Jesus Faces A Challenge
Notes
Transcript
In Matthew Chapter 21 we are in the final week of Jesus’ life
The Triumphal entry has happened
The cleansing of the temple has happened yesterday
The next day Jesus makes his way to the temple again, there he will be challenged
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
This is the word of God
Jesus Enters the Temple
Jesus Enters the Temple
Our text says that Jesus entered the temple courts.
There were four courts in Herod’s Temple:
Court of the Gentiles only area Gentiles can be
Court of the Women only place for women
Court of Israel only for Jewish men
Court of the Priests — Only for the priests
In our text Jesus was likely teaching in the court of the Gentiles
It had the most access for large gatherings
Jesus had also cleared out the merchants the day before
Jesus actions were as though he had divine authority, which he did
We know that but the priests, elders, and leaders refused to accept it
The chief priests and Pharisees were men in Jewish society with authority and respect
“Authority” — authority over a domain or sphere of influence, often in the political and religious sphere
They were here this day because Jesus was demonstrating authority that was not given Him by any of them.
Really that is the point of this whole thing!
The Challenge Question
The Challenge Question
So they seek to challenge Jesus with a question — Matthew 21:33
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
Jesus is not so easily trapped — Matthew 21:24
24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Jesus asks a simple a question
The leaders see it as a difficult question
They are the ones trapped, and they did it to themselves
Their love for authority and fear of the crowd trapped them
Look at how they reasoned among themselves — Matthew 21:25-26
25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
They knew what the real answers was and could not bring themselves to answer it!
They failed to trap Jesus and instead they were trapped!
Jesus Teaches Them
Jesus Teaches Them
Jesus now takes the opportunity to teach them
He does it through the parable of the two sons
The first son didn’t want to do it at the beginning but later the changed and did it!
The second son promised obedience but never did it!
Clearly they are second son — They claimed to do the will of God, but they instead lived for themselves.
The people going into the kingdom ahead of the pharisees, chief priests, and teachers of the Law, were the marginalized outsiders!
People the leaders felt unworthy of the kingdom!
Yet these people on the periphery were the ones looking for the kingdom!
The leaders said we will do God’s will but rebelled against it.
Jesus points out to the Pharisees and chief priests that they have seen for themselves and still refuse to believe!
Conclusion
What John the baptist and Jesus taught did not require obedience to commandments, what was required was a denial of self and for this the leaders refused to believe.
Who are we in the parable?
Promise to do do kingdom work and never do it
Don’t want to a later change our mind and get to work
There is still time to change our mind!
In ministry, in giving the gospel it is the marginalized that are often most open to the good news.
They may deny it at first, but eventually they follow the call of the gospel!
