Tuesday, April 11, 2017

The Blind and the Lame

In Matthew 21:14, we read "The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them." Most of the attention in this passage is on Jesus clearing out all the rubbish (that is, the merchants, sorry) from the temple, to make it once again "a house of prayer."  Then we read
this. Why?

If we go back to 2 Samuel 5, starting in verse 6, David and his warriors are preparing to take the city of Jebus, where Jerusalem stands now. The inhabitants were so secure in their city, they thought, that "You'll never get in here! Even the blind and lame could keep you out!" Then in verse 8 is "the origin of the saying 'the blind and the lame may not enter the house.'"

Here's my take on this verse: whatever was the fallout of that time, and wherever it was that the blind and the lame were not allowed -- including the temple, which was not far from the spot where the Jebusites had taunted David -- Jesus was allowing the disabled into his presence, even in the temple, and healing them. He had the same regard for these as he did for anyone else. And by contrast, the spiritually blind and lame were still in the temple -- and still blind and lame.

Which would you rather? To come to Jesus and be healed, or to continue blind and lame? During this Easter season, he's inviting everyone in. Even folks like you and me. How about it?

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