Jesus had every reason NOT to behave in a humble manner. He was equal to the Father, “in very nature God” (v 6). Yet he “made himself nothing”, became a servant and was obedient to death – even death on a cross” (v 7-8). Don’t pass lightly over those last five words. We all know Jesus died on a cross – we have seen crosses in churches and on our prayer books for as long as we can remember – but consider what death on a cross was. Crucifixion was designed as the most painful, degrading and humiliating death. It displayed the victim in his helpless agony to the gaze and contempt of all who passed by. Jesus willingly bore that for us. If Jesus could so humble himself, relinquishing a position of such splendour in heaven to die as a criminal and blasphemer, then it should be possible for us to follow in his footsteps. We have not so far to fall, not so much to lose; with Jesus’ help, we can do it.

This attitude of humility is at the heart of the lectionary passage in Matthew (21 v 23-32) where we meet Jesus in confrontation with the Jewish religious leaders. This event takes place during the last week of Jesus’ earthly ministry, in the shadow of his imminent sacrifice. Humble he certainly is, but he has no need of false modesty. When asked to account for his authority, he makes no apology but tosses back an unanswerable question (v 24-27) then follows it up with a parable about two sons, one seemingly unwilling to obey but ultimately doing his father’s will; the other outwardly obedient (like the Pharisees) but in practice working against his father; (v 28-30).

In explaining his parable, Jesus states simply that the “tax-collectors and prostitutes”, typified by the first son in the parable, are entering the Kingdom ahead of the religious leaders. This would have been an extremely shocking statement. Tax-collectors were treated with unveiled loathing and contempt by religious Jews, who would have viewed them as cheats and collaborators with the hated Roman authorities. Even more would prostitutes have been considered beneath contempt – we have only to recall the attitude of Simon the Pharisee to the “sinful” woman who anointed Jesus’ feet.(Luke 7 v 39) Yet these people, outcast from society, were described as advancing ahead of the most respected members of the community – the priests and teachers. Tax-collectors and prostitutes had not so far to fall, not so much to lose. They had no difficulty in humbling themselves enough to enter God’s Kingdom; they could grasp the key of repentance which alone would open the door.

Jesus never condoned sin, but neither did he condemn sinners. Rather, he welcomed them. This passage is a stark reminder to us to make those on the fringes of our society welcome in our churches. It takes humility to open wide our doors to all who might enter, just as it took humility for Jesus to reach down to sinful humankind, but if we do so we shall be displaying “the same attitude as Christ Jesus”, putting aside “selfish ambition and vain conceit” and “considering others better than ourselves.” (Philippians 2 v 3-5)