Tag: what we deserve

“What do you want?”

That’s the question you essentially see three times in this chapter.

The landowner asked that question of the workers when they negotiated terms for working for him. (Matthew 20:2)

Jesus asked that of James, John, and their mother. (Matthew 20:20-21)

And Jesus asked that of the two blind men. (Matthew 20:31-33)

In the first two cases, people asked for what they thought they deserved. A denarius for a day’s work. To sit in places of power beside Jesus.

But the two blind men didn’t ask for what they thought they deserved. Instead, they asked for mercy. They asked for grace.

I’m sure James and John were disappointed when Jesus didn’t give them what they asked for. (Though they probably weren’t so disappointed when they weren’t the ones crucified on Jesus’ right and left. They truly didn’t know what they were asking).

The workers, ironically, were bitter that they got exactly what they asked for.

But the two blind men found the joy of God’s mercy and grace.

God’s kingdom isn’t about what we deserve. It’s all about God’s mercy and grace toward us.

When we focus on what we “deserve,” we often find ourselves disappointed, angry, or bitter.

But when we seek God’s grace and mercy, we realize just how good he is. Because he’ll always gives them to us in abundance.

What do you want?