is be prepared (Matthew 22-24)

Now that Jesus is in Jerusalem, things start to heat up.  In the parable of the wedding feast where some people were invited but didn’t show up and then when it was opened to everybody some were sent away, Jesus warns that many are invited but few are chosen.

Then the scribes and Pharisee try to trick Jesus by asking various questions.  First they ask about paying taxes and Jesus says render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.

Then they ask about rising from death with the question of whose wife would a woman be if she had married each of seven brothers who had all died.  Jesus says that things don’t work that way in Heaven and that God is a god of the living not of the dead.

Then they ask about the greatest commandment and Jesus gives two great commandments:   love God with all your heart and love your neighbour as thyself.

Finally Jesus turns the tables and asks them who the Messiah is.  They answer the descendent of David.  Jesus quotes scripture showing that David called the Messiah Lord therefore he can’t be his descendent.  The people are so amazed that they stop asking him questions (at least to trick him.)

Looking back, I get the wedding feast.  I think I get the taxes.  I am a bit confused by the wife but I can muddle through it.  The commandments make perfect sense.  But I am completely lost by the David story.  Matthew took great pains to show that Jesus was descended from David.  Now Jesus is saying that the Messiah is not descended from David.

But the next verses are very clear.  All of Chapter 23 is devoted to Jesus’ attack on the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, how they have led the people astray and how they will be punished for all of their evil. I might not have understood all of the words or crimes, but the tone leaves nothing to the imagination.  If they had been worried about him before (and they had plotted to arrest and kill him), then Jesus has definitely made his intentions clear.  At this point, if they want to keep their power, Jesus must go.

And then Jesus warns about the coming horrors.  The temple will fall.  Disciples will be persecuted and killed.  Disasters will occur plunging the world into panic.  Nobody will know when this will happen (although he did say within a generation) so everybody should be prepared.  And once that occurs, the Son of Man will return and gather his chosen people.  Jesus again emphasizes that nobody except God knows when this will happen so all should be ready by leading a good life and being a faithful servant.