The Truth Produces Fruit: Part 2

Scripture Reading

Opening Prayer

Intro

Review

Exposition One

Matthew 21:23 ESV

And when he entered the temple, 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, and who gave you this authority?”

Jesus entered the temple again

The religious authorities question Him again

“These things” ? Openly messianic arrival, making a scene at the temple, refusing to silence supporters

Asking about the source of His authoritySpoiler alert: Jesus is God the Son!

They (the priests) are the temple authority. If they didn’t give Him the authority, who did?

Matthew 21:24 ESV

Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.

Answers a question with a question, yet the question, Jesus proclaims is not an answer, yet at the same time it is.

Accepted form of rabbinic debate

Here is the question…

Matthew 21:25 ESV

The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

Matthew 21:26 ESV

But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

“the baptism of John” refers to his whole ministry

Basically, if they say from man, then the crowds will get mad because John’s popularity still exceeded Jesus’ at this time

If they said God, then that would validate Jesus because it was well know that John had baptized

It is well know that they did not accept John’s message (vs. 32)

Matthew 21:27 ESV

So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

So they don’t answer, yet all those listening know the answer...

I. Just as John the Baptizer’s ministry came from God, Jesus’ ministry is from God.

How does this tie into what came before?

Just as you recognize true followers by the fruit they exhibit, so too, Jesus’ life and ministry are validated by the fruit it produces, just as John’s was.

What are the implications?

Jesus is a prophet

This means that he speaks God’s word

Jesus is more than a prophet

Jesus is Messiah

What do we do about this?

Obey Jesus’ teaching

Significant. The next several weeks will involve Jesus’ teaching

This validates Jesus message

Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand

God is not interested in empty religion