While Paul and Silas are able to stay out of harm’s way here in Thessalonica, Jason and Aeneus now are in hot water for abetting the “insurrectionists” from Syria. They have come here to bring division to a Roman city and destroy the relationships that have been well established for years. Well, at least that is how some might paint this picture. But, we would do well to peel the onion back and see what the other layers expose.
One such layer is the dynamic of Greeks who had converted to Judaism. These were non-Jewish people who were attracted to the God of the Jews, so they would commit themselves to adhere to the Law of Moses. However, in the Jewish mind, they were deemed as second class citizens who would be afforded very limited privileges and opportunities within the Jewish community. Gentiles (non-Jews) were not on equal footing with those who could claim authentic Jewish ancestry, so favoritism would be granted to those possessing a Jewish family lineage over those who had no such claims. Of course, those Greeks having no Jewish interest at all would be regarded as even lesser than the Greeks who had converted. But then again, they didn’t care if they were accepted by Jews or not. For certain, there was a pecking order of importance within Jewish society.
As you might imagine, when Jesus gave the parable of a landowner who leased his farm out to certain tenants who were supposed to care and manage his farm while he was away, he was explaining the deeper truth of how the Kingdom of Heaven would be ripped out from the hands of Jewish leadership–present company included–and given to a people with no qualifications whatsoever, including non-Jews.
Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you (The Jewish leaders listening to him) and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. When they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because the crowd considered Him to be a prophet.
— Matthew 21:43-46
Those in Jewish leadership weren’t too enthusiastic about Jesus’ parable. Deeply insulted by the parable aimed directly at them, they, in turn, sought to kill him right then and there.
While there is much more to say here, I think you get the idea. God was just about to change how things were run amongst the people of Israel.
One such major shift would be in the way that Gentiles would be recipients of the Kingdom of Heaven just as the Jews. No more favoritism; no more pecking order. Paul explains how the inclusion of Gentiles would play an important part in God’s unveiling of His Kingdom plan.
And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
— Ephesians 3:6-9
Naturally, those who were not Jewish would have been very excited about the prospect of being seen as equals in the sight of God. It also would hold true that those who were Jewish would become a bit jealous about the elevated standing of non-Jews.
So, when Paul and Silas, as well as other believers from Antioch, traveled from synagogue to synagogue to share God’s New Covenant plan, those established Jews were insulted by the idea of losing their personal status. They weren’t about to let these Christ followers change their traditions or the economic system they worked so hard to build and thrive in. They weren’t going down without a huge fight.
Just as those evangelistic believers from Antioch weren’t well received in Alexandria, Paul and Silas found the same response in the synagogues they visited. Those threatened by Messiah’s coming and God’s unveiling of a new economy would stop at nothing to eradicate these evangelists, even if it meant dragging them before Roman officials and labeling them as insurrectionists. That was the strategy used by the Jewish leaders before Pilate (Luke 23:13-25; John 19:12-16), and it would be the strategy used against the early church.
One thing is sure: the message that Messiah had come to level the playing field was not well received by many. The opportunity to be permanently forgiven and indwelled by the Spirit of God no matter the bloodline was truly a radical notion, especially amongst those who were Jewish.
What do you do when your infrastructure is threatened? When you have flourished, especially due to your hard work that has allowed you to advance within an economic system… What happens within you when the whole system is being changed before your very eyes? Yeah, you fight to keep the present system going because you don’t want to see all of your invested work go by the wayside. That was definitely the mindset of those who ran in Jewish circles, and it is definitely the mindset of many in America today. We’re understandably threatened by an overhauling system, especially when we stand to lose so much.
That just got uncomfortable, I know. And while I’m certainly not saying that the changes happening in America today are to be compared with the good news about the arrival of the Kingdom of Heaven, I am simply pointing out how those who have worked so hard and stand to lose much would genuinely be upset about having to start over under a new system.
One more important thing here: Economies have shifted, and systems have greatly changed over the years. In each and every system–some of which have been far better than others–God has called us to be nimble and adaptive so that we may continue to be used of him, no matter which economy we find ourselves in. Our citizenship isn’t here on earth. We work for a heavenly kingdom. We’re ambassadors here, so our attachment to earthly economies needs to stay in check.
May you remain nimble and adaptive in what appears to be a rapidly changing economy, where you keep your eyes ever focused on the continuing movement of God. I promise, God is alive and well, even with the threat of so many changes that loom on the horizon. Stay focused and be ready to pivot when you see God move.