Matthew Chapter 20
The Lord Jesus told a parable which showed what the kingdom from heaven was like. It seemed the fairness in the kingdom from heaven appeared as unfairness depending on the attitude of the one observing the king and the kingdom.
It was not unfair for a man to be generous with his money. However, those who measure according to the principle of self viewed this man's generosity as unfair. Those who saw unfairness interpreted what they saw according to the principle of self. Those who saw generosity judge according to the principle of grace.
There are two ways to live: according to grace or according to the law. Remember: the same measure we use on others is measured to us as well.
This is why I want to live by grace. I do not want to judge according to self interest. I want to discern life by grace. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
The Lord Jesus saw what was before him. He spoke of his death and resurrection often but no one understood what he said. I'm convinced the same is true today. World events and bible prophecy literally scream that the return of King Jesus is at hand but who is listening? Who is paying attention?
The prediction the Lord Jesus made of his death and resurrection were set in contrast to the request of James, John, and their mother.
They did not understand greatness according to the kingdom from heaven. They were programmed to see greatness according to the world system. They thought greatness was reigning over others like Roman kings or religious leaders who created rules to oppress people.
The Lord Jesus made it clear that the kingdom from heaven was the opposite of the kingdom of this world. The kingdoms of this world, as they currently exist, have no part in the kingdom from heaven. In the third day when the Lord Jesus reigns as King over this earth we will see true spiritual authority in government.
Until then we suffer under the oppression of government, business, and society as it is now. This current world system oppresses the spirit in man and exalts the material and physical. This current world system makes men into idolaters who are covetous, full of lust, pride, and murder.
The kingdom from heaven is not like this. In the kingdom from heaven the man who serves and lays down his life is the one who is great.
The Lord Jesus knew this was the future of James and John despite their misunderstanding of what greatness truly was. These men indeed faced tribulation in the world but the Lord Jesus promised the apostles they would one day sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The blind men cried to the Lord Jesus and called him "Son of David". The Lord Jesus responded to their cry and he healed them of blindness.
Matthew 20:25-28, "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
The Lord Jesus taught on greatness as a result of this mother's request. She approached the Lord Jesus and requested that her sons be at his right and left hands in his kingdom. This occasion provided the Lord Jesus the opportunity to teach what greatness truly meant from the perspective of God and eternity.
My thought here is that the Lord Jesus never rebuked her or her sons for desiring greatness but instead redirected their idea of what greatness was. We should aspire to be great in the kingdom of heaven but we need to understand greatness in God's kingdom is the opposite of greatness in the world system that we currently live in.
The world system creates the illusion of greatness by individuals who lord themselves over others through oppression, manipulation, and deception. This is not difficult for men to do because men who do not believe in God are slaves to self-worship. Every man who is a slave to self-worship desires above anything to exalt himself over others. He is controlled by the lust for prestige, position, pride, and is driven by the desire to compete, win, and overcome other people. The business world and sports world are examples of this.
Government, business, and society are controlled by the serpent poison of self-worship. They make a name for themselves. They create power and authority through making a name and bringing numbers under their name to effect influence and persuasion. This is witchcraft which at its core is control of others in order to exalt self.
Most people who pursue their daily routine in government, business, and society have no idea how united together with Satan they are in principle, goal, and purpose.
Most Christians are blind to this also from what I have seen in my experience. They do not see or understand how the plain word of God applies to their everyday life situations, their relationships with others, and the end-goal of their life pursuit.
If the end goal is self they are not living for the kingdom of heaven. If a man is living solely and completely for self he cannot be a Christian. Unless you deny self you cannot follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore greatness in the kingdom of heaven is servanthood. A man who is great in the kingdom from heaven is a man who puts others before himself. A servant is someone who acts on behalf of others. A Christian's goal is benefiting others. By benefiting others through self-sacrifice and self-denial we indeed serve and follow the Lord Jesus.
We deceive ourselves when our goal in life is money or self-gratification and then we think we are a Christian. We are not Christian if we think and live like this. We follow the natural course of unbelievers united in essence, principle, and spirit with the serpent Satan. John 8:44, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do."
It is not hard to discern the children of the devil from the children of God. If you are a child of God it is obvious when you encounter people who follow the devil. The children of the devil worship self. The children of God deny self and worship the Lord Jesus by dying to self and living for others.
Self-help, self-improvement, and any psychology, philosophy, or religion devoted to self in any aspect is influenced by demons. These doctrines of demons the bible warns us about are rampant in the last days.
Do you want to be great? Then deny self and be a servant. Become a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
