Matthew 20: Calvary in Sight (5)
Pray Psalm 27.4-6.
One thing I have desired of the LORD,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the LORD,
And to inquire in His temple.
For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.
Sing Psalm 27.4-6.
St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise
One thing we request but to dwell with You, LORD,
Your beauty to test and to think on Your Word.
In trouble You hide us secure in Your grace;
no foe may o’erride us: We sing of Your praise!
Read Matthew 20.1-28; Meditate on verses 24-28.
What does greatness in the Kingdom look like?
Prepare.
1. Why were the ten disciples displeased?
2. What did Jesus teach them about greatness in the Kingdom?
Meditate.It’s a good thing to want to be great in the Kingdom of God. We should all aspire to being effective rulers, with a large domain, our Personal Mission Field, over which to exercise sound judgment in the Name of the Lord (Matt. 19.28-30).
But not to lord it over others; rather, to serve them. Greatness in the Kingdom is measured by service. Service is simply love in action, bringing the blessings of righteousness, peace, and joy to others at the point of their need. But how does one learn what service requires? Or develop a disposition of soul which inclines to service? Put another way, how does one come to be great in the Kingdom?
By learning, obeying, and teaching the Law of God (Matt. 5.17-19). The Law equips us to love others, and that means doing for them what we would like someone to do for us (Matt. 7.12). The Law of God prepares us for this. It helps us to recognize unjust situations, opportunities for showing compassion, and specific ways to build others up in love.
James and John were right to want to be great in the Kingdom, seated at Jesus’ left and right hands! But they and the rest of the disciples and all of us need to understand that greatness is measured in terms of service. And service flows from a heart and mind devoted to love, as taught and empowered by the Holy Spirit, Who teaches us God’s Law (Ezek. 36.26, 27).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“And when the ten heard it…” (Matt. 20.24).
Those ten included the devious, money-loving, turncoat and betrayer Judas.
And Jesus made sure to say, “Among you” three times.
“Yet it shall not be so among you…” (Matt. 20.26).
“…whoever desires to become great among you…” (Matt. 20.26).
“…whoever desires to be first among you…” (Matt. 20.27).
Jesus most assuredly knew who was “among” them. And yet.
He kept teaching and loving them, to the end.
“Now before the Feast of the Passover,
when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father,
having loved His Own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (Jn. 13.1).
Note to us: even when we “know” those in our Personal Mission Field,
we are called to love them as Jesus loved, and loves, His Own.
He said of Himself, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20.28).
As Pat Hunter used to say, “We love not because of the [worthy] target;
but because of the love that Jesus generates in our hearts for them.”
As in Jesus’ life, there were a plethora of unworthy, hateful, unthankful, and untrustworthy “targets” in His world; but He continued to love and serve them until He went to the Father—not because they were loveable or amenable; but because of the otherworldly love, the Spirit-fueled love that came from His heart for them.
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…” (Phil. 2.5).
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests,
but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2.3, 4).
Only because of Jesus, are we capable of love—love for Him, thus love for others.
“We love because He first loved us” (1 Jn. 4.19).
“Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O LORD,
according to Your lovingkindness” (Ps. 119.159).
When our foremost desire is to aspire to greatness in His Kingdom because we long to share His
unfathomable love with others (Eph. 3.17-19), then we are on the right track to bring God delight.
“Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD,
but the blameless in their ways are His delight” (Prov. 11.20).
“Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
but those who deal truthfully are His delight” (Prov. 12.22).
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
but the prayer of the upright is His delight” (Prov. 15.8).
Keep and teach the Law, love and follow Jesus, love His Own as your own—desire greatness.
“Service flows from a heart and mind devoted to love, as taught and empowered by the Holy Spirit.”
Thereby bringing the Father delight. Kingdom folk, it can happen among us!
Reflect.
1. Are you on the path of Kingdom greatness? Explain.
2. How does serving others demonstrate the character and presence of the Kingdom of God?
3. What can keep us from being more consistent in pursuing Kingdom greatness?
Do you see how everywhere Jesus encourages them by turning things upside down? He gives them what they desire but in ways they did not expect. John Chrysostom (344-407), The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 65.4
Pray Psalm 27.1-3, 7-14.
How will the Lord use you today to bring His goodness to light in your world? Pray specifically about opportunities to serve others that you expect to have today.
Sing Psalm 27.1-3, 7-14.
St. Denio: Immortal, Invisible God Only Wise)
LORD, You are our Light and our Savior most dear!
You guard us with might; therefore, whom shall we fear?
Though evil surround us, our enemies fall;
no harm shall confound us when on You we call.
Hear, LORD, when we cry and be gracious, we pray!
LORD, do not deny us Your favor this day!
Our help, our salvation, though others may fall,
preserve our good station when on You we call.
LORD, teach us; LORD, lead us because of our foes!
Hear, LORD, when we plead for release from their woes.
Had we not believed all Your goodness to see,
our heart sorely grieved and in turmoil would be.
Wait, wait on the LORD; persevere in His grace.
Hold fast to His Word; seek His radiant face.
Be strong, set your heart to abide in His Word;
His grace He imparts; therefore, wait on the LORD.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest: This week: Our Read Moore podcast continues readings from the book, The Joy and Rejoicing of My Heart. Our Crosfigell teaching letter is pursuing a series on the spiritual poetry of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is working through a study of the role of reason in the life of faith. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
