GOD’S WORD FOR FEBRUARY 7 ~ ~Matthew 23:11~ ~ “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.”

YOUR PERSONAL PROMISE:

“The LORD your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah  3:17

(Picture Him singing to you, and quieting you with His love for you, so you can go to sleep!)

Continuing with Jesus’ conversation with his Apostles about rewards for following Him, in John MacArthur’s book, “Parables”

“PURPOSE” (Cont’d)

The apostles no doubt thought they were going to get special benefits.  They believed they were going to inherit the kingdom very soon, and that excited them.  They were well aware that Jesus was Israel’s Messiah.  They fully expected an earthly, political kingdom with all the glory and riches one might gain through world dominion.  They were the first disciples, so it made perfect sense to them that one of them would sit at Jesus’ right hand,  in the highest place of honor.

This was a naïve and immature view of Jesus’ mission, and they retained it even after the resurrection.  While the risen Christ was meeting with them as a group, preparing them for Pentecost, they asked, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?  (Acts 1:6).  Now that Christ had shown Himself triumphant even over death, they were hoping finally to get their crowns and thrones and places of honor.

At the end of Matthew 19, when Peter asked, “What shall we have?” Jesus answered by addressing their thirst for special honor.  He reassured them that they would indeed have places of honor in the kingdom.  But He went on to say that EVERYONE  in the kingdom would be honored.   “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  AND EVERYONE who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or other or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”  (Verses 28-29)

It is intriguing how little effect the lesson of this parable had on the twelve disciples.  They were so obsessed withs the idea of SPECIAL honor that even after they heard this parable, they continued scheming and jockeying for first place.  In fact, the very next episode in Matthew’s account records this:  “then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him.  And he said to her, “What do you wish?”  she said to Him, “grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right hand and the other on the left, in Your Kingdom”  (Mt 20:20-21).  Matthew (who of course was one of the Twelve himself) goes on to say, “When the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers”  (verse 24).  They were annoyed because they all craved the inside seats!

This became a constant source of bickering among the Twelve.  Even in the Upper room on the night of Jesus betrayal, it was Jesus who washed the others’ feet, because all of them desired to be considered “great”, and foot washing was a duty of the lowest servant (John 13:4-17). Later that same evening, right after Jesus broke the bread and consecrated the wine, “There was …a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.” (Luke 22:24)

So, although the parable of the laborers was given to confront the selfish, envious, confused perception of the disciples, it took a while to sink in.

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Matthew 18:4

Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mark 9:34

But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.

Luke 22:26

But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.

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