When Jesus finished these parables, He asked the disciples if they understood…they said yes. Hearing and understanding involves responsibility1 and to illustrate this He told another parable. In verse 52 Jesus speaks of the teacher of the law…a steward perhaps, one that dispenses out of the household things both old and new…He is telling the disciples to be prepared to not just hear and record in the mind what they are learning but to align them with Old Testament teaching, and be willing and able to give it out…live it and give it…the household steward is responsible to the master to guard the treasure and dispense what is needed, where and when it is needed. Teachers of the Gospel are to do the same, carefully and fully, remembering they are accountable to the Master.
From verse 53 to the end of the chapter, Jesus is in Nazareth, His hometown, teaching and preaching. And, causing a stir! The Scripture says they were OFFENDED with Him. He annoyed them! they wanted to know who He thought He was!!!! We need to remember that if we are teaching/living the Gospel our lives and teaching WILL OFFEND OTHERS JUST AS HE DID! Part of our identity with Him is this form of persecution…misunderstanding perhaps, but it will happen because of WHOSE we are, it is our lot and our privilege! THEY knew who He was, the son of Mary and the carpenter…they did indeed know Him after the flesh but they surely didn’t KNOW who He was! Pity…He was from that time on referred to as Jesus of Nazareth, and His followers Nazarenes, but there was no hometown reception for Him…Matthew chooses this incident to close out the section on “rebellion against the King.”
There are other interesting parables worthy of our thinking about. Three in particular speak to us about our attitude and compassion toward those we are to serve.
Matthew 18:12-14 THE LOST SHEEP
I personally love this one, it speaks of the concern of the Shepherd for EACH sheep…one has wandered away and He goes and finds it, and rejoices much that it is found. He states that it is not His will that even ONE should be lost. It reminds me of another, recorded for us in Luke 15:11-32 THE PRODOGAL SON…such a beautiful picture of God’s desire for us to “come home” to Him. The prodigal son his inheritance (in those days this would indicate he wished his father was dead), left home and lived an utterly debauched lifestyle until his money ran out. When He realized what was happening to him, he repented and returned to his father. In the parable, the Father was ALWAYS looking for his son to return, and when he saw him coming, he ran to meet him with his arms opened wide, eagerly forgiving and loving him. He ordered a feast to be prepared and there was rejoicing and happiness in the home. The older brother, however, who still had his inheritance and would gain everything his father had, was sullen and angry…Jesus in the parable was talking to the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who like the elder brother were self righteous, prejudice, indifferent to repentant sinners…
Matthew 19:16-26, THE RICH YOUNG RULER
This is another favorite, mainly because I use it as a yardstick with prisoners, particularly as they prepare to leave for home.The parable tells us that he came to Jesus, asked Him some questions, which the Lord answered. He still persisted on asking more, again Jesus answered. Finally, Jesus got to the heart of the matter…the man’s HEART attitude toward his life. He was more interested in “doing” than in “being”. Jesus told him to divest himself of his belongings and become a follower…the man could not do it! He was apparently very comfortable with what he had, both in possessions and in position, and wasn’t willing to “see” that these two “things” in his life would keep him from God’s best. Many times we are willing to settle for doing good things for God, when He really wants us to be “perfect” just as He is…He wants us to mature, whole and complete, not holding onto “stuff”…we are like the rich some ruler, we decline the Lord’s offer and move on. This is the part I like…Luke says, “Jesus looked on him with love,…and let him go”!!!!One of the most difficult parts of a mentor’s job is the “letting go”…for whatever reason…and there are many times we must “let him go.”
We serve a gracious, loving Father, One who wants us to enjoy His heaven with Him. He works very hard on us to prepare us for that pleasure. Unfortunately, in a lot of cases we resist His grace, and lack of forgiveness is a prime offender, but not the only one. We really need to think long and hard, are we “hearing” all that we should, and are we responding in a positive way to the Holy Spirit, and His urging us to really be reconciled to God. Not only salvation, but are we allowing God to have His way???? He wants us to have the same mind and heart as Christ. We are to be conformed to His image…the question is…ARE WE??????
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