Jewish traditions passed down the generations; Jesus refers to traditions when he said, “But what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling their playmates, ‘We piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.’” Matthew 11: 16, 17.
The children at play in the market places were imitating their parents who probably played their pipes at weddings and feast days, and wailed and cried at the homes of the families of those who had died. Matthew Henry Commentary page 58
Jesus draws our attention to the children who would not join in the dancing to the playing of the pipes.
First of all lets look at the children who were dancing; they were the Jewish people who were eagerly looking for the coming of the Messiah, who sat listening to Jesus expound the scriptures, while others brought their sick to be healed by him.
Also there were those who stood by the roadside welcoming Jesus with joy, as he entered Jerusalem riding on a colt the foal of an ass. They shouted out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel. Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the highest!” I don’t think that they realised that they were fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Lo your King comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, riding on an ass, on a colt the foal of an ass.” Zechariah 9: 9.
We understand when we read John’s account about this occasion that a lot of those people waving their palm branches had earlier been with sisters Mary and Martha consoling them in the Jewish tradition, wailing and crying, after the death of their brother Lazarus. But as we know it was not for long, when Jesus arrived he prayed to God his Father and Lazarus was brought back to life after being dead for four days. Even today I’m told it is medically impossible to be resuscitated after being dead for so many days.
Others in the crowd had heard from these witnesses of the great miracle that Jesus had performed. John 12: 17,18.
Jesus was referring to the children who danced, as the people who recognised him as their Redeemer King.
But also in the crowd were some Pharisees and they shouted to Jesus, “Teacher rebuke your disciples.” Luke 19: 39
These were the people who were like the children who would not join in the dancing to the pipes.
Jesus healed people on the Sabbath Day, as a result the Pharisees saw Jesus as a man who broke the Sabbath Day Laws. Jesus responded by saying it was right to do good on the Sabbath Day. I also believe that the Pharisees heard a lot of laughing coming from amongst Jesus and his friends. Jesus full of the joy of life, which I do not think the Pharisees would have approved of.
Jesus out of love for the Pharisees and all of the people he said, “Come to me all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11: 28
Jesus was asking the Pharisees to listen to him, but they would not, instead they laboured over their rules of law and as a result were weighed down by them.
The Jewish person earned their place in the kingdom of God by keeping the law. Jesus was peeling away the laws that the Pharisees had added over generations to the Laws given to Moses by God. "The Messiah's Secret" page 99
Jesus in the parable of hiring labourers to work in the vineyard makes the point of the labourer not gaining through the amount of work that person had done, even those who had borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. Matthew 20: 1-16
I’ve met Christians who labour for our Lord God, but are burdened by keeping the commandments as a set of rules. It reminded me of the days when we went camping. Our car was on its knees with the weight of camping gear we carried.
Our Scout Leader put together a short sketch, were we made the comparison between the heavy burden and the light weight burden using camping equipment. He read from the old rule book and asked his scouts to bring in their camping equipment; a huge bag containing a tent, bags containing poles, pegs and guy ropes. Calor gas for cooking and a stove, mats and sleeping bags, tilly lamp and other bits and pieces.
Then one of the Wardens came in with a haversack and a small bag. Inside his haversack were the sleeping bag and mat, cooking gear, water carrier, and in the small bag, to our amazement it contained a tent. They errected the tent fitting together the metal rods that formed a half circle which was then attached to the bedroom, lastly an outer fly sheet was placed over the frame.
The rule book and the heavy old camping equipment were made obsolete by the lighter more flexible camping equipment. The comparison making the point the Pharisees struggled to keep the law they were heavily burdened by them. Whereas Jesus released people from generations of added laws by the Pharisees.
Even in more recent times the Jews have added laws like switching on an electric light on the Sabbath Day is not allowed. “The Book of Leviticus” by Charles R Erdman
Jesus wants us to be imitators of him; he fulfilled the law in love. There is no heavy burden in love; we are called to walk in love, love that comes from the Spirit of God.
“Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7.
Jesus wants us to enjoy labouring in his kingdom. Graham Kendrick's hymn “Teach me to Dance, “ expresses so well the joy and excitement of being a Christian.
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart
Teach me to move in the power of your Spirit
Teach me to walk in the light of your presence
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart
Teach me to love with your heart of compassion
Teach me to trust in the word of your promise
Teach me to hope in the day of your coming
Teach me to dance to the beat of your heart
You wrote the rhythm of life
Created heaven and earth
In You is joy without measure
So, like a child in your sight
I dance to see your delight
For I was made for your pleasure
Pleasure
Let all my movements express
A heart that loves to say 'yes'
A will that leaps to obey you
Let all my energy blaze
To see the joy in your face
Let my whole being praise you
Praise you
Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1993 Make Way Music,
www.grahamkendrick.co.uk
Prayer
Lord our prayer is that you would teach us to dance to the beat of your heart, to move in the power of your Spirit, to the tune of your grace. May we be attentive to your word to us and in response out of love, may our movements express our willingness to do your will, so our whole being will praise you and glorify your name. Amen.
