Matthew 21:23-46
Sometimes the same situation can bring comfort and trouble. Later today, 2 football teams will face each other in a game called the Super Bowl. They will play the game. And at the end of the game, the team that wins will celebrate. The team that loses will despair. Same game – yet to one it will bring trouble and to another comfort.
Or take a painting in an art gallery. Imagine it’s a piece of modern art. So you can’t really make out what the artist had in mind. Two art gallery visitors look at the painting. One says, “What a piece of junk. It looks like he spilled a can of paint on the canvas.” The other says, “How brilliant. Look at what she did with the different colors.” Same painting – it troubles one and comforts another.
Or imagine we’re back in the middle-ages and a king arrives back at his castle after a long journey. During his time away, his second in command oppressed and mistreated the servants in the castle. So when the king rides across the drawbridge, the servant’s rejoice. But the second in command despairs because he knows his mistreatment of the servants will become known to the king. From the same person comes comfort for one and trouble for another.
The same happens with Jesus. We have seen recently, that Jesus will not allow anyone to remain neutral towards Him. To some His words and actions brought comfort. To others they brought trouble. The same may happen to us today - Jesus words may bring us comfort or trouble. It depends on whether you’re feeling troubled today or comfortable. So what kind of trouble and comfort am I talking about?
