Day 4

Reading: MATTHEW 11-13

Journal

Today's reading is very rich in content lessons it is impossible to share thoroughly within the confines of this journal. Readers are urged to spend time in careful contemplation over these familiar passages. For example:

Come unto me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

'Labor' is an active tense while 'laden' is passive, and both verbs signify actions that are in the active continuous sense. In effect, Jesus' invitation is extended to all who languish under the heavy burdens of this world, whether voluntarily (self-inflicted) or by compulsion (without choice).

A progressive rejection of the King is taking shape, as Jesus performed His public ministry among the Jews. In the midst of His divine miracles and loving yet weary shadow of His human frailty, we see the cold and cruel gazes of the religious leaders, and the blind-sighted crowd who vacillated between being fans and foes of His messianic identity, crisscrossing and climaxing towards His sufferings, death and resurrection.

Though the Jews looked forward to Messiah's coming, they were oblivious to the nature of His person and work, or even the extent of His salvific endeavor. Conversely, the religious leaders contorted messianic expectations to suit their own selfish agendas, embodied in their growing hostility towards Jesus Who refused to subject Himself to their game rules. Nonetheless, God's Kingdom will go on expanding, however man may choose to ignore or misunderstand it.

The parables of the kingdom of heaven (chapter 13), the third of Jesus' five major discourses, further amplified this point. The seven parables cover the characteristics of the Kingdom from its present reality to future fulfillment, that is, from its arrival with the birth of Christ until the new heaven and earth, in various stages:

The sower and the seed (v3-9) alludes to the spread of the gospel, resulting in the Church and believers living together with the world and unbelievers, further explained by the parable of the tares and wheat (v24-30). The mustard seed (v31-32) and the leaven (v32) indicate the growth of the Kingdom (Church) externally and internally, while the hidden treasure (v44) and pearl of great price (v45-46) describe the joy of those who hold this Kingdom dear to their hearts. Finally, the net (v47-50) hinted on the distinctive ends of the believers and unbelievers at the end of the world.

Ponder & Meditate

What is our attitude and response to the teachings of Jesus? Have we grown tired and think it's not worth our time and energy to listen and learn from our Savior, or do we still eagerly receive them as when we first believed, going deeper into that Fountain of living truth?

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (Matthew 13:16-17)

For in truth I'm telling you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them.

Without a humble spirit before God, any objective proof can be refused, rejected or rationalized away. In the end, it reveals the true condition of our hearts—be it outright rejection of truth, superficial acceptance, half-hearted commitment, or complete surrender. What kind of heart-soil do we have?