We all know at least one person who is a "nitpicker". You know who I'm talking about; the person who is always finding something to criticize, something to complain about. In Matthew, the Pharisees could be given the label of "nitpickers". We see how and why in chapter 12. It seemed that no matter what Jesus did, the Pharisees were there to complain that he had broken some part of the Law. Jesus' usual response to these complaints was to point out the spirit of the Law and that, sometimes, following the Law required some common sense rather than a strict interpretation. At the same time, they always seem to want Jesus to perform some sign to prove who he is; I wonder if they would have nitpicked about anything Jesus would have done? The unfortunate reality is that many in the secular world have come to see the Church as a bunch of nitpickers; always looking for some reason to condemn, criticize, or complain and so much interested in the spirit of the faith we claim. How would things look if the Church were not so quick to be sanctimonious nitpickers and quicker at, in the model of Jesus, extending grace and acceptance?
Chapter 13 introduces us to Jesus' first use of parables in his teaching. Each one of these parables could have an entire sermon preached upon it (hmmm...sounds like a sermon series in the future). Sometimes, it can be frustrating reading Jesus' parables; we like to have the quick answer to things and probably wish Jesus would just come right out and say things, rather than disguising them in stories. For some, the realities of the Kingdom of God would be too much; the stories make it easier to illustrate for human minds what God's Kingdom looks like. Although the parables are stories that would have made sense in Jesus' culture, they at times seem inapplicable in our world. Here is a challenge for you: when reading the parables and Jesus' explanation of them, see if you can create a modern-day parable that would illustrate Jesus' point for our world. My guess is that it would be easier than you think and my hope is that it might open our minds and hearts to a greater understanding of Jesus' point.
No comments:
Post a Comment