Jesus Always Finds Us at the Crossroads of our Lives…
Hence forward forever…
Matthew’s Chapter 21 begins the telling of Holy Week with Jesus nearing Jerusalem and two disciples being sent into the city to fetch a donkey for Jesus to ride on Palm Sunday.
“Tell the daughter of Sion: Behold, thy king comes to thee, meek and seated upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
“This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
But then postpones that discussion and starts to relay teachings and more parables.
Parable of the vine-dressers: then he let it out to the vine-dressers and went abroad. Where did one travel abroad in Jesus’ day?
Abroad—a foreign land or lands: why did I think abroad means across the sea? Across the Sea of Galilee? The reality is that any place outside of one’s native country is abroad!
The householder sent his servants; then another party of servants; and then he sent his son thinking that they will respect his son. No, they killed his son too thinking that this is the heir; come, let us kill him, and we shall have his inheritance.
“The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and will be given to a people yielding its fruits.”
They knew that he was speaking about them (Pharisees). And though they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the people, because they regarded him as a prophet.
One parable they answered correctly! So is it really a parable?
‘Lay hands on him,’ was used in a different connotation here!
The Pharisees, the crowds, they all marveled at His teachings.
“Render, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God.”
Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, asked about what Moses said about when a man dies and his brother should marry the widow. What if there are seven brothers and they all die?
At the resurrection, therefore, of which of the seven will she be wife? For they all had her.
“You err because you know neither the Scriptures not the power of God,” replied Jesus
“For at the resurrection they will neither marry nor be given in marriage, but will be as angels of God in heaven.”
“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living!”
Pharisees, the crowds again marveled at His teachings…
Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.
And the second is like it, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
“What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?”
David’s
“How then does David in the Spirit call Him Lord saying, as The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thy enemies thy footstool.
“If David, therefore, calls him ‘Lord.’ How is he his son?”
And no one could answer him a word; neither did anyone dare from that day forth to ask him anymore questions.
I feel like that sometimes but Jesus always seems to find me when I am at yet another crossroad in my life. I hope the answer is an easy one like in the parable of the vine-dresser!
Day 22: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Jesus Always Finds Us at the Crossroads of our Lives…
Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Gospel of Saint Matthew Chapters 21-22.
Bible Notes:
The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew
Saint Matthew, also known as Levi, was a Galilean by birth.
Tax Collector at Capharnaum
Christ called him to become a disciple, and later an Apostle
After the Holy Ghost came down on the Apostles on Pentecost, Matthew preached the Gospel in Judea.
He wrote his Gospel to prove to his readers that Christ was the Messiah foretold by God in the Old Testament
Matthew Chapter 21: Jesus sends two disciples into Jerusalem; Triumphal entry into Jerusalem; Cleansing of the Temple; Anger of Jewish leaders; Jesus curses a fig tree; Power of faith; The authority of Jesus; Parable of the two sons; Parable of the vive-dressers; The vine-dressers kill the master’s son; Application of the parable.
“Tell the daughter of Sion: Behold, thy king comes to thee, meek and seated upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”
“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
“This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
“It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have made it den of thieves.”
“Yes, have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and sucklings thou hast perfected praise’?”
“May no fruit ever come from thee hence forward forever.”
“Amen I say to you, if you have faith and do not waver… And all things whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you shall receive.”
“By what authority dost thou do these things?”
“I also will ask you one question, and if you answer me this, I in turn will tell you by what authority I do these things. Whence was the baptism of John? From heaven, or from men?”
“We do not know.”
“Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Parable of the two sons: ‘I will not,’ but afterwards he regretted it and went.
‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.”
Which of the two did the father’s will?
For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him. Whereas you, seeing it, did not even repent afterwards, that you might believe him.
Parable of the vive-dressers: then he let it out to the vine-dressers and went abroad.
Abroad—a foreign land or lands: imports from abroad. Sent his servants; another party of servants; sent his son; They will respect my son; they killed his son too; This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and we shall have his inheritance.
“The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and will be given to a people yielding its fruits.”
They knew that he was speaking about them (Pharisees). And though they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the people, because they regarded him as a prophet.
Matthew Chapter 21: The marriage feast; The king’s anger; One guest is cast out; Tribute to Caesar; The Sadducees question Christ; Christ’s answer; The great commandment; The son of David.
The Kingdom of heaven is like a king who made a marriage feast for his son. Tell those who are invited.
“The marriage feast indeed is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy; go therefore to the crossroads, and invite to the marriage feast whomever you shall find.”
“Friend, how didst thou come in here—without a wedding garment?”
Bing his hands and feet and cast him forth into the darkness outside, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth.
“For many are called and few are chosen.”
Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might trap him in his talk.
“Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?”
“Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin of the tribute.”
“Whose are this image and the inscription?”
“Render, therefore, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God.”
Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection…
Master, Moses said… seven brothers…
At the resurrection, therefore, of which of the seven will she be wife? For they all had her.
“You err because you know neither the Scriptures not the power of God.”
“For at the resurrection they will neither marry nor be given in marriage, but will be as angels of God in heaven.”
“He is not the God of the dead, but of the living!”
Pharisees, the crowds… marveled at His teachings…
Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.
And the second is like it, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
“What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?”
David’s
“How then does David in the Spirit call Him Lord saying, as The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my right hand, till I make thy enemies thy footstool.
“If David, therefore, calls him ‘Lord.’ How is he his son?”
And no one could answer him a word; neither did anyone dare from that day forth to ask him anymore questions.
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