Warnings of Judgment are Merciful
Posted by Matt Postiff January 1, 2015 on Matt Postiff's Blog under Theology
A quick thought for you, which occurred to me while reading the Lord's parables in Matthew 21 and 22. After the priests and elders questioned the origin of Jesus' authority in Matthew 21:23, Jesus pushed back at them with a question of His own. Then he proceeded to tell three parables in rapid succession: about the two sons, about the evil vineyard renters, and about the wedding feast. All three parables were directed at them because of their unbelief and rejection of the Messiah. I found the parallel between the vineyard and the kingdom very interesting, along with the fact that a severe judgment was going to befall the unbelievers.
But even with this warning of certain judgment, I find a note of mercy. For God is not obligated to tell us that judgment will soon befall us if we remain in unbelief. But He does tell us, and repeatedly so. The warnings and pronouncements of judgment, as "negative" as they seem to our soft modern ears, are actually full of mercy because if heeded, they push us away from future judgment toward God's salvation. I'm thankful for that.