Philippians 2:1-13
Matthew 21:23-32
Trinity 17
27/9/26
Saying one thing and doing another is quite a part of the human condition. As a teenager I remember that one of the biggest insults you could hurl was to call someone ‘two-faced’. Sometimes we do it because we do not have the courage to do the right thing or face up to someone. Lying seems to be the easy way out.
Jesus parable of the father and two sons places us in another vineyard. Matthew records a string of agricultural parables to highlight what the kingdom of God will be like. The sons of the vineyard owner present an interesting case. These boys would have known how much work was involved and what was being asked of them. They knew what they were in for.
When asked, the older son says no and then goes. The younger son says yes and then does not go. It is obvious that the older son does the right thing. The younger son has let his father and brother down. I assume some of the parents and employers here this morning can relate to this. We have all likely been both brothers at some point in life.
There is temptation to blame this on our human condition; our personalities, just how we are. I was made this way and cannot be changed. Not true. There is a solution that Paul offers in his letter to the Philippians: let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.
If we are doing one thing and saying another it is often coming from the mind; coming from the creature that you and I think we are. If we recognize we have a problem we can blame it on our temperament, personality, life experience, fears, anxieties. This does not excuse us as we are not operating with the same mind of Christ.
What is it to have the same mind? According to Paul, the same mind means learning to have love, do nothing from conceit, be humble, to count others better than ourselves, to look to the interests of others rather than our own. This also means we have to come under the authority of Jesus.
I have been amazed this week at what has been going on in Paris. Pope Leo is making the first papal visit in 18 years. If you have seen any press coverage, the streets have been lined with millions of people. Priests also line the streets to take confessions. Pope Leo is a man who says what he means and means what he says. This makes him rare among world and religious leaders at this time. He takes his authority seriously and knows where it comes from.
I read in my old study bible that when a voice of authority speaks, one of three things happens: 1) Because of inattention you fail to hear and heed the leader’s words; (2) because of irritation you refuse to obey; or (3) because of conviction you respond obediently and do what is asked. Which response or responses can you relate to?
If we choose the path of obedience, then our actions must match our words. If we are to have any credibility as people, as Christians, it is not enough to talk the talk, we must walk the walk. As Christians, we need to do what is asked of us, we are not under our own authority. Many may come to church on Sunday and spend an hour under the authority of God and as soon as they reach the door, it is going back to being in control again.
How can we address this?
We can ask ourselves what would Jesus do? How would God respond? Doing this takes us out of ourselves and shifts the focus. This is an act of love. It takes practice, cultivation of being in the presence of God. This is not an intellectual exercise but of deep prayer. We need to be aware of the presence of God and this will transform our thinking.
Yes, it is hugely challenging to have such a high standard set before us, the character of Jesus himself. We do well to approach that task with fear and trembling. But the good news is that help is at hand: for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure (v.13).
