Jesus Christ Calls The Jews (Not All That Are Called Come, Or Come Prepared) Poem by Daniel Partlow

The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
He sent forth his servants to call the invited to the wedding, but could entice no one.

Again, he sent forth other servants, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my feast:
My oxen and my fatlings are killed, come to the marriage, enjoy and partake of roasted beast.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his store, another to his farm,
And the remnant took his servants, slew some, and others showed them only spite and harm.

When the king heard of it he sent forth his armies, destroyed them, and burned up their city.
He called his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but the invited were not worthy, ‘tis a pity.’

Go ye therefore into the highways, and bid all ye shall find, send them in clean robes dressed.
So they gathered all they found, bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with many a guest.

The king came in and saw a man with no wedding garment, having neglected preparation
The king asked, ‘Friend why did you not prepare? ’ And he had no explanation.

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, take him and into outer darkness cast,
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Many are called, but few are chosen - few are passed.

*

Mercy and blessings are His to give to whomever He may choose.
He once bestowed a special blessing on the Fathers of the Jews.

But over and over, from Aaron to Saul and Solomon to Ahaz
They went unto Baal, Molech, and Asheroth, forsaking temple psalm for foreign jazz.

God sent his prophets to rebuke: Moses, Samuel, Ezekiel, and Nathaniel
Warned also by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amos, Jona, Elijah and Daniel

So he sent his Son, Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ as our Savior
But even then many Jews did not repent, or change their behavior:

*

Teacher, we know that you are true.
And you teach the way to God, and what we all should do.

You care not for pride or title or earthly human throne
Then is it just to pay tax to Caesar – do you condone?

You Hypocrites! How dare you put me to the test!
Show me the money used for tax, and I’ll put your riddle to rest.

This coin bears whose inscription and whose image?
Caesar? Then render to Caesar his cold metal homage.

And render with holy fiat to your God above
The things that are of your God of love.

*

By what authority do you do these works, these things?
Who has given it to you? Where is the seal of signet ring?

First I will pose you a question and await your answer.
Then will I tell you by whom I take my stance here.

Now, the baptism of John, from whence does it proceed?
Does it come from Heaven, or is it a manly creed?

If we say from Heaven, He will say “Why have you not believed? ”
But if we say from Man, His multitude will be greatly grieved.

For they all hold John a prophet, their anger at us will grow.
Jesus, alas, we cannot give you answer for we simply do not know.

Then neither will I consent to tell you.
From where my authority to act and teach issue.

*

The Pharisees brought him a woman; and set her in his midst, tempting, trying to make a row.
This woman was taken in the act of adultery. The law commands that she be stoned - what sayest thou?

They were testing, to find a cause to accuse. But He stooped down, and pretended to ignore.
With his finger wrote on the ground. But they persisted, so he raised up off the dusty floor.

He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first round.
And again he stooped down, and resumed writing on the ground.

When they heard, convicted by their own conscience, they left, for their gambit had missed.
Even unto the last: until Jesus was left alone and the woman was still standing in his midst.

Woman, where are your accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?
No man, Lord. Neither do I. Now go, and from your sins be free.

The law is for the people, it is his gift of happy life – not the other way around.
Yea, the law is not nullified, but in repentance, we are freed from the ropes of sin which bound.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent to thee,
How often would I have gathered your children under wings, as a hen to her chicks, but not would ye!

Then Jesus went on the Sabbath to the fields; His disciples were hungry, so they began to pluck and eat.
Behold, your disciples do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath. Why performeth this unlawful feat?

Have ye not read what David did, when he and his company was hungry, He entered into the temple,
He unlawfully ate the shewbread, which was only for the priests. Or need you another example.

Have ye not read in the law, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, yet are held blameless?
But I say unto you, here now is one greater than the temple. Oh but your ignorance is shameless.

If you knew you would not make the guiltless pay (to pray) .
For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.

*

Behold, a woman of Canaan came from the coasts of Sidon and Tyre,
Have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David; my daughter is vexed with devil dire.

But he answered her not a word.
Shall we send her away? for after us she crieth loudly and absurd.

I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Then came she and worshipped him, “Lord, help me” begging with cry and yell.

It is not right to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs or beasts of the stable.
Truth, Lord: yet even the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

O woman, be it unto thee even as thou will for thy faith is great in power.
And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

*

A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenants, and went into a far country for great while.
And at the season he sent a servant to collect the fruit of the vineyard and compile.

But the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away without his due
And again he sent another servant: and they beat him and turned him out too.

And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? All my servants do they rout.

I will send my beloved son: it may be they will give him more respect
But when the tenants saw him made a vile and villainous pact.

This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him, flexing their powers.

What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto these unfaithful servants.
He shall come and destroy them, and shall give the vineyard to others more deservant.

And when they heard it, they said, God forbid. But Jesus was a solemn as a mourner.
For the stone which the builders rejected, becomes the head of the corner.

Whosoever shall fall upon that stone, will it crush.
But on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to mush.

And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him;
And they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.