Have you ever wondered why you’re going to church, why you’re attending services and fellowships and why you’re even praying? There are focuses that we should have as Christians, but the main one would be to consider your motivations in seeking God – this would be your relationship with Him.

Focus 1: Kneel in reverence and in belief

Pharisees are those who, in disbelief, ask about things which they refuse to believe even if they hear the answer. From verse 1 to 8, we can see how unsubmissive the Pharisees were in terms of understanding the word. They asked a question out of a desire to challenge the Lord Jesus, feeling righteous in their own disbelief. Therefore, when we come before the Lord Jesus, we must kneel in reverence and never question Him in prayer just because we simply don’t believe enough in His almightiness. 

Focus 2: Consider your purpose of seeking God

Moreover, let us not be like the Pharisees who, in their own greed, did not render to God what was due to God! Our service to God must be one that is generous and without holding back. God does not require a lot from us, only what is due to Him (Lk 20:25). In the parable of the wicked vinedressers, the owner of the vineyard sent forth three servants and finally his own beloved son in his name to retrieve only what was rightfully his. Yet, the vinedressers who were only temporary caretakers of the vineyard abused the three servants, killed the heir and sought to plunder the entire vineyard for themselves (Lk 20:9-19; cf. Matt 21:33-46). In our lives, are we like the selfish Pharisees who only seek our personal benefits, whose eyes are fixed on what we can gain from the Lord? If so, let us seriously consider our hearts, is it filled with evil greed? 

Focus 3: Strive to have ears and hear

The chief priests and Pharisees knew that Jesus was referring to them as the wicked vinedressers – they finally understood even one parable that Jesus spoke – yet they remained hard-hearted (Matt 21:45-46). When the word of God moves our hearts and touches our conscience, do we remain in our old ways or be led by the Spirit to make the change that God is calling us to? 

Focus 4: Build yourself on the chief Cornerstone

God will take away the kingdom of God from those who do not bear fruit, and give it to the one who bears fruit, giving glory to Him (Matt 21:43). The chief Cornerstone, Jesus, will destroy those who rejected Him and refused to believe in Him, being stuck in their stubborn ways (Lk 20:18; Matt 21:44). And as for you who were built on Him, He will build you up within the Lord (Eph 2:20-22).

Focus 5: Things after resurrection

What do you think happens after resurrection? On earth, we are the sons of God and we do earthly things like marry and give into marriage, as part of God’s plan for humans. This is in addition to our focus of pursuing spiritual growth and growing our hope for eternal life. After resurrection, we would be the sons of resurrection, where we become equal to angels, and our entire purpose is to be with God. Thereafter, there is no need to consider earthly matters, for our life on earth has passed away. Simply put, we do not carry things that happen on earth forward into the new heavens and new earth after resurrection (2 Peter 3:10-13; Rev 21:1-4, 24). Thus, our idea of what happens after resurrection should not be by the things of earth.

Focus 6: Loving in deed and truth

The Lord Jesus posed a question to the crowd in relation to His authority – why did David call his descendant ‘Lord’? (Lk 20:41-44) The Pharisees and Sadducees back then would have known the law very well, yet they could not understand that Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16). Just because the Pharisees could not comprehend the truth and the glory of the Lord where all things were originally put under His subjection (Heb 2:8; Ps 8:4-6), they daringly questioned His authority. Actually, during that time, the Lord Jesus had made Himself lower than even the angels in order for the great salvation plan to be fulfilled (Heb 2:9), therefore He did not seem ‘glorious enough’ for them to be respected. Thus, we must understand the truth in humility and recognise the authority of Jesus Christ – He is God. He knows the depths of your heart, your truest form (Prov 21:2). Let us never behave like the Scribes who would act ‘perfect’ outwardly yet the heart is filled with detestable things not of God. We should love in deed and in truth (1 Jn 3:18). If not, “these will receive greater condemnation.” (Lk 20:45-47)

It is powerful to know your purpose of seeking God because it will be the source of motivation for all other ‘focuses’ mentioned in this article.