Broken Kingdoms: WK2 - MON
Kingdoms of Envy - Matthew 19:23-30
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
The ascent to a throne is often marked by envy and the violent removal of anyone who might have a valid claim to power. History is filled with stories of kingdoms built on the bloodshed of rivals and family members who could challenge a king’s right to rule.
The Ottoman Empire famously implemented a policy called “The Order of the World,” which legalized the brutal elimination of family members to prevent civil wars. For example, Sultan Mehmed III (1595-1603) ordered the strangulation of 19 brothers, some still infants, upon his accession to the throne. Additionally, Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) executed his own son in 1553 over fears of a potential revolt.
Sadly, God’s people are not much better when it comes to climbing the ladder to power. King David’s family suffered brutal violence as a spillover from his selfish past. His eldest son, Amnon, who rapes his sister Tamar, is then murdered by David’s third son, Absalom. Absalom will later die in battle while trying to take the throne from his father.
By the time we reach the story of Solomon, David’s fourth son, Adonijah, is positioning himself for the throne. The king has grown old enough to be replaced. But years earlier, driven by guilt over his sins against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, David had promised the throne to Solomon, and now it’s time for the coronation. However, Adonijah has gathered various officials, priests, and generals to assert his authority and push his way to the throne, proclaiming, “I will make myself king” (1 Kings 1:5). Quick action by Bathsheba intervenes, and her son Solomon is placed on the throne.
As king, Solomon confines Adonijah to Jerusalem, preventing the threat of a rebellion. Eventually, the king learns that his brother has broken these orders and left the city to find runaway slaves. So, Solomon has Adonijah killed.
Yeah, these people are a mess. Privilege, power, and the right to elevate oneself at any cost define the kingdoms of this world. The throne exists to serve the person sitting on it, not the other way around. When they are willing to do these things to their own family, just imagine how they might treat their subjects.
Then, like nails on a chalkboard, Jesus enters our story to flip things upside down. He proclaims that His kingdom is defined by sacrifice and service, not accumulation, manipulation, or force. He declares, “In my kingdom, the first will be last, and the last will be first” (Matthew 20:16).
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Then Peter said to him, “We’ve given up everything to follow you. What will we get?”
Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon his glorious throne, you who have been my followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.
The ascent to a throne is often marked by envy and the violent removal of anyone who might have a valid claim to power. History is filled with stories of kingdoms built on the bloodshed of rivals and family members who could challenge a king’s right to rule.
The Ottoman Empire famously implemented a policy called “The Order of the World,” which legalized the brutal elimination of family members to prevent civil wars. For example, Sultan Mehmed III (1595-1603) ordered the strangulation of 19 brothers, some still infants, upon his accession to the throne. Additionally, Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566) executed his own son in 1553 over fears of a potential revolt.
Sadly, God’s people are not much better when it comes to climbing the ladder to power. King David’s family suffered brutal violence as a spillover from his selfish past. His eldest son, Amnon, who rapes his sister Tamar, is then murdered by David’s third son, Absalom. Absalom will later die in battle while trying to take the throne from his father.
By the time we reach the story of Solomon, David’s fourth son, Adonijah, is positioning himself for the throne. The king has grown old enough to be replaced. But years earlier, driven by guilt over his sins against Bathsheba and her husband Uriah, David had promised the throne to Solomon, and now it’s time for the coronation. However, Adonijah has gathered various officials, priests, and generals to assert his authority and push his way to the throne, proclaiming, “I will make myself king” (1 Kings 1:5). Quick action by Bathsheba intervenes, and her son Solomon is placed on the throne.
As king, Solomon confines Adonijah to Jerusalem, preventing the threat of a rebellion. Eventually, the king learns that his brother has broken these orders and left the city to find runaway slaves. So, Solomon has Adonijah killed.
Yeah, these people are a mess. Privilege, power, and the right to elevate oneself at any cost define the kingdoms of this world. The throne exists to serve the person sitting on it, not the other way around. When they are willing to do these things to their own family, just imagine how they might treat their subjects.
Then, like nails on a chalkboard, Jesus enters our story to flip things upside down. He proclaims that His kingdom is defined by sacrifice and service, not accumulation, manipulation, or force. He declares, “In my kingdom, the first will be last, and the last will be first” (Matthew 20:16).
- What is an item you wish you could have? On a scale of 1-10, how strong is this desire?
- Have you ever wanted something so badly that you compromised your values to get it? How did you feel about it once you achieved it?
- Have you ever missed out on a position or opportunity to someone who didn’t deserve it as much as you? How did that feel? How did you respond?
- What current situation in your life provides an opportunity to serve or sacrifice, where you might otherwise seek power and require the service of others? What would you like to say to Jesus about this?
No Comments