2026 Reading Plan Reflections - Day 31

Yesterday’s parable of the vineyard workers wasn’t just a lesson for the crowds. It was aimed squarely at the disciples—and, as Matthew makes clear, at their moms too.

The parable exposes a quiet temptation that still trips us up today: the belief that proximity to Jesus somehow earns us status in the Kingdom. Time served. Seniority. Insider access. But in Jesus’ upside-down kingdom, how long you’ve been at the task doesn’t translate into power or privilege.

That tension comes to the surface when Salome approaches Jesus on behalf of James and John. Maybe she assumed that because her sons were among the first to hear “Follow me,” they deserved special placement. But the reality of what awaited Jesus in Jerusalem—suffering, humiliation, the cross—still hadn’t sunk in. And this is striking, because by now Jesus has told them three times what is coming.

They’re close to him, but they still don’t see clearly. That’s the blindness at work here—not physical, but spiritual. A blindness that confuses closeness with clarity and familiarity with understanding.

Jesus responds by redefining greatness in the simplest, most unsettling way possible: “Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant.”

Not impressive. Not elevated. Not protected.

Servant.

Greatness in God’s kingdom flows from obedience to the most basic commandments: love God, and love one another. True service doesn’t come from ambition—it flows from love.
And then Matthew places one more scene on the road, just before Jerusalem.

As they leave Jericho, two blind men cry out to Jesus. And notice the question he asks them. It’s the same one he asked Salome:

“What do you want?”

Her answer was about position. Their answer is about vision.

“Lord, we want to see.”

That’s the prayer. That’s the hinge point of this passage. The disciples are walking with Jesus but stumbling in blindness, while these men—on the margins, unseen by most—recognize their need clearly.

And Jesus responds with compassion.

So maybe the deeper question for us isn’t whether we’re close to Jesus, but whether we’re willing to admit where we still can’t see.

Pray for clarity, not position. Ask God to remove the scales from your eyes—not so you can get ahead, but so you can see the world, people, and opportunities the way God does.
Practice hidden service. Choose one act of service today that brings no recognition and no return. Let obedience, not visibility, be your guide.
Examine your expectations. Where might you be assuming that faithfulness earns entitlement? Offer that expectation to God and ask for a renewed posture of humility.
Return to the core command. Before making decisions, ask a simple question: Does this help me love God more fully and love others more faithfully?