seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Matthew 21:28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Jesus considered tax collectors to be a good example of a bad person. Matthew, the tax collector and the guy that wrote this, didn't try to clean that up. He just reported what Jesus said.
Who would you rather hang out with? Would you rather learn from a hooker who found Jesus, or a preacher who met Jesus but never really accepted Jesus as Messiah?
Have you ever seen someone say something, and then look to everyone listening, to see if they bought what he just said? I wonder what it's like to be a preacher, standing in front of the membership, knowing all the right things to say.... but knowing you're not the one who's supposed to be saying them.... because you just never believed. I wonder what that's like?
See, I don't care if you believe what I write. I already told you I don't know what I'm talking about! I get up and post some scripture because it makes my day go better.... but I'm like the tax collector or the hooker.... I'm here for the love of God. I'm not here for the adoration of those who read my stuff. Sure, I check the numbers.... and I know I'm not so popular. It doesn't bother me.
I know I believe.... like the hookers and the tax collectors.... I don't care who knows it. I don't have to hide my adoration for God.... I'm not rich or powerful. The preacher though.... well, he depends on the adoration of the rich in his flock because they pay for his mortgage, his car payment, and even the clothes on his back. He's lower than a tax collector or a hooker.... he thinks his poop doesn't stink!
The chief priests and the elders meant well. I'm sure they were protecting people from themselves... requiring them to step to the line even if the line had been shifted by corruption.... money.... and power. The vendors wouldn't support a temple that would not assure their safety. They couldn't have an angry prophet running off their financial backers. They had a complaint... a legitimate complaint... it happened in the church, so it was their problem and they addressed it. What happened to John, was not their business. Jesus didn't see it that way.
Jesus just pointed that out. Matthew put it in the text.... even the tax collector will get to Heaven before many of you! Matthew was a tax collector.
I bet Matthew enjoyed that!!
