He Knows What We're Thinking
Does God speak preemptively? I'm sure He does. After all, He knows what you're thinking so He will make sure to warn you of what you need to hear before you look stupid.
The timing of the parable of the vineyard workers in Chapter 20 comes right before James and John are about to really lose serious street cred with the other disciples.
That parable illustrates those hired first will receive the same as those hired last. That the kingdom is a steady stream of new workers and some benefit from the labor of others bearing the burden in the heat of the day.
In other words, don't think that because you're hired first, you're going to get special treatment. This is God's movement, not yours.
After the parable, Jesus makes it clear what He come to do for the third time in Matthew:
Matthew 20:17–19 (ESV) And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
He tells them, "I'm going to die, mocked, flogged, and crucified... then raised."
And the next thing we see? Incredibly...
Matthew 20:20–21 (ESV) Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
The timing of the parable of the vineyard workers in Chapter 20 comes right before James and John are about to really lose serious street cred with the other disciples.
That parable illustrates those hired first will receive the same as those hired last. That the kingdom is a steady stream of new workers and some benefit from the labor of others bearing the burden in the heat of the day.
In other words, don't think that because you're hired first, you're going to get special treatment. This is God's movement, not yours.
After the parable, Jesus makes it clear what He come to do for the third time in Matthew:
Matthew 20:17–19 (ESV) And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, 18 “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death 19 and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
He tells them, "I'm going to die, mocked, flogged, and crucified... then raised."
And the next thing we see? Incredibly...
Matthew 20:20–21 (ESV) Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”
You have to wonder... if the Bible were being written while Jesus was teaching at this moment he would have had the stenographer read the last parable to this dear mom.
Now we see why Jesus shares that parable at the beginning of Chapter 20. He must have sensed His disciples were beginning to think more of themselves than they were. Perhaps they had totally forgotten that before Jesus showed up they were shoveling fish guts.
And so, knowing their hearts Jesus shares that parable to preemptively teach. I find God does this to me. He'll set me up for a lesson by speaking to me in several ways before I need the lesson. Sometimes I listen and spare myself. Other times I fail like James and John. But I'm glad, I'm on His mind, and in His heart and He's lovingly leading me ALL THE TIME.
PRAYER:
Father I thank you that you speak to me even when I don't realize how urgently I need to hear you. You love me more than I can imagine. And your heart for me is wonderful. Praise you! Amen.
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