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Why are sex workers better?
Matthew 21:23-32
In Matthew's gospel Jesus has a debate with chief priests and elders, at the end of this debate he tells them that prostitutes and tax collectors are better than them.
The people have begun to recognise that Jesus is God's chosen and anointed King, they are listening to him – possibly doing what he teaches them to do…
* * *
The priests and elders of the people – worried about what Jesus is saying, about how he is upsetting the status quo ask: "By what authority are you saying these things?"
(To them, Jesus ideas are a bit unbiblical; and perhaps a bit difficult to hear (challenging)).
Jesus answers their question with a question, a question about authority: "By what authority did John baptize?"
The Pharisees know they have been caught –
They think to themselves:
"If we say his authority came from God – he will ask why we didn't trust what he said…" (Do what he told us to do?)
"If we say it is from men – the people will be angry, because they regarded John as a prophet and believed what he said."
Knowing that they're in trouble whatever they answer – they simply answer:
"We don't know."
* * *
Just like us – the Pharisees are reluctant to take responsibility for their own actions and reactions.
A parable of two sons…
Jesus then tells several parables about responsibility - responding.
We look at the first one this week:
A father asks his sons to go work in the vineyard.
One said yes and didn't, the other said no and did.
The better son is the one that actually did what he was asked to do – even though he didn't at first.
* * *
Faith, for Jesus is not measured by the words we say, or the prayers we pray, but by the things we do…
Prostitutes and tax collectors are better than priests – because they put what John teaches them into practice.
* * *
In Luke's gospel (Chapter 3:9-14), when John preaches and baptizes the people ask:
"What should we do?"
If you have two coats – give one away.
If you're a tax collector – collect only the amount assigned to you.
If you are a soldier – soldier responsibly, don't abuse your power.
If you have lots of food and someone has none – share it.
* * *
John's preaching is undeniably practical. Demanding a practical and not just a symbolic response.
Prostitutes and tax collectors are better than priests – because they obviously responded to John's preaching and changed their ways.
Philippians…
In Paul's letter to the Philippians we are also called to respond to the good news about Jesus.
Last week I spoke about the hope that Paul has in the face of adversity – in this section of the letter he encourages us to respond to that hope.
Philippians 2:1-17
Paul encourages us to be in harmony of mind, to love, to do nothing out of selfish ambition, but to regard others as better than ourselves – look to the interests of others rather than your own.
He makes stringent demands on us – and then he holds up Christ as the example – the living Word.
Paul then quotes what might have been a Psalm of the Early Church, a short statement of praise and belief – in two parts.
One about what Jesus did, the second about what God did.
First Section
Jesus Christ who though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.
- Philippians 2:6-8
Paul holds up to us the example of Jesus and asks us to respond by imitating him in his humility.
Jesus – who was 'in the form of God' did not exploit his power – but became like a slave – being born in human likeness…
He goes from the highest point in creation – to live among the lowest.
* * *
Paul goes on – even though he made himself so low – he went even further, he was willing to die.
Not only did he die – he died on a cross.
The lowest, ugliest form of death, reserved for slaves and outcasts. Outlawed as too barbaric, even for killing slaves shortly after Jesus was crucified.
* * *
In dying the way he did Jesus takes the form of the lowest of the low. Making himself the least important in all creation.
Therefore…
Paul joins the first part of the poem with the second using the conjunction 'Therefore'.
Jesus suffering and death was not for nothing:
Paul describes what God did because of what Jesus did:
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- Philippians 2:9-11
God has made all things subject to him. Greeks worshipped gods in the heavens, earth, sea and underworld – Paul announces that whatever beings there are – they must acknowledge Christ's rule – he is exalted above them all.[1]
Because Jesus humbled himself – God raised him up.
Therefore…
Paul tells us what Jesus did – what God did because of what Jesus did – and finally – what we should do, because of what Jesus has done. How we should respond to his authority:
Work out your own salvation…
Paul's command to us is that we should work out our own salvation with fear and trembling (12).
Paul teaches that we are saved by god's grace, through the faith that we put in Jesus (Eph 2:8) – but the nature of that faith is that it is not separated from our actions.
John Wesley said:
"We speak of a faith… which is productive of all good works, and all holiness."[2]
If the priests and elders had believed John they would have responded with action. But they didn't respond – because they didn't acknowledge his authority.
On the other hand – tax collectors and prostitutes did believe, and they did respond – therefore they, in Jesus' words: "…are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you."
* * *
In business, in life, in all things we are constantly faced with practical moral dilemmas. Questions about how we should react to situations, what we should do in situations. No one can make those decisions for you – we are responsible for our own actions.
We should try to follow the example of Jesus.
But Paul acknowledges that each of our lives are complicated – he instructs us to work out our salvation carefully – with fear and trembling.
Fear and trembling means just that – imagine a bomb disposal expert figuring out which wires to cut. That's how seriously we need to take our response to the message of Jesus.
Willing always to make the greatest sacrifices possible to be who God calls us to be.
* * *
That sounds difficult, but Paul carries on – and this is the grace offered us through faith:
"…for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
- Philippians 2:13
We work out our own salvation with fear and trembling – but, at the same time Paul lets us know that God is working in us, moulding, transforming, healing us – helping us to see what we should do, to be who we should be.
Conclusion…
Prostitutes and tax collectors are better than priests because they hear what John says, and they respond.
Jesus challenges the priests with a question – "By what authority did John baptise, was it from heaven (from God) or from people?"
* * *
I ask us to consider - what holds authority in our lives?
Jesus authority is made known to us in his humility – dying on the cross.
His authority is affirmed to us in the fact that God raised him from the dead and made his name higher than any other.
God made him our eternal judge.
* * *
The priest's answer to Jesus question about authority is 'we don't know.'
I invite you to know.
To make up your mind.
And when your mind has been made up – to respond to that authority.
* * *
Today we take communion together, a sacred meal.
When we eat together we remember what Paul is talking about in the letter to the Philippians – Jesus humbled himself even to death on a cross.
We remember that God has raised him up and enthroned him.
As we eat – we remember that he is the bread of life, that God, through his Holy Spirit empowers us to be the people we are called and created to be.
When you take communion today I invite you to respond to God's grace and power offered to you in Christ – to make a commitment to Christ, crowning him as the authority in your life, trusting in his empowering love.
And as you go out to your jobs and your lives, I trust that you will be nourished by the eternal food that he offers you.
Amen.
