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There was one group of people that Jesus often clashed with. It wasn’t the tax collectors, prostitutes or the sinners.
It was the religious leaders. The chief priests, scribes, Pharisees and the Sadducees.
Jesus and the religious leaders were like oil and water. Whenever they met, it created a contentious atmosphere.
Usually, the religious leaders tried to provoke Jesus. His presence bothered them. They wanted him gone.
We see an instance of that in today’s passage. They question Jesus’ authority in front of everyone in the temple. They try to expose him as a false teacher – one who had no authority whatsoever.
Yet, the question Jesus answers with backs them into a corner:
Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? (Matthew 21:25)
Jesus’ authority was authenticated by John the Baptist. To affirm John would be to say that Jesus is right. But to deny John would incite strong reaction from his followers. Since neither option is advantageous to them, they refuse to speak anymore.
I don’t think Jesus had any animosity toward the religious leaders. If anything, it was the religious leaders that hated Jesus.
But something about them often frustrated Jesus. Sometimes to the point of anger. That created a constant clash between them.
What bothered Jesus wasn’t their hatred of him. It was their stubbornness. It was their refusal to change.
Right after their little debate, Jesus tells them a parable. That is the second half of today’s passage.
It is about a man with two sons. The father tells them to go work in the vineyard. One son says ‘no’, but goes in the end. The other son says ‘yes’, but doesn’t go.
Through this simple parable, Jesus reveals how far the religious leaders are from entering the kingdom of God.
Listen to what he says at the very end—
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him, and even after you saw it you did not change your minds and believe him. (Matthew 21:32)
It was so clear to you. And still, you refused to see it that way. You did not change your mind. That was Jesus’ indictment to them.
This is not a problem unique to the religious leaders. It is a human problem. It is our problem.
People don’t really like to change. They don’t want to. That is what I realize more and more. Human beings are the most resistant to change.
We like the way things are. We want to believe what we want to believe. Who cares about the truth? As long as it makes me feel good, that’s what matters. As long as I’m right, that’s what counts.
The last thing we want is to be challenged or disturbed. We don’t want to know that we are wrong. We want to hold onto our opinions, dogmas, and prejudices. We play the same old narratives in our minds. We would rather live in the glass house of our own making.
I recently saw this Korean movie called “Hope”. It is about a conflict between humans and aliens.
At first, it seems like aliens are the problem. Then we see that human beings are the real problem. The whole disaster on earth starts because one human being takes the life of an alien child, who posed no threat whatsoever. Throughout the movie, people refuse to change their mind about their idea of aliens.
The greatest stumbling block to our faith is not doubt. It is the stubborn mind that refuses to change.
That is the source of our struggle with others. It is the source of God’s ongoing struggle with us.
There is no such thing as spirituality without change. The reality of spiritual life is about change.
It is like a fresh stream river that flows constantly. There is always new learning and discovery. About ourselves, about God, and about life.
The old self is gone and the new self emerges. We are renewed, day by day. So if there is no real change in our thinking and living, we need to ask ourselves: “Am I really living a spiritual life?”
This isn’t the kind of change we enforce on our own terms. It is the Spirit who brings change into our lives.
God knocks on the door of our hearts at unexpected moments. Sometimes gently, and other times more forcefully. It may be unsettling, but it asks for our response. How we respond to it is in our hands.
Last Monday, there was an all-day meeting at our church. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss lay training education and curriculum for our denomination.
The representatives of the three theological colleges, the General Secretary of PCC, and a few members of the Change Leadership Team were in attendance. Rev. Kim is on the Change Leadership Team, and that was why St. Timothy hosted the gathering.
Rev. Kim led everyone in a brief meditation at the start of the meeting. There was one thing he shared that particularly stuck with me.
It was important that everyone bring their experience and expertise to the discussion of such important matters at hand. But it was just as important to not let our expertise and experience be a stumbling block to what the Spirit wants to do creatively.
That set the overall tone and direction for the rest of the day.
To let go of our old thoughts and old ways is hard. It feels like we are losing something. But it is a necessary step in our journey of faith.
It doesn’t matter if we are like the son that said yes, but didn’t go. There is always an opportunity to change our mind like the other son and go to the vineyard.
Today’s parable isn’t about who got in the kingdom of God and who didn’t. Jesus said the tax collectors and the prostitutes were ahead of the religious leaders. The door wasn’t closed.
Even if we have a little desire to change within us, God will help us. The Spirit will renew our minds and shape us into a new creation.
Reading today’s passage, it was hard not to think about St. Paul. He was the Pharisee of the Pharisees.
He would’ve been the son that said yes and went. But in reality, he was like the son that said yes but didn’t go.
He had no idea. He was too stubborn to see it or admit to it. He refused to change his mind about Christ. Instead, he tried to change those who believed in Christ. He wanted to erase his name. No one could oppose him. He was too strong.
Yet, even a stubborn person like him was eventually able to see himself. The irony is that Paul saw himself most clearly when he was blind.
In hearing the gentle voice of Christ saying, “Saul, Saul, why did you persecute me?”, he saw how far he had gone astray.
In Damascus, God turned Paul around. Paul went to Jerusalem to spread the good news. The Spirit changed his mind.
So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. (Acts 9:17, 18)
When we change our mind, we repent. That is the literal meaning of repentance.
Repenting is not about ‘not’ doing bad things. Repenting is to think differently. It has to do with change in our attitude. To live a spiritual life, we need that.
That is why God calls us to repent. It is ultimately for our sake.
Through repentance, we experience a new beginning. We gain a new insight. We are able to understand. We are able to forgive. We are able to serve. We are able to love.
Repenting is not what we do once. It is what we do continuously. It is a daily practice.
That is why Paul emphasized its importance this way:
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
Friends, what do we need to acknowledge and let go? What is lying at the root of our stubborn ways and our refusal to change?
Is it the fear of being wrong? Is it the fear of uncertainty? Is it the fear of losing what we have? It boils down to what we are afraid of the most.
Let us turn to God who sees and knows our hearts. Let us abide in him. God will show us what we need to see. God will prune our thoughts so that our lives can bear fruit.
Jesus said—
Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4, 5)
May the Spirit give you a new mind. May the Spirit open up your life in a new way.
We will be able to live out God’s good and acceptable and perfect will.
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