Insolomonsporch's Blog

Day Nine

Active Resistance

“… Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the harlots will get into the kingdom of heaven before you.”  Amp Mt 21:31

There are two Scriptures I find especially heart-breaking and even scary, with a third depicting fatal intransigence in the heart of man.  These are: Isaiah 30:15; and Matthew 23:37, and Matthew 21:31.

In the first two passages I hear the heart of Jesus break because what He is offering is being refused.  In the third, a similar terminal resistance is also displayed.  Let’s look at each.

Isaiah 30:15 is a favorite Scripture of mine.  It paints a simple yet clear picture of salvation and victory in Christ Jesus.  It is a place where we return to Him, rest in Him, and become strong in Him.  And yet – His offer in this passage is scorned.  It is not wanted by the Israelites of the time.  It is as if the greatest possible gift is extended with Hands yearning for it to be accepted, but it is refused!  The abrupt slamming shut from the doors of many hearts is almost perceptible– as if the gift was insulting, or offensive.

Equally sad is the Scripture in Matthew 23:37, where Jesus is crying out to the city of Jerusalem saying, “…How often would I have gathered your children together as a mother fowl gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused!”  At this, Jesus tells them that their house is now forsaken and desolate – and with this the Olive Branch of Israel is cut-off from the Tree, and the wild olive branch of the gentile church is grafted on, until the ingathering of the gentiles is complete.  What was rejected by Israel – is picked up by gentiles for the time of the church age.

So now we turn to the last Scripture Matthew 21:31, and its tie-in.  Jesus has been debating with the chief priests of the Jews and the elders.  They ask Him from where His authority is derived.  Before answering, He asks where they believe John the Baptist’s authority is from – heaven or men.  They choose to not answer, because they see they would lose from either choice.  If they say it was from heaven – they will be conceding to Jesus that His authority is from heaven as well and will have no recourse but to receive His claims that He is the Savior.  This they do not want!  But to say John’s authority was from man would get them into trouble with their people who believed He was a prophet.  So they abstain from answering which halts any further progression of truth.  Seeing the brick wall they have thrown up against Him, Jesus approaches from a different tact – a more simple strategy:  the story of two sons and which does the will of the Father.  Not seeing His intent, they answer with the correct choice – the first son is the one who has done the will of the Father.  Jesus then validates that John’s authority came from heaven and chastises them for not believing John because even the harlots and tax collectors believed this.  Therefore, those will enter the kingdom before these whom He is talking to.

All significance here pivots on the story of the two sons.  It was the first son (who initially refused to go to work in the vineyard but later changed his mind and went) who is the one who does the Father’s will.  This is the timeless message from Jesus’ heart!  Change your mind!  Change your way of thinking, and enter the kingdom of heaven.  Do not be like the ancestors in Isaiah’s time who actively resisted and said –“We will not,” when offered salvation and rest!  Do not be like the residents of Jerusalem who refused to be gathered into His arms like a brood of baby chicks!  Do not actively resist like the chief priests and elders who were caught up in a political power struggle for what they thought was status quo and control!  His cry to all is be like the first son — change your mind and enter the vineyard!

Let us all hear this cry of Jesus’ heart and share it!  Let us not remain in active resistance to what He offers!  Let us have the wisdom of the first son – and do the Father’s will.  Be-loved.