Living in the Spirit

October 22, 2023

Scripture Reading: Matthew 22:15-22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

:The Pharisees recognize Jesus as viewing each person both uniquely and with equity. for you do not regard people with partiality

3199 mélō* (the third person singular of melō, “to care, be concerned”) – to care about (be concerned with), especially paying attention (giving thought) to – i.e. “taking an interest” (L-S) with the “implication of some apprehension . . . “

Partiality: a predilection or fondness for one person or one thing rather than others**

The characteristic Jesus possessed of showing no partiality is impossible for most of us. Beyond that, we might not want to admit it, but we would like to be held in higher esteem by others who are important to us. That is more from our worldview than the teachings of Jesus.

Some African communities’ worldview operates on the idea called Ubuntu, which means a person is a person through other persons***. Working together with everyone doing their part is important to them. I am not an expert on this custom, but I think our culture could learn from it. I believe it is a little closer to what Jesus taught. Each person is of equal worth, and each person is expected to do their part in living together as a community. Ubuntu might be something our nation might want to consider as we strive to be better than others.

Prayer: Lord, Help us to see one another as each is made in the image of God, and all are loved equally by our Creator. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/3199.htm

**https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/partiality

***https://iep.utm.edu/hunhu-ubuntu-southern-african-thought/

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.