Devotional: Grief from Rejection: Matthew 23:37-39

Ministry and service to others can be a frustrating experience. When you love someone you do your best to bring about the best good for that person. You begin with intentions to do your best for that person. However, there are times when those that you are trying to help reject you and your efforts. This may be because of their past experiences and beliefs. Rejection brings grief. It is not just a matter of wanting and needing to be accepted by others. It may be because you know that their rejection will cause trouble in the life of the one that you are trying to help.

A mother is rejected because her daughter does not accept her advice. The daughter believes that mother is outdated and out of touch with the realities of the world today. Mom knows that times change and life practices change. Mom also knows that God never changes. His word and His ways are from everlasting to everlasting. A son rejects his father’s discipline. The son leaves home to go his own way. He believes that his life will be better if he leaves home. He should not allow his father’s outdated ways and rules hold him back from enjoying life in the world. Both mother and father are left with grief because they have been rejected by the ones that they love best.

Jesus had discussed divorce with the Sadducees and the Pharisees. While Jesus was trying to help them to understand the kingdom of heaven, they sought ways to test Him because they did not agree with His teaching, Jesus exposed their hypocrisy. He issued eight woes to the religious leaders in Jerusalem (Matt. 23:13-36). Seeing their hypocrisy, Jesus expressed His grief because He knew that the religious leaders were rejecting truth. They would suffer because of their unbelief.

We can accept Jesus and His words, or we can reject them. Just as Jesus lamented over Jerusalem, He laments when we reject Him. However, we are warned that we will suffer because of our rejection of the Christ.

Prayer: Lord we thank you for teaching us the truth about living in the kingdom of heaven. Amen.