LET THE SUNSHINE IN (Matthew 21:33-46)

LET THE SUNSHINE IN

Matthew 21:33-46

IN JEWISH PHILOSOPHY

SINCE GOD IS THE CREATOR

ALL PROPERTY IS HIS

MAN ONLY LEASES IT

THE RULES OF PROPERTY

ARE SACRED

AN EXAMPLE

YOU OR YOUR NEIGHBOR

CANNOT BUILD A FENCE

THAT WOULD BLOCK THE OTHER’S LIGHT

NOR A CONSTRUCTION SO HIGH

THE SUN CANNOT REACH THE OTHER’S CROPS

OWNERSHIP

BY INDIVIDUAL

FAMILY

 TRIBE

OR NATION

WAS HELD UNDER STRICT RULES

IN THIS PARABLE OF THE EVIL TENANTS

JESUS STARTS OUT TELLING A NORMAL STORY

THEN STARTS TO TALK GIBBERISH

ABOUT EVIL TENANTS

PLOTTING TO STEAL THE PROPERTY

WITH THE OWNER STILL ALIVE

IT’S A FAVORITE TRICK OF JESUS

TALKING GIBBERISH TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW BETTER

LIKE A MUSTARD TREE IN A GARDEN

WHEN FARMERS KNOW IT GROWS IN THE WILD

AS A SHRUB

OR WHEN HE SAYS

THERE WAS A FARM OWNER

WHO PAID HIS HIRED HANDS A PENNY

NO MATTER HOW LONG THEY WORKED

YOU COULD HEAR THE DAY LABORERS SAY

YAH

RIGHT

I’D LIKE TO SEE THAT

IF IT HAPPENED

SOMETHING MUST BE FROZEN OVER

IF JESUS HAD TOLD THE STORY STRAIGHT OUT

THEY’D FORGET IT

BUT IF HE PUZZLED THEM

THEY’D REMEMBER

AND THINK

SINCE CREATION

MAN HAS WRESTLED GOD

FOR OWNERSHIP OF THE GARDEN

ALL OF US ARE GUILTY

BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE TALE

THE LEADERS ARE TRYING TO REPLACE GOD

WITH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING

IN THEIR OWN IMAGE

BUT IN THEIR OWN LAW

THEY CANNOT BLOCK THE SUN

IT WILL PREVAIL

FRANK A VOLLMER