Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost A

Setting the Scene:

Sunday - Triumphal Entry: (Looks like a King), - Jesus repeatedly is proving himself as ‘lord’ but the people call him prophet

Matthew 21:11 ESV

And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Monday - Temple Cleansing and then people call out (Royal title)

Matthew 21:15 ESV

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant,

Tuesday - (todays passage) The authority of Jesus is challenged, again in the temple

John at Emmanuel, never recovered because he didn’t actually have authority.

Who is in charge?

Turf war between the Christians and the Pharisees- temple is about 1500’x100’

Picture Jesus and his ragtag bunch (Wealthy Matthew, poor peter) - Spotless pharisees and Elders The tumble in the temple!

They ask: Matthew 21:23

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?”

The big idea, if Jesus is not in charge- then anyone and anything else is a viable option.

This is what Jesus highlights with His question of response.

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?’

Essentially What authority was behind John’s baptism

This is not about the validity of John’s Baptism, it is about the hearts of the Elders and Pharisees

Fear and Authority

If you want to know who is really in charge of your life- ask, who or what are you afraid of.

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 irony is that the Pharisees are afraid of the crowd, They recognize they don’t have any authority. They have become subservient to the crowd.

Proverbs 29:25 ESV

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

The pharisees have turned popularity into their authority. We have all done this!

Do you remember the first commandment? You shall have no other Gods.

The Book of Concord The First

“You shall have no other gods.”

2 What does this mean?

Answer: We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.

Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.

Here, we mean filial fear not servile fear Luther defined filial (parental) fear as “anxiety joined with faith”.

Isn’t that great? The fear of God is a coupling of concern and confidence all at once. To live under the authority of Christ is to be primarily concerned with what His plan is. His plan is one of GRACE and Kindness and Gentleness.

How do we demonstrate GRACE and Kindness and Mercy?

Christ Church in Moscow Hymn Sing (Three people were arrested for singing Psalms (for like 15 minutes) and not social distancing or wearing masks.)

Pastor Wilson & The City waged a proxy conflict. (It’s a bad look that Doug didn’t intercede)

The challenge I have with this is that while it appears peaceful I pray their hearts match that posture.

Were we to hold worship on I-90 or during a city council meeting or at 1000 db we should be cited. Free exercise does not mean unlimited exercise.

Nuance is crucial and hyperbole is harming, not helpful.

I pray we graciously look to the best intentions of both parties.

When we turn and ask Jesus or any institution ‘what gives you the right’ we must also turn the tables and ask ourselves the same question.

The Gracious Lord

Here’s the turn- where the Pharisees undoubtedly recognize their lack of authority and could be easily finished off. Instead He uses this moment to humbly assert His own Messianic Authority.

In this rare moment of repentance from the elders Jesus lets them be.

It is now that we hold Philippians 2:3-4 as a guide for how we should live under the gracious rule of our king.

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Paul, Like Jesus and John and all of the prophets before Him encourage us to get out of our own way.

Authority is meant to be selfless and life giving- this is the example of Jesus.

Today’s lesson should cause us to become aware of our own woeful lack of authority and our silly fears of created things.

The Pharisees and Elders let their fears control them and tried to kill the author of life but our King even is Lord over death.

Friends the good news for you is that Jesus is Lord God and King. To confess Jesus as your King is to confess the truth.

May you hold fast to His Authority as your sure source of satisfaction and hope. Amen.