TWO WEIGHTY QUESTIONS

TWO WEIGHTY QUESTIONS Matthew 21:23-32 March 4, 2007 Given by: Pastor Rich Bersett [Index of Past Messages] Introduction When I originally determined to preach through the Gospel of Matthew—and that was four years ago now—I had hoped that when we reached the apex of the book, the passion narrative, it would be during the Easter season. It seems so appropriate to study the suffering, death and resurrection in the Lenten weeks leading up to Resurrection Sunday. That hasn’t worked out. One reason is that I have felt compelled to deal with every verse in the book instead of picking favorites. This eventuated in a lengthier series—we are now in our 51st month of studies in Matthew, punctuated by other periodic studies and series. It also threw off the calendar timing. So, we will not be engaging the passion of Christ in the next weeks. However, there is an event we are planning for Friday night, April 6, that I want to encourage you to attend. That is Good Friday and we’ll be gathering that night for a special multi-media program where you and your invited guests will be able to encounter the passion of Christ in a powerful and moving way. We’re calling it “A Night to Remember” and it will feature a variety of music, reader’s theater, video and a candlelight communion service. I promise you it will be most inspiring. The Lord willing I will be preaching the resurrection theme on Easter Sunday, April 8. All in all, it will be an important week, the climax of the Christian year, and a most appropriate time to invite your unsaved and unchurched friends to MECF. Two Weighty Questions Our text today is in Matthew 21:23. Let’s read the first 5 verses: 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?” the asked. “And who gave you this authority?” 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. John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet. So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” “These things” refers not only to Jesus’ teaching at that moment, but mostly to the audacious action of Jesus the day before, when He cleansed the temple courts of the money-changers. To them, that was a most presumptuous act. It caught everyone by surprise, including them. They had stood speechless during the ranting rabbi’s raid. Now they’ve pulled themselves together. Two questions are raised in today’s text. The first is . . . The Question of Authority Once while I was in seminary, some fellow students and I, inspired by a chapel sermon on holiness and making a difference, went to a local grocer nearby the campus to speak to the manager about his display of pornographic magazines within reach of children. We respectfully told him we were students from the college and seminary and were concerned about his open display of porno magazine covers. He responded by saying it was his right to display whatever he wanted and, besides, the biggest buyers of the magazines in question were students from the college! Red-faced and stripped of our convictions we left. We came in the authority of Christ and His Church, but we left in shame. Authority must be backed up by obedience to God in holiness. This might be how the priests and elders felt. They had lost face with the people because Jesus had routed the merchants who had violated the temple sanctity with their crooked commercialism. These leaders who were charged with maintaining the propriety of the temple worship should have taken action against the temple authorities long before. They had criticized Jesus for being too liberal in matters of the law. Now here he was in their own backyard, proving himself to be more conscientious than they. So, in embarrassment and trying to save some face they come after the spiritual scab who so blatantly stole their job. They ask Him who gave Him the right? By what authority are you doing these things? Real Authority Derives from God Now, all authority—real authority—comes from God. All human authority figures derive their authority from God, the Bible says—kings and governors, judges and police, parents, elders and teachers. In a rare response to Pilate who insinuated his authority over Him, Jesus replied, You would have no power (same word here—EXOUSIA) over me if it were not given to you from above. (John 19:10-11) And in a few days, Jesus would commission His disciples with these words, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, therefore go and make disciples… (Matthew 28:18) And Romans 13:1 is as clear as crystal: …for there is no authority except that which God has established. All authority comes from God. If it’s real authority it comes from God. All other authority is counterfeit. The religious leaders should have known that, particularly when it comes to the authority of Jesus, who worked miracles and taught with such clear spiritual authority. But they could not admit it, so they would not admit it. Instead they asked the Son of God this silly, contrived question. No wonder Jesus refused to answer it! The priests and elders found themselves in a dilemma. They couldn’t answer Jesus’ question about John’s authority for ministry either way. John was way too popular among the people and saying he didn’t have heavenly authority would be perilous. But if they said John did have God’s authority it would be tantamount to saying Jesus had it too, because John was without question the forerunner of Jesus. Not to mention, if they admitted John as legitimately from God, then why, as Jesus asked them, didn’t they believe him? The fact was, both John and Jesus had authority from God, and everyone knew it, including, I think the priests and elders. But the servants of darkness and those who only masquerade humanistic promotion for real authority can never admit it when they encounter the real thing. It would bring them low and shatter both their pride and their status before the onlookers. So, they said, We don’t know, and their feeble escapism was a most transparent covering for their lack of integrity. Real authority derives from God, and cannot be convincingly faked. Real Authority Defies Challenge (and is self-authenticating) As soon as someone stands before you and insists he has the authority to do such and such, you know one thing about that person right off—he has no real authority. Genuine authority does not have to sell itself or strive to convince others. Real authority, God-given authority is self-authenticating. By that I mean, if it is not genuine authority, received humbly from God, it is not bona fide. Jesus genuinely had it; but the priests and elders of the people most certainly did not have it. I’ve noticed a big difference in school teachers. Some of them, especially the newer, shyer ones, get run over by the kids. It’s almost as if the students don’t hear a word of instruction these educators say. They resort to screaming, desperate punishments and even tears as they try to keep their classes in order. They’re always at their wits end. Others…well, let’s just say they have the “gift”. We have a couple of teachers in this congregation of such caliber. The kids respect them—it’s almost as if they exude a tranquilizing drug and any kid who gets near falls under their spell. Yes, ma’am; Of course, sir; Whatever you say, teacher. That, my friends, is authority. Christian comedian Mark Lowry tells about when he was a child. He said My mother was a screamer—and we knew it. We never listened to her when she told us stuff. She would repeat herself a dozen times and never get our attention. She got louder each time. Finally when she reached just the right decibel level we would do what she wanted us to do. My dad, though, he continued, all he had to do was [tsk!], and we jumped Authority! Real authority defies challenge. Some people, because of what is in them—this resonating approval from God—simply are not going to be ignored. How does this kind of authority come to a person—this spiritual authenticity? Real Authority Depends on Obedience It is most assuredly a spiritual thing. When a child of God is rebellious and carnal and hypocritical in his faith, he gets an F+ in spiritual authority. But the believer who is walking in holiness and obedience taps into spiritual authority, and it flows through him. There is nothing like intimate communion with the Lord to make all you do ring with godly authority. And there’s nothing trying to manufacture an imitation authority to betray the hollowness of spiritual impostors. You don’t usually need a master’s degree in discernment to identify them, either. They work so hard to convince you they’re something, and they’re not. Do you remember when Jesus taught about believers taking spiritual authority in the life of a sinning brother to correct him? You don’t go into that kind of a situation with hypocrisy. He said real spiritual authority happens when sincere, obedient brothers meet and pray. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Matthew 18:20) I had the privilege of sitting in on the Life Group that is studying the book of Titus. Have I mentioned what a splendid Bible teacher Daphne H is? If you don’t take the opportunity to get into one of her Life Group experiences you are robbing yourself of a most rewarding experience in the Word of God. The particular passage being studied was on the qualifications of the church elder. How clear it was that an elder must have arrived at an advanced level of spiritual maturity. If not he will not be able to do the instruction and correction and pastoral guidance he is called to do. Elders must partake of spiritual authority and not just anybody can do that. Spiritual authority comes to those who by steady obedience are walking in the Spirit and counsel of God. The fact is, nobody wants to be in the flock of an elder who is not obedient—he has no spiritual authority! The Question of Obedience This leads to the next question dealt with in our text: obedience. We read in Matthew 21:28-32 . . . “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.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the Father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what he father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 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. In essence, Jesus says, You guys heard the truth from John and you denied it because you were too proud to bow to the obvious spiritual authority you encountered there. Then you saw the very obvious fruit of his ministry, and even then you turned away from it. You are the second son! You stand in your temple and say all the religious things, but you refuse to obey when God calls you. In Real Obedience Actions Trump Words Jesus mixes no words about the failure of the priests and elders of Israel to obey what they knew to be God’s will. He even characterizes them with his parable as having promised to obey, but stubbornly refusing to follow through on the promise. I think the point Jesus is making is promises mean nothing without obedience. Knowing God’s Word as an expert means nothing without obedience. We can’t satisfy God with our promises alone. Chuck Swindoll weaves a story in his book, Living Above the Level of Mediocrity: Imagine, if you will, that you work for a company whose president found it necessary to travel out of the country and spend an extended period of time abroad. So he says to you and the other trusted employees, "Look, I'm going to leave. And while I'm gone, I want you to pay close attention to the business. You manage things while I'm away. I will write you regularly. When I do, I will instruct you in what you should do from now until I return from this trip." Everyone agrees. He leaves and stays gone for a couple of years. During that time he writes often, communicating his desires and concerns. Finally he returns. He walks up to the front door of the company and immediately discovers everything is in a mess--weeds flourishing in the flower beds, windows broken across the front of the building, the gal at the front desk dozing, loud music roaring from several offices, two or three people engaged in horseplay in the back room. Instead of making a profit, the business has suffered a great loss. Without hesitation he calls everyone together and with a frown asks, "What happened? Didn't you get my letters?" You say, "Oh, yeah, sure. We got all your letters. We've even bound them in a book. And some of us have memorized them. In fact, we have 'letter study' every Sunday. You know, those were really great letters." I think the president would ask, "But what did you do about my instructions?" And, no doubt the employees would respond, "Do? Well, nothing. But we read every one!" I've read that when Edward VI, the king of England in the 16th century, attended a worship service, he stood while the Word of God was read. He took notes during the teaching and later studied them diligently. Through the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life. That's the kind of serious-minded response that honors God. A single revealed truth cherished in the heart and acted upon is more vital to our growth than a head filled with lofty ideas about God. One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it. When it comes to real obedience actions trump words every time. In Real Obedience History is Irrelevant Here’s an interesting observation: In the parable the son who is stubborn at first is not redressed for that initial stubbornness, but the only inference, even in the opinion of the priests, is that he is honored for his eventual obedience. May I simply point out that it does not at all matter how disobedient you have been in the past, if you are willing to repent and begin obeying God from the heart today. You can’t undo the past, my friend, but you can start today and make a brand new end! God’s mercy is available to you whenever you are ready. In Real Obedience Instantaneous is Best Between the two boys in the parable, actually, neither one did the best. The first son did better than the second son, but both of them missed the boat on pleasing their father as much as possible. Instant obedience really is the only kind of obedience there is; said Thomas a Kempis. And he went on to say, Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from grace. I’ve tried hard over the years to reduce my understanding of genuine discipleship to the simplest of terms. What I’ve wanted to do is capture the essence of walking in the fullness of the Spirit and in fellowship with the Lord in a brief, proverbial comment. I’m getting closer. To date, here’s the best I’ve got—my reader’s digest version: Walk in no unconfessed sin, and be instantly obedient to whatever God says to you. Roger Staubach who led the Dallas Cowboys to the World Championship in '71 admitted that his position as a quarterback who didn't call his own signals was a source of trial for him. Coach Landry sent in every play. He told Roger when to pass, when to run and only in emergency situations could he change the play (and he had better be right!). Even though Roger considered coach Landry to have a "genius mind" when it came to football strategy, his pride said that he should be able to run his own team. Roger later said, "I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfillment, and victory." Trying to run our own lives always leads us to failure. We’re sinners and our hearts deceive us continually. Yet we keep coming back to the proud place of thinking we’re wiser than God. Somebody said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, hoping to get a different outcome. Here’s an offer from the God who made you, who loves you and who wants what’s best for you: repent and obey Him. Conclusion: These Two Weighty Questions Beg an Answer Who is Your Authority? Here’s one question I think this text forces us to face: Who is your authority? If there is only one true source of true authority, and it is God, why would I choose anything or anyone else? Here’s why: if I’m proud, stubborn and embarrassed by my failures. These are the three anemic excuses that kept the priests and the elders of Matthew 21 from God’s grace. Will it keep you from His grace, too? For centuries people believed that Aristotle was right when he said that the heavier an object, the faster it would fall to earth. Aristotle was regarded as the greatest thinker of all time, and surely he would not be wrong. Anyone, of course, could have taken two objects, one heavy and one light, and dropped them from a great height to see whether or not the heavier object landed first. But no one did until nearly 2,000 years after Aristotle's death. In 1589 Galileo summoned learned professors to the base of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then he went to the top and pushed off a ten- pound and a one-pound weight. Both landed at the same instant. The power of belief was so strong, however, that the professors denied their eyesight. They continued to say Aristotle was right. Will You Obey, and When? The second question grows out of the first. When you find God as your authority, will you obey Him; and when will you do it? Some in this room this morning know God’s claim on their life, but have been refusing to submit to Him. And you’ve stood stubbornly resisting Him for a long time. That is tragic, because it has kept you in the same camp as the religious leaders Jesus reprimanded. You’ve known how important it is to give in and trust Christ as your Savior, but you continue to dig in your heels. Two things are not guaranteed: how long God’s Spirit will continue to strive with you, and how long you have to live.     [Back to Top]