Joel Russell-MacLean

Summer Series at First Baptist:

The parables of Jesus from the Gospel According to Matthew.

Jesus engaged listeners with his parables. They weren’t straightforward and required reflection. Even after hearing the same story, time after time, there seems to be still more. Jesus also used them to present people with a choice. Would they hear and understand? Would they listen?

In this week’s parable, Jesus again challenged his listeners. He inverted a natural assumption about who among us is seeking God. Some people get all the outward parts right by saying the right things but miss knowing God. Others appear to say all the wrong things but are moving toward God. Jesus warned the crowd that comparing and judging one another can prevent us from joining God. Judging others is a distraction. The crucial question is, am I doing what God asks me to do each day?