Ezekiel 18.1-4; 18.25-32

1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3 As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die. 25 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 26 When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. 27 Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. 28 Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God . Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God . Turn, then, and live.

 

REFLECTION 

God talks to Ezeikiel about a proverb that suggests that what the parent does the child feels. I feel this means that the child's life is affected by the parent's life. There is a view in the Jewish faith about the sins of the father are given to the child. God tells Ezekiel that each person will be judged on their own. I am not sure if the next comment by God has to do with the first part, but the next point is that people believe God is unfair. This is still true today. Many atheists and those not wanting to accept the Christian faith feel that we have a mean God. God deals with this the same way Jesus deals with it in the parable today. There are two attitudes those that say the right thing but act unrighteously and those who say the unrighteous thing, but turn from it. We blame God for the problem, but really the problem is us and our double minded ways. God does not want to punish us, but God is also not going to let wrong go without a consequence.  

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Psalm 25.1-9

1 In you, O Lord my God, have I put my hope:

in you have I trusted, let me not be ashamed,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

2 Let none who wait for you be put to shame:

but let those that break faith

be confounded and gain nothing.

3 Show me your ways, O Lord:

and teach me your paths.

4 Lead me in the ways of your truth, and teach me:

for you are the God of my salvation.

5 In you have I hoped all the day long:

because of your goodness, O Lord.

6 Call to mind your compassion and your loving-kindness:

for they are from of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth,

nor my transgressions:

but according to your mercy think on me.

8 Good and upright is the Lord:

therefore will he direct sinners in the way.

9 The meek he will guide in the path of justice:

and teach the humble his ways.

 

 

Philippians 2.1-13

1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy,
2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.
4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.
5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8 he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
    and gave him the name
    that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
    every knee should bend,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
    that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.
12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

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REFLECTION  

We must remember that Paul was writing to new converts to the Way. They had heard the gospel and taken hold of the grace and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ, but that was not the end. Paul calls them to the life changing transformation of the grace. The abandonment of self to the humble community of God. Not because they had to, but being moved by love, the Spirit, compassion, sympathy. This is a choice we should want to make so that we can know God's grace and community and are part of it. I think there is the journey of the reacting instinctively like the first son and refusing or reacting to events, but as we take that after thought we repent and turn to the action and words that reflect God's love. As we turn back God loves us and grows us into the likeness of Christ. 

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Matthew 21.23-32

23 When he (Jesus) entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ 24 Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” 26 But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ 27 So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28 ‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” 29 He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

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REFLECTION 

The Pharisees come to check Jesus out, but Jesus instead turns it back on them, I believe, to see their motives. By their answer Jesus will know if they are open or closed. Their abstaining shows they are double minded. They do not care about the truth. He refuses to answer their question but instead declares the consequences of their double minded attitude.​ Using a parable he looks at those who speak good, but do not do and those who speak bad, but do good. There are many reasons for why we say what we say, education, culture, fear, ambition, anger. Our words at times reflect a reaction rather than our heart. In the afterthought as we reflect, we can see things differently, regret our words and actions. people will remember our first response rather than our true hearts. We judge what we see and hear, but at times it is not the true heart of a person. We pray that God would shine a light into the brokenness that drives our words and actions, both the brokenness that makes us react in a negative way, but also the brokenness that drives us to pretend to be something for approval and gain. God sees into our hearts and our brokenness.

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