Saying and Doing

Mat 21:28-32 KJ2000

(28)  But what think you? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.

(29)  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.

(30)  And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

(31)  Which of the two did the will of his father? They said unto him, The first. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

(32)  For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not: but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him: and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterward, that you might believe him.

"Character counts," your mother told you, and in the usual sense she was right.  But this concept can be misused.

In the United States we have a very useful legal fiction:  all men are created equal.  Now it is clear that all men are not equal;  some are tall, some are short; some old, some young.  Even in the courtroom the jury is required to make distinctions among men.  Some are considered reliable witnesses, some are not, and their testimony is weighted accordingly.  So why then do we say they are equal?

It's because the alternative is worse.  Our founding fathers knew that all men were sinners.  A true gentleman should be expected to be honest at all times—but even the true gentleman might lie under oath if tempted enough.  So we are to start with the presumption of equality—in court.

But in life we don't do that.  We know some people to be honest, and others not.  Used car salesmen in yellow plaid jackets are not trusted as much as ministers in black suits.  Character counts.

But sometimes we can take that too far.  We may be misled into thinking, "I am an honest, upright individual.  God clearly owes me priority treatment compared to that car salesman."  We forget what our founders knew:  we are all sinners.

Jesus points out the same thing here.  They've just been talking about the authority of John the Baptist.  Jesus points out the comparison:

When John spoke, the used car salesmen in plaid jackets listened and repented.

If you were really righteous, you would have seen that as a sign and blessing from God.
But you didn't—and you ignored John.  What does God have to do to get your attention?

Sadly, some of us are so proud of our righteousness that we have missed this lesson.  We become judges over others, but not ourselves.  Jesus appealed to the judges to give judgment on themselves here.  When he returns, no such opportunity will be given.  So we had best examine ourselves now, asking:  on whose righteousness do I rely?  Mine—or His?