12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, it is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,
16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
Why Holy Monday is Significant
There are many important things to observe about Holy Monday, but two are particularly important.
First, Holy Monday set up the events which happened on Maundy Thursday. By clearing the temple, Jesus criticized the leaders who allowed and promoted the activity happening in the temple. His teachings rebuked the religious leaders overtly (particularly by telling people to watch out for corrupt leaders), and by telling a parable meant to criticize them. Matthew 21:45-46 explains that the leaders knew they were the “evil farm tenants” that Jesus mentioned in that parable. The religious leaders had been concerned about Jesus before this, but his actions on Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday clinched it: they wanted him dead.
Second, Jesus describes these teachings and parables as being about the kingdom of God. They use different images and words but are all about two ideas: God will offer the kingdom to unexpected people, and when the kingdom arrives in full there will be judgment.
The parable of the two sons, the evil farm tenants, and the great feast all deal with God offering the kingdom to people and varying responses, which results in God offering it to others. The son who initially does not obey the father is ultimately honored for doing what he’s asked in the end, and Jesus ends it by telling the religious leaders, “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of Heaven before you do” (Matthew 21:31). The evil farm tenants ultimately lose the farm, which the landlord gives to others (Matthew 21:22). The king invites many to his great feast, when many do not take him up on his offer he seeks others to attend.
The parables of the servants and the ten bridesmaids describe people given things for a time to come (the bridegroom’s approach, the master’s return). Some of these people wisely use what they were given (the oil, the money). Others do not. There is a coming event to be prepared for.
The apocalyptic discussion about Jerusalem (possibly referring to the city’s fall in A.D. 70, possibly talking about the end days) and the story about God’s response to people at the final judgment both highlight the idea that something unexpected is coming. Therefore, people needed to consider what they did with the time they were given.
(For more about Holy Monday, go to crosswalk.com)
Thanks for coming by Friends. I pray that you have had and are having a blessed Holy Monday!
No comments:
Post a Comment