Today's Scripture Reading: Luke 20.1-19

Good Morning.

Walk with me into the temple courts where we find Jesus teaching. . . a group of chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders ask Jesus a question: 'By what authority are you doing these things? (that is to say, performing the miraculous and making such divine claims) Who gave you this authority?' But Jesus, knowing their motivation for challenging him, responds with a question--"Tell me, John's baptism--was it from heaven, or from men?" Verse 5 explains their dilemma in answering the question; why do they decline answering?________________________ They, who were laying the trap for Jesus, actually become the trapped. Jesus does not answer their question directly, knowing that they could have used His answer to charge him and bring him to trial, and it was not quite the appointed time for that. Instead, Jesus answers them with a parable. *

He does a masterful job of teaching here, telling the Jewish leaders a story that allows them to instantly see themselves. The story involves a tenant farmer of a vineyard at harvest time, and the interaction between the owner/planter's representatives and the tenant, who was renting the vineyard. The owner sends servants (three different ones at different times) to get a little of the fruit of the vine, but each is beaten up, and sent home empty-handed. The owner then thinks, 'if I send my son, they will surely listen...' The evil tenants did not listen, but instead killed the son. Translation, please: we have the owner of the vineyard - God, the vineyard - Israel, the tenant farmers - religious leaders, the servants - the prophets God had sent to Israel, and the son - the Messiah, Jesus. The parable indirectly answers the leaders' question about Jesus' authority, and also shows that He knew about their plan to kill Him.

Once again, we see how careful, how prudent Jesus was with His words. I need to take a page out of that book---daily. I think of the words of wisdom in Ecclesiastes 5: Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so LET YOUR WORDS BE FEW. (caps are mine) 'Let my words be few'? What would the implications of that be? Less noise, less foolishness, less pride--in short, probably less sin. "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." (Proverbs 10.19) Of course, holding our tongue requires restraint, discipline. . . thinking before we speak. We would do well to do so; consider Jesus' words in Matthew's gospel, "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (12.36-37) yikes. I have tried to be guided by Paul's admonition--Let no unwholesome words proceed from your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4.29) So, Paul, what you are saying is that unless I can add something of value to a situation by opening my mouth, I'd do well to keep still? Right. How about James' counsel--be quick to listen, SLOW TO SPEAK, slow to become angry--James 1.19 Jesus could easily have been moved to anger at the evil, calculating ways of the Jewish leaders; instead, He had a carefully-chosen response, in which He spoke prudently. Ah, wisdom. . . treasure it. Ask God for it daily. He promises to give it to you.

Do you sometimes have a difficult time making your message understood--communicating your viewpoint or feelings effectively? Learn from Jesus. Consider how Jesus painted an emotional word picture, which communicated his position in a crystal clear fashion. They could 'relate' to the vineyard owner's position, and how he would feel when his servants were rebuffed and harshly treated, but especially when his son was killed! Instantly, the people and the Jewish leaders identify with what Jesus was telling them. Needless to say, the leaders were not pleased, as the story concludes with their demise. Nonetheless, you and I can learn from this communication strategy--instead of talking something to death, try painting a word picture your listener can understand. (Do you hear me talking here, ladies? Use fewer words, and be prudent with them.)

Sometimes as we read about these days leading up to Jesus' arrest in Jerusalem, it can almost seem like He just blindly walked into the trap of the Jewish leadership. . . no, He went in, eyes wide open, but not before the fullness of time was complete.

Learning from the Master daily,

Christine