QT 25/01/2024 Thursday Matthew 22. The invited don't come. 被邀请的人不肯来。

QT 25/01/2024 Thursday Matthew 22
http://www.esvbible.org/matt22

You cannot dictate that God continue to shower you with grace after grace after grace forever, while you still continue in sin, disobedience & rebellion. The flow of the text is this:-

The Temple remained defiled (Matt 21:10-17), Jesus LEFT in the EAST direction of Mount Olive (Bethany);

The withered fig tree was like the unreceptive people of Jesus' time, fruitless (Matt 21:18-22);

Inspite of Matt 1-20's authority laden events, episodes and proofs, the AUTHORITY of Jesus was STILL being disputed and questioned, "And WHO gave you this AUTHORITY?" (Matt 21:23-27);

Disbelief continued in spite of John's testimony (Matt 21:28-32);

The Heavenly Father was patient and persevering to send "servants" (prophets) to His people to prod them to repent & produce "fruits" but they continued to plot to "arrest" Jesus (Parable of the Tenants, Matt 21:33-46);

AGAIN, in Matt 22:1-14 (Parable of the Wedding Banquet), God's patience was stretched again - THE INVITED DON'T COME (Matt 22:3)!

God's long-suffering was exhibited again, by Him sending out ANOTHER urgent appeal (Matt 22:4). Not only did they RSVP "no" due to excuses relating to the tending of "field" and "business" (sounds modern?), they KILLED the messenger (Matt 22:5,6).

The King treated them as HONOURED GUESTS (note oxen and FATTENED cattle menu, 22:4), but His call fell on DEAF ears. The phrase "The king was enraged" (Matt 22:7) shows that God's patience has limits.

REFLECTION: Are you willing to arrange your life so as to fit into the community of God's people that He has put you in. Are you wrongly using His "grace" to excuse you for continuing with some things that you KNOW are wrong in your life.

God's patience was STRETCHED for another 40 YEARS (from A.D. 30 to A.D. 70), after which the temple was completely destroyed by the Romans.

APPLICATION: Allow our minds to be moulded by God's truth and the therapy of a bible believing and practising community. It's just the start to a better tomorrow. Anything less might get you stuck in the mud of unhappiness, grumbling and an ungrateful heart towards God and others around you.

星期四 2024年1月25日 今日读经：马太福音22章
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Mat/22/

你不可能要求神不断地赐给你恩典，一次又一次地到永远，而你却仍然在罪中、不顺服神、悖逆神。这篇经文的流程是这样的:-

那圣殿仍然被玷污(太21:10-17),耶稣向着橄榄山的东边离去(伯大尼);

那干枯的无花果树就好比耶稣那个时代的人一样，不受教、不结果子(太21:18-22);

尽管马太福音1-20章里的权柄出现在各事件、插曲和论证中，耶稣的权柄仍然被议论、被质疑，“谁给你这权柄？”(太21:23-27);

尽管约翰做了见证，他们仍然不相信(太21:28-32);

天上的父非常有耐心且不断地派遣“仆人”(先知)到祂的子民那里去，劝请他们要悔改并结“果子”但他们仍然继续图谋“逮捕”耶稣(佃户的比喻,太21:33-46)。

再次地，在太22:1-14(婚筵的比喻)，神的耐性又被考验了--被邀请的人不肯来(太22:3)!

神的忍耐又再次展现了，祂再派遣仆人苦求他们(太22:4)。他们不但找借口不去，说去“耕田”和“做买卖”(听起来是否像现代人的说法?)，他们还把那仆人杀了(太22:5,6)。

那王待他们如尊贵的宾客(筵席的菜单上有公牛和肥畜，太22:4)，但他们却无动于衷。“王就发怒”(太22:7)这句话说明神的忍耐是有限度的。

反思：你是否愿意安排你的生活以至能够配合祂所安置你所处的肢体里？在你的生活里，你是否滥用祂的“恩典”作为你明知故犯的借口？

神的耐性又再次被考验了40年(从公元30年到70年)，之后那圣殿就被罗马人彻底毁灭了。

应用：让你的心被神的真理陶造，让你的心被相信真理活出真理的教会陶造。这只是对美好未来的起步。唯有这样才不会让你陷入不满和埋怨的泥泞，不懂得感恩神和周边的人。