10-1-23 Sermon "Churches Relationship With God" 19 Minutes

Matthew 21:23-32

This morning I'll be reading Matthew chapter 21 verses 23 through 32. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Matthew 21:23-32 These scriptures that we read this morning are after Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem that we usually celebrate on Psalm Sunday,,, His clearing of the temple,,, and other things that He does,,, and the religious authorities are questioning Him about His authority,,, and,,, who He receives it from. Matthew 21:23–32 (HCSB) — 23 When He entered the temple complex, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for Me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from men?” They began to argue among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we’re afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. 28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the vineyard today.’ 29 “He answered, ‘I don’t want to!’ Yet later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. “ ‘I will, sir,’ he answered. But he didn’t go. 31 “Which of the two did his father’s will?” “The first,” they said. Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you! 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him. The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday we looked at Philippians 1:21-30,,, and we seen that as we go about our daily activities,,, we will face our own struggles and persecution.

And you were warned that they may not be nothing compared to what the early Christians went through,,, or anything like Christians in other countries deal with,,, but they are coming.

So because of that,,, we can use these words as a warning,,, and as a guide,,, that,,, no matter what,,, we will live for Christ.

And that will be accomplished,,, by keeping our focus on Christ and His commands!

Paul let the Philippians know that no matter what they are going through they should stay focused on Christ.

And with the many things that this world can throw at us today,,, we must heed these words as well!

It's so easy for us to get caught up in our day to day routines.

But what makes life worth living,,, is our hope in Jesus Christ!

By being a living example of the hope we have in Christ,,, we are able to reach out to others with His amazing love.

And I told you,,, that whether you die at the end of this day,,, or you live,,, just like Paul said,,, it doesn't matter,,, since Jesus will be with you either way!

Everyone must face death,,, but we,,, as Christians,,, can face it with Jesus at our side.

We must focus on the future of eternity with Jesus,,, so that every day that we are alive is a reflection of Him!

No matter what we face,,, God is with us,,, and nothing will ever change that,,, for those of us,, that have accepted Christ,,, as our Savior!

This morning we will look at these verses in Matthew 21:23-32,,, and see how they will help us in our walk with God this week.

___________________________________ Verse 23 said: 23 When He entered the temple complex, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority?”

By “these things” they probably meant His Triumphal Entry into the city,,, His reception of praise from the people,,, His clearing of the temple,,, His healing of the blind and the lame,,, and His teaching.

All of these things happen in verses 1 through verse 17 of this same chapter.

The leaders understood that Jesus was claiming authority as the Messiah,,, and,,, they wanted to know where,,, He got that authority.

And they knew that He,,, definitely,,, had not received it from them!

You see,,, they hoped to trap Him,,, no matter how He answered.

If He claimed to have authority in Himself as the Son of God,,, they would accuse Him of blasphemy.

If He claimed authority from men,,, they would discredit Him.

If He claimed authority from God,,, they would challenge Him.

They considered themselves the guardians of the faith,,, professionals who by formal training and human appointment,,, were authorized to direct the religious life of the people.

Jesus had no formal schooling,,, and certainly no credentials from Israel’s rulers.

They were the ones in charge,,, they thought they had Him this time!

They still don't understand who they are dealing with,,, because as we see from the next few verses,,, Jesus knew what they were up to.

___________________________________ Verse 24 said: 24 Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for Me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

My Faithlife Study Bible says that as a way of instruction,,, rabbis often answered a question by asking another one.

And that's what Jesus does in the next verse.

___________________________________ Verses 25-26 said: 25 Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from men?” They began to argue among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we’re afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought John was a prophet.”

John’s baptism should be understood as meaning John’s ministry.

Therefore the question was, “Who authorized John to carry on his ministry?

Was his ordination human or divine?

What credentials did he hold from Israel’s leaders?”

Well,,, we know,,, the answer was obvious: John was a man sent from God.

His power came from God,,, a divine appointment,,, not from human endorsement.

Their arguing lets us know that the priests and elders were in a dilemma.

If they admitted that John was sent by God,,, they were trapped.

John had pointed men to Jesus as the Messiah.

If John’s authority was divine,,, then,,, why hadn’t they repented and believed in Jesus?

On the other hand,,, if they said that John was not commissioned by God,,, they adopted a position that would be ridiculed by the people,,, because most of them agreed,,, that John was a prophet from God.

If they had correctly answered that John was divinely sent,,, they would have had the answer to their own question: Jesus was the Messiah of whom John had been the forerunner.

So,,, since they could not figure out what to say,,, we have their answer in the next verse.

___________________________________ Verse 27 said: 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

They refused to face the facts,,, so they pleaded ignorance.

They lied,,, and said,,, “We don’t know.”

Then Jesus said,,, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Why should He tell them what they already knew,,, but were unwilling to admit?

___________________________________ Verses 28 through the 1st part of 31 said: 28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the vineyard today.’ 29 “He answered, ‘I don’t want to!’ Yet later he changed his mind and went. 30 Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. “ ‘I will, sir,’ he answered. But he didn’t go. 31 “Which of the two did his father’s will?” “The first,” they said.

This parable is a stinging rebuke to the chief priests and elders for their failure to obey John’s call to repentance and faith.

It concerns a man whose two sons were asked to work in the vineyard.

One refused,,, then changed his mind and went.

The other agreed to go,,, but never did.

When asked which son did the will of his father,,, the religious leaders unwittingly condemned themselves by saying,,, “The first.”

And that was the correct answer,,, but,,, this proved their guilt because the religious leaders were like the second son,,, they wanted to act like they were doing right,,, but it was all just for show.

Like the second son,,, they had no intention of doing God's work,,, they just wanted the attention.

Then Jesus tells them something that must have really got their attention.

___________________________________ The last part of verse 31 and verse 32 says: Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you! 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.

While many of the people accepted the ministry of John the Baptist,,, including many tax collectors and prostitutes,,, this parable shows,,, that the religious leaders were like the second son.

They had heard the message that John the Baptist had talked about,,, but the religious leaders had no intentions of answering that call,,, even though they looked like they were doing the work that God wanted them to do.

Since the tax collectors and prostitutes had received the message of John,,, and did the will of the Father,,, they would be allowed entrance into the kingdom of God.

But the religious leaders who did not repent and believe,,, they would be denied entrance.

These religious leaders stood there,,, condemned.

They must have been stunned by Jesus’ words that,,, in their eyes,,, despised,,, immoral people,,, such as tax collectors,,, and prostitutes,,, were entering the kingdom,,, and they,,, the religious leaders,,, were not!

___________________________________

We must be careful today,,, to be sure which authority we listen to!

They had spent so much time proving to everyone how "good" they were,,, that they refused to listen to the One that they had been waiting for!

They were too concerned about their rules and regulations that they missed the point of those rules,,, they were blinded by them!

We don't want to be like the religious leaders and be left out of the kingdom of God.

Just like the religious leaders,,, we have almost become too familiar with,,, our own leaders,,, our own customs,,, our own way of doing things,,, that we miss seeing the One that we should obey,,, we miss God,,, when our man made rules take over,,, and we follow them instead of what's in the Bible.

That appears to be where the leaders in our churches are today.

If we get so caught up in following a denomination,,, whichever that may be,,, and we miss God's presence because of that,,, then we have failed miserably!

We must be sure,,, that as a church,,, we follow God's word,,, allow it to guide our service,,, and our day to day activities,,, just like we should do with our personal life.

We must be careful to keep Christ at the forefront of the direction we are choosing,,, so that relationship will not be hurt,,, or lost in the process.

I'm looking forward to putting this decision behind us so that we can concentrate on what God has for us to do,,, and let Him guide us,,, as we strive to show others,,, the love that God has,,, for all,,, if we just follow,,, His word,,, like we should have,,, all along!

Because when we show others that we follow Christ,,, we will reach so many more of those in our community,,, when we obey the word of God,,, instead of just going through the motions.

Our church needs a relationship with God,,, that can only be obtained,,, by following God's word,,, from the beginning of the Bible,,, to the end of the Bible,,, not just rules and regulations,, and then,,, being sure that we are using that knowledge,,, in our every day life,,, so that we can show God's love,,, to those,,, in need!

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