But Seek First His Kingdom And His Righteousness

 by Kevin Jesmer   (Summer 2009)

Matthew 6:33   “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

 

Cast:

 

Narrator: ________________________________________________________

Dad (Alpheaous): __________________________________________________

Mom (Mary): ______________________________________________________

Levi: ______________________________________________________________

Wife (Deborah): _____________________________________________________

Priest 1: ____________________________________________________________

Priest 2: ____________________________________________________________

Roman tax collector (Igor): _____________________________________________

Kid 1: _______________________________________________________________

Kid 2: ________________________________________________________________

Banker: _____________________________________________________

Jesus: _______________________________________________________

Sinner 1: ______________________________________________________

Sinner 2: ______________________________________________________

 

 Scene 1:  The New Grad

 

 

 

Narrator: And as usual Levi studied hard at the U of J. He tried to keep his faithful attendance at

the synagogue. Never missing a Sabbath. After four years of hard work and faithful

Sabbath keeping he graduated with honors from Accounting. He was so happy. His

parents we happy for him.

 

Dad: We’re so proud of you son, graduating from accounting from U of Jerusalem.

 

Mom: And with honors at that. I love you Levi.

 

Levi: Thanks mom and dad. I couldn’t have made it without you.

 

Dad: Now that your graduating, I guess you can get back into your rabbinical studies and follow

through with your boyhood dream of being a Levite priest.

 

Levi: Not right now Dad. Maybe later. But right now I have to get a job to pay off my student

loans and also there is something I need to tell you.

 

Mom: What son? What is it?

 

Levi: Well, while attending the campus synagogue I met a girl. Her name is Deborah. She says

that she wants to get married and have a family and raise the kids in the Temple

congregation. Well…

 

Dad:  And?

 

Levi:  Well, I asked her to marry me. She said “Yes” thinks that I can be a good provider for the

family both physically and spiritually.

 

Mom: That’s great son. Things are happening so fast.

Dad: Yeah that’s great. Maybe after your family gets settled, you can carry on with your priestly

studies. (pause) Anyway we love you and me and your mother want to be here for you and

your family.

 

Levi: Ahh…Thanks mom and dad. You’re the best!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scene ll: Daddy You Work Too Much!

 

 

Narrator: And so Levi got his first job as an accountant at the TempleMount. He eventually

married Deborah. (They get married in the background. They get marched around in

their chairs while hold wine glasses in true Jewish fashion) He worked hard everyday,

paying off his loans and providing for his new family. (He sits at a desk pushing pens

and paper). Then their came the kids, one, two, three, four, five. He provided for his

family and every Sabbath they took their seat in the Synagogue. They lived a happy

life. Until one day…..

 

Deb:    (Levi is at home, catching up on work that he could not do at the office.) Honey…how

about putting the work away. I never see you anymore. The kids never

see you. Do you know that little Zach had to go to his barmitzfa without his own father?

 

Levi:  I know Deb. (He goes and holds her.) This is only a temporary, There are a lot of offerings

during the feast of Tabernacles. I need to get everything straight in the books. There is no

one else who can do this. The priests are depending in me.

 

Deb: The priests! Why do you care about the priests! You have even stopped going to the

Temple on the Sabbath. You work at the Temple and don’t even attend the Sabbath. How

hypocritical!

 

Levi:  I know Deb. I just took the extra hours so we could afford those little “extras”. I only want

the best for my family.

 

Deb: When I married you I knew you would be successful, but I also wanted to marry a spiritual

man. But now you’ve changed. Do you know how embarrassing it is to sit in the pews with

just the kids. I look like a spurned woman. Some thing has got to change. (She runs off

crying.)

 

Levi:  Deb!…Damn that woman! (kicks a waste paper bucket) …..I’m only trying my best to be a

good father and husband…Deb!!

 

(Levi sits back at his desk and continues to push paper while the Casting Crowns song, “Castles Made Of Sand” plays in the back ground. A child comes on stage to toss a ball and Levi shoos him away to work. Another child comes on stage to get Levi to help with homework and he shoos her off. The family comes on stage to get Levi to go to church he makes excuses and sends them off. All of this is done while the song is playing. At the end Levi puts his head in his hands and cries. End of the scene.)

 

 

 

Scene lll:   Victim Of The Recession

 

(A priest comes to Levi while he is at his desk in the Temple to give him his pink slip)

 

Priest 1: Hello Levi.

 

Levi: Oh hi rabbi. I just have a few more accounts to finish off. Then I am finished.

 

Priest 1: That won’t be necessary Levi. First, I want you to know that we all really appreciate

Your work here. Without you I could never take time to enjoy those vacations at the

Red Sea. Thanks.

 

Levi: No problem.

 

Priest 1: But as you know these are tough times. The people just haven’t been offering as much

lately. And there has to be some cutbacks around here. I’m sorry to say your position has

been cut.

 

Levi: What do you mean, “cut!” You can’t fire me. You need me.

 

Priest 1:  Well. We really don’t need you. We went to account temps and now we have Bob. Come

in Bob. ( a nerdy Bob comes on the stage. The priest gives Levi his pink slip.)

 

 

Levi:  Thanks.

 

Priest 1: Bob…can you escort Levi out of the Temple?

 

Bob: Sure.

 

(Levi gathers his few meager belongings and is led off the stage by the Bob.)

 

Scene lV: The Only Job In Town

 

 

 

(Levi is carrying all of office possessions. They are falling on the ground. He is in desperate situation. He is looking for a job)

 

Levi: (Talking to the audience.)What am I going to do now? I need the job. I’ll have to give up

my membership to the exclusive golf club, my kids will have to go to public school, I’ll

have to drive a beater, I’ll loose my house. What will my wife say. ….Auggg! I really need

a job! Oi vah. (He looks up to heaven and attempts to pray to God.) Why am I praying to

you anyway. All of my devotions in my youth haven’t paid off. You are the reason for all

of this mess in the first place. If there is one thing I have learned is that the only one I can

depend on is myself…..

 

(Levi starts to look at posters on the wall)

 

Levi: Here is a good job….Tax Collector.  “Wanted a resourceful person of Jewish descent with

accounting experience. University graduates only apply. Required to collect taxes from the

Jews for the Roman government. The right person will be richly rewarded. Some field

work required. Please apply in person today.”

 

Levi: That’s not exactly the job I wanted. My people hate tax collectors. But it is a job. (looks

over the poster) Hmmm….richly rewarded. I like that. I need that. I want the job. (Levi

rushes off the stage in a rush eager to get the new position.)

 

Scene V:  On the Job Training.

 

(Levi comes on the stage with his job trainer. He is explaining the new job.)

 

Igor:    (Levi is listening intently) This is how it is. Rome needs taxes to help its military enforce

Pax Romana, Roman Peace. The Jews have money. We need to collect taxes from them.

Sounds easy doesn’t it. But it is not that easy. You see they hate Rome. The last thing

they want to do is pay taxes to the Romans. So that’s where you come in. You are Jewish.

They might listen to you better. And not only that, you can ask for a little more taxes and

keep the difference for yourself….a nice bonus. Do you get it?

Levi:  Yeah. I think so. I know my own people. This is not going to be easy.

 

Igor:  Not easy. It is a lot easier than you think. Just watch…

 

(They go over to a poor Jewish home and knocks on the door. An impoverished Jewish couple answer the door.)

 

Igor: We are here to collect the taxes for Rome. You are already late. Please pay up now.

 

Old man:  We have nothing. We are already eating the two meals a day. We don’t have any

money to pay the taxes. Please leave us alone. (He looks at Levi) Is that you Levi?

What are you doing with this Roman Goon. (Levi tries to hide his face) Have times

gotten that tough?

 

Igor:         (He turned to Levi) Now watch this. (He grabs the old man by the arm and goes off

stage. The Old man screams as if someone is beating him up. Then Igor walks back

one stage with three backs of money.) Yeah…he said that he had nothing. But he

showed me this money in the wall. He said it was to pay for his funeral. Hah. (Igor

goes to the table and lays down the three bags.)  This one is for Rome and this bag is

for you and the other is for me.

 

Igor:         Now sit here at this booth and collect taxes from the people that bring it to us

willingly.

 

Levi:      I don’t think I can do this.

 

Igor:     Don’t worry. The you’ll get used to it. Besides the money is great. You want to keep

your house don’t you? (Slaps him on the back and leaves. Levi sits behind the tax

collecting booth, looking distraught.)

 

Scene Vl:  Levi’s Reality

 

 

(Levi is at the table and groups of people pass by. The first group hands him some money. Several other groups go by him hurling insults at him. Levi just sits there quietly and takes it…with a sad look on his face.)

 

Group one: You traitor. How can you take money from you own people?

 

Group two:  You selfish man. Isn’t there another job you could have taken?

 

Group three: Your no friend of mine…tax collector..(Spits on him)

 

Mom and dad:  Levi, how can you have gotten like this? This is not how we raised you? Come

back home.

 

His kids:   (one of the kids has a black eye) Dad…they beat me up at school . They said I’m the

son of a dirty tax collector. (Another kid) Dad, are you ever coming home? We never

see you. It’s like we don’t even know you.  (They leave)

 

Deb:      (Levi’s wife comes on stage carrying a paper) Levi…I can’t take it anymore. Where is

the Levi I first married? You ignore your family. I don’t even know if you believe in

God anymore at all. I can’t keep on. Here are the divorce papers. (She leaves the papers

at her desk)

 

Levi: (Looking distraught) Well….at least I still have my house.

 

banker:  (walks on with a “for sale” sign.) Your home payments came in too late. We’re still

foreclosing on your home. Sorry.

 

(Everyone leaves with only Levi at the table. The music fades and the lights dim.)

 

 

 

Scene Vll:   Jesus Our True Friend

 

 

Narrator: Jesus was in the region. A large crowd of people came to him and he began to teach them many things about the kingdom of God.

 

Jesus: (Teaching the audience like he is teaching the crowds)  “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

Crowd: (Shouting from the audience)  Amen Jesus….We love you Jesus…..Teach us more!

 

Jesus:  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

Crowd:  (Shouting from the audience) Don’t stop Jesus. …Your words are life giving!..We love

you.

 

Jesus: One more my precious children. “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or “What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly father knows you need them.”

Crowd: Preach it Jesus!

 

Jesus: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”   Thats all for now. There will be time talk later. Pray about it and take to heart all I have told you today. I must go now.

 

(Jesus walks over to Levi’s booth.)

 

Jesus:  Friend, why is your face downcast? (Levi says nothing, trying to keep a gruff exterior that he needed to be a tax collector)

 

Levi: Are you up to date on paying your taxes?

 

Jesus: Friend….Yes indeed I have paid my taxes…but I am here for a different reason, I am here

for a far more important reason. First, I want to say, “Hi Levi, my Friend”

 

Levi:  (Looking shocked) What did you say?

 

Jesus:  I said, “Hi Levi…my friend.”

 

Levi:  Whoa. It’s been so long since someone called me by my name. People usually call me

other names like, “Traitor” And nobody has called me “friend” since my college days. I

didn’t think I had even one friend in the whole world. If feel like it just me against the

world.

 

Jesus:  Levi…I am your friend, I always have been and I always will.

 

Levi:  (Looking surprised) How can you be? You don’t even know me…and even if did know

me you would never call me friend. I have ignored my boyhood calling to the priesthood,

lived selfishly and have done terrible things to my own people. How could you be my

friend?

 

Jesus:  Yes you have done some awful things. I am glad you can admit that. But I have   always been with you. I created your inmost being. I knit you together in your mother’s womb. You were not hidden from me when you were made in the secret place. When you were woven together in the depths of the earth. I was with you when your parents named your Levi. I was with you when you sincerely struggled as a young man. I was with you though your college and when you were raising your new family. I was also with you during those hard times of trials of life that brought you to where you are today All the days ordained for you were written in your book before one of them came to be. And you know what, Levi…I still want to call you my friend.

Levi: (looking shocked) How do you know all of this? What else do you know about me?

Jesus: I know that you are not happy and very stressed out about everything.

Levi: Why do you think that?

Jesus: Come on Levi! It is obvious. You thought that by your own human abilities and money you could buy honor, standing and anything else you needed to happy in this world. You ignored and sought after the things of this world. Things went O.K. for a while, but you became trapped. The things you sought after were falling through your finger like sands through an hour glass. You lost everything, became miserable and lonely and lost all of your hope in the Kingdom of God. And so you sit here in your tax booth, a prison cell surrounded impenetrable bars of despair and fatalism…..(looks to the audience) Whao! Did I just say that?

Levi:  Who are you?

Jesus: I am the one you have been ignoring and forget about? I am the one who has been with you throughout your entire life. I am the one who can forgive all of your sins. I am the one who can set you free from your prison house of despair and bring you into the joy and the peace and fruitfulness of the Kingdom of God. I am the way, the truth and the life that you have been searching for all your life. I am He.

Levi:  Wait….Are you trying to tell me that you are the Christ?

Jesus: Exactly!

Levi:  (Falls to his knees and worships Jesus) My Lord and my God!

Jesus: (Grabs Levi by the side of the head and looks deep into his eyes.) Levi! Listen closely.

Leave this tax collectors booth and your empty way of life and follow me. You will be

blessed.

Levi:  (Looks intently back and with enthusiasm in his voice…) Yes Lord! He reaches for some

money bags and decided to give them to some haggard looking poor couple.

Scene Vlll: A Celebration Of Grace

Narrator: Levi became a changed man. He overcame his selfishness and through a huge party, inviting other tax collectors and “sinners”. He was so happy with his changed life. He wanted to celebrate. He wanted all of his friends to meet Jesus and find the new life that he found. He was so happy because of the grace of God that he did not hold back on the serving.

Sinner 1: This is delicious! How could you ever afford Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken?

Igor:   I never imagined I’d ever attend such a party due to my extremely miserable life style.

Sinner 1: Yah me too! Thanks dude!

Sinner 2: This is great! Levi you’re a changed man. The last time I ate here you gave everyone some hard crackers. Whats up with you?

Levi: Jesus forgave me of all my sins and gave me a new life as his disciple. I now have a living hope in the kingdom of God. It’s the least that I could do for what Jesus has done for me and for all of us. Eat up! Mange! (He high fives his two sinner friends.)  Jesus? Do you want some more pizza?

Jesus: (takes a piece) Thanks. This is deelish. Hmmm.

(Two priests look into the house of Levi with disgusted looks in their face.)

Priest 1: What I going on here? Look at Jesus in the house of that filthy tax collector. He is actually eating Pizza and Kentucky Fried Chicken with tax collectors and sinners. How can he be a man of God?

Priest 2: That’s disgusting. I feel unclean just looking at them. I bet the chicken is friend in protk

fat. Yuch! What do you have to say about this Jesus? This is horrific.

Jesus: : It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous

but sinners to repentance.

Narrator: And so Levi became a changed man. Jesus gave him a new name…”Matthew” which means, “Gift of God”. God gave him a the gift of salvation. He became a gift to others through his life and his teaching. He even wrote the Book of Matthew. He followed Jesus with his whole heart. (Matthew hugs Jesus) His wife respected him and got back together with him. (She comes to Matthew’s side and hugs Jesus.) His kids restored their love and respect for him. (They came to the stage.) His parents restored their hope in their son. )They come onto the stage.) God provided all he needed to support his family and live a life of mission, serving Jesus. He became an elder in his church and his life was filled with real, faithful friends. (all the other people come on stage.) Most importantly he received eternal life with his Lord, Savior and friend…Jesus Christ…forever. He was truly happy. (Matthew looks a little happy) He was truly, truly, happy (Matthew tries a little harder to be happy) I mean He was very happy.

Matthew; (gets a little frustrated at the narrator and speaks to the air.) OK, I’m happy already!

(All the cast members are now on the stage and they say in unison: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

The end…