Today is 1-11-11...pretty cool!
Jesus tells the Parable of the workers paid equally....now let's be honest, how would you feel if you worked all day and got the same pay as someone who worked on hour????? It takes on a bit of a different tone when you realize that this relates to getting eternal life. It doesn't matter when you believe, as long as you believe. You will see that the thief who hung on the cross with Jesus believed at the last minute, and Jesus said, "Today you will be with me in paradise". God wants all his children in the kingdom of heaven. All of them.
We then get Matthew's version of Jesus predicting his death the 3rd time and Jesus teaching about serving others, and Jesus healing a blind beggar (note in this version that there are two beggars!)
Chapter 21 is so cool with Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. This fulfills scripture in Zechariah 9:9 and Isaiah 62:11....I highlight that stuff in the Old Testament to show where Jesus fulfills it in the New Testament. The people recognize the King.....Hosanna means SAVE NOW, you are Messiah....note in verse 8 where the people cut branches from trees and spread them on the road....this is Leviticus 23:40: Feast of the Tabernacles.
Jesus clears the Temple again. Merchants and money changers set up their booths in the court of the Gentiles in the temple, crowding out the Gentiles who had come from all over the civilized world to worship God. The merchants sold sacrificial animals at high prices, taking advantage of those who had come long distances. The money changers exchanged all international currency for the special temple coins-the only money the merchants would accept. They often deceived foreigners who didn't know the exchange rates.
Religious Leaders challenge Jesus' Authority again.....
Jesus Tells the Parable of the Two Sons....the son who said he would obey and then didn't represented the nation of Israel in Jesus day.
Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants.
1) Landowner is God
2) the vineyard is Israel
3) the tenants-the Jewish religious leaders
4) the landowner's servants-the prophets and priests who remained faithful to God and preached to Israel
5) the son-Jesus
6) the other tenants-the Gentiles. Jesus was exposing the religious leaders' murderous plot.
Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.
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In my Bile.....it explains 20:15 that The Lord cn and does give His gifts and His goodness as he wants to. Grace cannot be earned or deserved.
ReplyDeleteI really like 20:26=28....being a Christian is not about having power, but about helping others....
Question: What is Hosanna....is this another name for Jesus?
I noticed in 21:11 they believe Him to be a prophet instead of the Son of God. Those are two different things, right? They actually didn't realize who He was...right?
very comforting verse to read Matthew 21: 22 "And whatever things you ask in prayers, believing, you will receive."
.....Hosanna means SAVE NOW, you are Messiah....and in 21:11 you are exactly right...a prophet is one thing, but if you call yourself the son of God, that can be blasphemy if you arent!
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