Sep9
Matthew 21:14-15….Working
21:14 The blind and the lame (crippled, disabled) came to him at the temple, (Having restored the Temple back to it’s proper use those who were considered unclean and under God’s judgment could now come to Jesus for healing. Being disabled they must have been helped by their family and friends.) and he healed them. (Displays how Jesus reestablishes the Temple back to its proper use as a place for healing and prayer.-{2-Sam 5:8}) 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law (i.e. Religious leaders.) saw the wonderful (Miraculous) things he did (healing the blind and lame) and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna (5614-Heb.-“Save now” or “Save us we pray”, Expresses a cry for salvation. Hallelujah the Savior is here!) to the Son of David,” (Expresses a Messianic title signifying the Messiah’s royal descent from King David. That the children were reenacting the Messianic praises that the crowds were shouting earlier.-{V. 9}) they were indignant. (incensed, resentful, furious, irate, ticked-off. Expresses their displeasure of Jesus in allowing Himself to be praised as the Messiah. Or by the presence of the lame & blind in the Temple area. Or even possibly their fear of Roman reprisal.)
Continued From Book
“Warns when you do what God wants in forgiving and loving others, and doing what scriptures says to do you will infuriate religious people.” ⇒ When you choose to follow Jesus closely and do what He wants you to do, you will encounter opposition. Religious people don’t like it when your following God’s word and not their own rules, rituals, and practices. They hate it when you break with their traditions or interpretation of scripture.
“Even today, Church’s are to be places where all people, no matter race, gender, disability, income, etc. can feel welcomed. A place where the sinner, the drug addict, the alcoholic can come without the fear of shame, criticism, or judgment” ⇒ Church is not just for those who have it all together, because none of us do. We all struggle with sin, insecurity, past hurts, regret, or some other area. One of the wonderful things about church is you don’t have to fix up your life first before you come. We sometimes think we have to get our lives all in order and get rid of all our sin before we can come to church. But that’s not what Jesus says. Jesus says, “Come as you are.” Church is not a place for holy people who have it all together. It is a place for sinners like you and me who need Jesus’ mercy and grace. What if their homeless, you welcome them in. What if they disobey their parents, you welcome them in. What if they’re not dressed for church, you welcome them in. What if they’re addicted to drugs, you welcome them in. What if they’re on welfare, you welcome them in, What if they identify as gay or a different gender, you welcome them in. What it they’re Democrat or Republican, you welcome them. (Note: Welcoming someone in doesn’t mean we affirm or put our stamp of approval upon every single lifestyle and life choice. Many believe that were to be totally affirming, after all that’s what Jesus was, but that’s wrong. We can still be welcoming without affirming. Nor does it mean we don’t hold others accountable, but our first mindset shouldn’t be fix yourself up first before you come in. But rather welcome them in and trust Jesus and His spirit to do the work in their life.)
Additional Notes & Applications
Notice the contrast and discontinuity. Jesus is angry at the misuse of the Temple and the religious leaders are angry at the proper use of the Temple. The religious leaders had no problem with the cacophony of noise in the Temple, the bleeping of sheep the balling of cows, doves flying around the place, and coins clinking. They didn’t mind the noise of bartering selling and money changing hands. But when the kids start singing then they have a problem!
- Posted by David Costa/
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