings and death symbolized by the bitter cup and the baptism of fire (v. 23). The egotistic selfish move of Salome, James, and John irritated the ten (v. 24). In response, Jesus ‘called them unto him’ and again steered their attention to His example of unselfish service and sacrificial life which contrasted to the methods used by worldly leaders (vv. 25-28). In other words, Jesus was gently but firmly rebuking the Twelve’s worldly views on the godly kingdom He was preparing for them. Their spiritual nerves were crippled by their carnal urges. Until the heart sees the kingdom of heaven through the eyes of Jesus, there is no hope for the soul. It is interesting that Matthew chapter 20 ends with the healing of the two blind men on the way to Jericho. Their attitude toward Jesus sharply contrasted that of the two brothers who earlier demanded to be first and highest in the kingdom. Whereas the two blind men came to Christ with their needs, James and John went to Him with their wants. Whereas needs are genuine, wants are superfluous. The phoniest request to Jesus came from His closest associates. In Christ, what matters most is not physical association with Jesus but rather spiritual communion with Him. In other words, until the heart is filled with ‘all the fullness of God’ in Christ (Ephesians 3:19), there is no hope for the soul. James and John’s egotistical request is a reflection of those who pray but never receive because they pray with selfish mobiles for personal ambition and lustful satisfaction (James 4:3). Many even among believers today are guilty of this selfish and worldly attitude in prayer. Many do not grow spiritually because of the carnality of their prayer life. They fail to understand that the ultimate purpose of prayer is not mere want or even need satisfaction but rather spiritual growth because as they pray, ‘the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, shall keep [their] hearts and minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4:6-7). They fail to experience what it means to pray ‘in the Spirit’ (Ephesians 6:18) forgetting or ignoring the fact that ‘we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered’ (Romans 8:26). They fail to realize that spiritual growth is tied to a Spirit-filled prayer life. In other words, until the heart knows how to pray in the Spirit, there is no hope for the soul. It is high time for all including professed believers to pursue a genuine spiritual connection with Jesus that will help them see the kingdom of heaven through His eyes, be emptied of egotistic urges, be filled with the fullness of God, and enjoy a growth-oriented Christ-centered prayer life. Is this your sincere desire and earnest prayer? What does your current ministry and prayer life reveal about your spiritual state? Are you burdened with an egotistic self-centered heart and mindset even in following Christ? Do you need freedom in Christ? Would you like to be filled with the fullness of God as it is in Christ Jesus? Do you long for a need-based prayer life? Let go … Let God … Allow Christ in and savor true godliness daily! Why not kneel and talk with God now?” Pr Christian E. Ekoto, Personal Morning Devotion Reflections on Matthew 20:1-34 on September 20, 2014
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 00:36:46 +0000
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