Exodus 23-24, Matthew 20

Exodus 23 has the laws of justice and mercy where he spells out that you don't take advantage of the poor, or refuse to help someone that you dislike. I love that our God is one that concerned about justice and mercy, and realize that he wants me to love justice and mercy also. Exodus 24 is the story of Moses giving the laws to the Israelites and then going back up on the mountain where he was with God for 40 days and nights. What an amazing experience that must have been!

The theme of Matthew 20 is that the last will be first. Starting with the parable of the workers in the vineyard where a landowner hires people for his vineyard at various times throughout the day, and then pays them all the same. The people who worked longer thought that they should be paid more but the landowner responds "Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?" Jesus concludes "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

Another story in Matthew 20 shows the mother of the sons of Zebedee asks Jesus if her sons can sit on his right and left in his kingdom. Jesus had just told them that he was going to Jerusalem to be crucified, but yet I think the their mother was referring to an earthly kingdom. Jesus is not. He lectures them on lording authority over others, but whoever wants to be great must be a servant. vs 28 "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

The second story is more along the lines that I think of when I think "the last will be first". Becoming a servant and living sacrificially is what earns us respect in heaven. The first story, frankly, confuses me a bit. Is he talking about the order in which we get salvation? Some people get saved early in life and work for Jesus all their lives while others are saved just before they die, yet we all share eternal life? Why does this mean the last will be first and the first last?

If any readers have any ideas, I'd love to hear your comments.