TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. Matthew 21:31b
Read: Matthew 21:23-32
Listen: Matthew 21
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus enters the temple on Tuesday and is confronted by the religious leaders, a family of priests put into power by the occupying Roman forces. Having grown incredibly wealthy and powerful through their control of the temple system–crossing them was dangerous. Jesus’ disruption of the temple on Monday couldn’t have made them happy. They’re already on edge about his teaching and his claim to forgive sins.
But Jesus doesn’t shy away from them. He doubles down and contrasts them with those on the bottom rung of the social ladder, the tax collectors and prostitutes. Jesus implies that the religious leaders are further away from God than them.
Jesus knows a relationship with God isn’t about controlling access to God or meeting God on our own terms. It’s about admitting we can’t do it on our own. That’s why the tax collectors and prostitutes were close to God. They realized they couldn’t earn and didn’t deserve a relationship with God. This realization caused them to cry out to him for help. That’s why Jesus came, to help those who cry out to him.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Pray something like this “God, I know it can be easy for me to think I can earn or deserve a relationship with you. I confess that isn’t true. No matter what I do, it would never be enough. I need your help. Thank you for Jesus, who died to help me have a relationship with you.”
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
