Captivate, delight and enthrall are words associated with entertaining. Whenever you have the opportunity to host a party, you want to make it memorable. In the first century, Jewish families threw wedding receptions that lasted up to a week. When guests became extremely intoxicated, the premium wine was swapped for a cheap replacement. Modern readers to an event like this might suggest these people were entertaining evil.
When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you,” John 2:3-5.
The word reputation refers to what others think about you based upon previous conversations and encounters. Reputations may not be accurate if you don’t make a good first impression. Nonetheless. this perception is based upon what you do, how you behave and the words you choose to express. If a Jewish family ran out of wine at a wedding, this was like committing social suicide, a stain that would tarnish your families’ name for a generation. Afraid of this outcome, the mother of Jesus and friend of the bride comes up with a plan. Despite initial thoughts, Jesus honors his mother’s request.
Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? – Matthew 9:4
According to Jesus, entertaining evil begins in your heart. Perhaps, you’re jealous of someone else’s success? Maybe the thought of someone you don’t like succeeding triggers schemes within your mind? In the passage above, some Pharisees believed Jesus was on the verge of committing blasphemy. Judging him quietly without hearing Jesus’ rationale for his words is equivalent to entertaining evil. The average bystander might suggest, ” wait a minute Jesus, you’re over-reacting, don’t you think you’re taking this a little too far?” Well, if Lucifer planted a seed of lawlessness within the mind of Eve and that’s all it took to open the door for sin to be conceived, Jesus is right to address this issue. Therefore, the next time you are quick to judge others, make sure you don’t entertain evil.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 