Roger's Postings

Friday, July 01, 2011

Matthew 11:16-19; 25-30.                  Not playing the game??          3/7/11

(16)  "To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: {17} "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' {18} For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' {19} The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

{25} At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. {26} Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. {27} "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. {28} "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

 "To what can I compare this generation? Yes, this generation of ours, too, wants to play it own games. This generation too, wants to be able to set its own agenda and do its own thing. This generation of you and me, also wants to be able to be wise and learned rather than simply accept what has been passed on to us. We too, want God to fit in with our way of thinking, rather than the other way around.

 As a result, we wonder why life is such a struggle and a battle: We wonder why there is that constant load on our shoulders, that is weighing us down; why it seems such a burden to do that which we think is right and good and to be seen doing so; and why we struggle to understand what the truth really is.

 Yet here Jesus says to each one of us; "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children..... Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

 Oh, if only it were so simple! If only we could be like that! If only we could truly get it all together! If only.......!

Yes, if only we would stop playing games. If only we would stop wanting to play our own tune, expecting God to dance as we please. For this is exactly what Jesus is referring to when he says; They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.'

 Many of the Jews at that time were like we are today; they had twisted Scripture into a whole series of rules and regulations, and the whole basis of which became, if we live by them, God will dance to our tune. They prided themselves in the fact that they were diligently following Moses’ Law, but failed to look to and trust in the God who stood behind them. They arrogantly looked to themselves and what they believed and did, rather than look to God and the help that they really needed; which only he could give.

 So when John the Baptist came preaching the need for repentance because the Messiah was coming; they rejected him. They weren’t going to dance to that tune, because they were doing very well, thank you. John instead should have been preaching something like; ‘because you are doing so well God will now bless you by sending the Messiah to set up this new and glorious Israel.’ But, since he preached a message that they did not want to hear they rejected him as having a demon.

 Then when Jesus came along eating and drinking, they said, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." Jesus told them that in his presence, God’s kingdom was coming, so they should repent and believe. He performed miracle after miracle for them so that they could know that he definitely was from God, but they did not want to see and hear, because he was not dancing to the tune that they wanted him to. They didn’t want Jesus and what he had for them, they instead wanted everything to go their way.

 So wisdom is proved right by her actions. The reaction of those Jews to John and Jesus proved that they simply wanted them to dance to the Israelites tune and not God’s tune. They wanted God to do what fitted their understanding; which again was a twisted understanding of the Scriptures. They had placed themselves at the centre of God’s Word, not God and what he really had to say. In their wisdom and learning they twisted Scripture to suit their thinking, not the other way around.

 Then in those verses in between what we have before us, Jesus condemns those Jews for not repenting as a result of the miracles which he had done amongst them. Their rejection of God in their midst, meant that they would face God’s judgement. Their religiosity and sincerity was not enough. Their focus on their good achievements was all wrong. So for their unwillingness to look to God and what he had for them, Jesus condemns them. Serious consequences indeed!

 Then Jesus went on to say; "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

 There he clearly states that, contrary to their way of thinking, God’s ways were infinitely greater. He contrasts the wise and learned human being with the Lord of heaven and earth. He thereby asks the question of us; Who do we really think we are, by setting ourselves up as the knowledgeable and learned ones? After all Jesus’ Father is the Lord over all things in heaven and on earth. He is the one we need to turn to, and look to for all that we need for life.

 This understanding is clearly given and revealed in the little children. The babe simply trusts that its being, help and safety comes from beyond themselves. They know that they are cared for and loved, without it being up to them. They don’t play games with God; they trust what is given and said.

 That then is what the Lord Almighty looks for in us. That we too will simply look to him and trust that he has that which is right and good for us. We will simply receive from him that which he has to give, rather than impose our will on him. We will understand that we as sinful, selfish human beings, are simply unable to play the game by our own rules, or by changing the rules as we go along, to suit ourselves and in order to be popular in the world around us.

This then has a lot to say to us and our church at this time, as we seek to bring enormous change into what we not only do, but also what our theology is. For much is being said and done today which is no longer in accord with Scripture as it has been passed down to us.

Yes, we need to remember that the Lord is God and that he constantly is seeking to renew us and help us to be his witnesses to the world around us. But he is a God who does not change; what he has said is what we need, even today, in order to go forward as his people. Therefore Jesus Christ and his Word and Sacraments are still the very centre and core of the Christian Faith. It is the Holy Spirit working through the Word and Sacraments that creates and sustains faith in Jesus Christ. What God has to give us in worship is far more important than what we can do for him. The Office of the Ministry is as valid today as it always has been; and rightly called and prepared men are still just as necessary as they have been throughout the last two thousand years. God’s view on homosexuality and marriage has not changed, just because of our governments changing views. These are just some of the many issues that are important for us today.

We are not to impose our wisdom and learning on these issues; playing games with God and his Word. Let us accept what he has given us on these issues in his Word, and which has been passed down throughout the history of the Church, in simple childlike faith.

Hear again what Jesus has to say; "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

By looking to him and trusting what he has given us, not only makes life much easier for us, but it is that then which is being a part of our Lord’s game. It is not us trying to get God to play our games, but us being a part of that which is given to us, to make life easy for us. But then most importantly all glory goes to our great God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For to him alone belongs all glory and honour, now and always. AMEN.

Pastor Roger Atze
Glandore/Underdale Lutheran Parish

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