Jesus said to [the Chief Priests and elders], "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. Matthew 21:31b-32
Do you understand what is remarkable in this statement? Jesus is proclaiming judgement after all that he has suffered through their words and deeds. He has asked them to judge, they speak, and then Jesus gives his remarkable judgement. Equality. Enter the kingdom one and all. No one is left out.
Jesus’ judgement sits between a lot of judgements spoken or inferred by followers and detractors. In each, Jesus takes the human categories and runs with them, turning them upside down or back onto the judge. In Matthew 18 the disciples are asking, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus turns their understanding of religion and society upside down–a child. He adds to the confusion--if anyone is not humble like a child and will not welcome the child, causing them to sin (as the adult is sinning) their reward is worse than drowning in the sea. The same thing happens in Peter’s question, “How often must I forgive? Up to seven times?” Jesus makes it 7x70; seventy times more difficult and then adds a terrifying parable to show the harshness of not forgiving–torture till a debt is paid. The rich man is next, walking away after hearing what he must give up to gain heaven, as if in his judgement one could buy heaven or conclude at this moment in his judgement, that it is not worth the cost.
Then there is an interruption. God’s judgement is revealed and questioned in chapter 20. The human judgement of fairness, born out of envy (coveting/greed), is overcome by God’s right to be generous despite human judgement–interestingly, this human envy shows up later in the thoughts of Pilate (27:18) as he ponders Jesus’ apparent willingness to suffer the judgement of humans by crucifixion. More of this human thirst for judgement and power arises again within the followers of Jesus, spoken by a mother for her sons, which is castigated by other disciples, but will also be overcome by the Son of Man as ransom for many; death because of the (still active today) human need for scapegoats. Human judgement is sandwiched between God’s right and Jesus’ decision to be generous, compassionate, merciful, and forgiving of these Chief Priests and Elders who will remarkably enter the kingdom. Really? Can’t be so! God isn’t that foolish! Is he?
After all this, and another parable about another vineyard (21:33-44) depicting more human envy and greed, and the violence needed to get it, Jesus again asks his detractors, “Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to them?” How will they answer? Jesus’ “now” expresses a hope that they finally understand what Jesus has been showing them? Will they get it–that Jesus is showing them the consequences of their own judgement, that their own judgement will be turned in on themselves? Will they remember his teaching? Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. (7:1-2) Nope!!!! As they judge, “bring the wretches to a wretched end,” Jesus turns their system back on them.
Will we get it–the futility of our world’s system of judging others; that it is not Jesus’ way of judging? I have hope, not in the path too many of our political and church leaders are snared in, but the path revealed in St. Luke’s actions through ONE, Lutheran World Relief, ELCA Hunger appeal, and helping many families in need in Schaefferstown. Our God-given purpose in life is in Jesus’ call to the recipients of his Father’s forgiveness, mercy, generosity, and compassion: to forgive as we are forgiven, show mercy as we have received mercy, be generous with the abundance God has given us, and be compassionate as God is toward us, loving us so much that he would rather die by our hands than kill and torture us with his. Amazing love! Amazing grace!
See you all in Worship!
Pastor Dan