You know, it’s interesting to read through the Gospels in the New Testament and see how Jesus responds to various people throughout his ministry.
He never seems to respond the same way to anyone.
Each person is unique and he offers a response suited specifically for their life and their situation.
But as you read about his interactions with the pharisees and other religious leaders of his day, you can’t help but be struck by a common thread.
He doesn’t seem to happy with them.
It’s these same religious leaders that both he and his cousin, John the Baptist, call a “brood of vipers.”
“You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?” (Matthew 23:33)
This isn’t just a random accusation Jesus throws their way — it comes towards the end of Jesus’ long rant against the religious leaders (Matthew 23).
“Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn’t think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called ‘Doctor’ and ‘Reverend.'”
If you read the entire text here (and the other places Jesus comes down hard on the pharisees) it really seems to me that Jesus’ big problem with these guys is their exclusivity.
Rather than welcoming all (as Jesus did and does) these leaders had built their reputation on being on the “inside.” They had staked their entire career upon building up their fashion shows and creating rules and regulations to keep the outsiders out.
So when this new Rabbi shows up on the scene and starts having dinner with “the least of these” and tells the woman caught in adultery that he doesn’t condemn her — it’s no wonder that they began to plot against him.
He’s bucking the entire system! He’s welcoming those who they felt should be left out on the streets away from the banquets! Heresy!
For there was once a man who threw a great dinner party and invited many.
When it was time for dinner, he sent out his servant to the invited guests, saying, ‘Come on in; the food’s on the table.’
Then they all began to beg off, one after another making excuses.
The first said, ‘I bought a piece of property and need to look it over. Send my regrets.’
Another said, ‘I just bought five teams of oxen, and I really need to check them out. Send my regrets.’
And yet another said, ‘I just got married and need to get home to my wife.’
The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, ‘Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and wretched you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.’
The servant reported back, ‘Master, I did what you commanded—and there’s still room.’
The master said, ‘Then go to the country roads. Whoever you find, drag them in. I want my house full!’ (Luke 14:16-24)
As I read this, I see the Gospel of Jesus as one of welcome instead of the exclusiveness the pharisees preached.
It is good news to the poor, the outsider, the marginalized, the hurt and the broken — and it’s good news to the “insider” as well.
It’s good news that will change a person’s heart — and life.
May we learn to love like that.
May we learn to carry this Gospel of Welcome wherever we go.
May we learn to throw huge banquets. May we go into the streets and invite everyone who’s there.
And may we lay aside our differences and see the beauty inside each and everyone of God’s creation.
