Tranquility

Our Tranquility is directly connected to who what we give authority over our lives.

If ever this statement was ever true it is now....Authority is defines as : power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior.

All the turmoil that we are facing right now is a result of a war for control of our minds and hearts. This is not a new fight as we will see in this passage.

Matthew 21:23-32

Matthew 21:23–32 NLT

23 When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?” 24 “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 25 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John. 26 But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.” 27 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things. 28 “But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 The son answered, ‘No, I won’t go,’ but later he changed his mind and went anyway. 30 Then the father told the other son, ‘You go,’ and he said, ‘Yes, sir, I will.’ But he didn’t go. 31 “Which of the two obeyed his father?” They replied, “The first.” Then Jesus explained his meaning: “I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do. 32 For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn’t believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.

The interesting thing about this passage of scripture is that the main focus of the priest and elders was not the message that was being preached so much as the fact that Jesus did not get permission from the priest and elders to teach it.

“By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” – Matthew 21:23

It seems rather childish doesn’t it? I mean Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey to fulfill prophecy, it was widely know that Jesus had healed people, he had forgiven sin, he had cleared the temple, cursed a fig tree and was now teaching in the Temple for everyone to see and hear that the kingdom of God has come.

Not like I am teaching right now but Jesus was probably in the center of a crowd this is pre COVID 19 but in the presence of Jesus that probably would not have mattered much.

People were probably asking questions they were leaning in to hear the words of this prophet, they were all excited becuase it looked like they had finally found the messiah and all of the sudden a group of men walked in the middle of it all and asked Jesus…who gave you permission to do all the things that you have done and who gave you authority to teach hear in the temple?

They were not concerned with the healings, they were not concerned with anything he had done up to that point…really…they were focused on making sure that Jesus the Messiah got their permission to teach in the temple courts.

They were the ones that had been entrusted to keeping the temple clean, performing sacrifices and all the other Temple functions and yet Jesus was getting all the attention.

Jesus was saying things that were revolutionary like love your enemies and performing all kinds of miracles and yet the only question the religions leaders could ask was:

Who told you you could come in here and heal people, run out money changers, and teach?

While we might be tempted to gloss over these first few verses in the text to get to. where Jesus turns the question back on the priest or to explore the parable that Jesus teaches, it’s important to slow down and understand the context of this whole scene. 

While we may think of the temple as a place one would go to participate in religious services similar to a church, the temple in Jesus’ day was much, much more than that.  The temple signified the presence of God and therefore and shaped all of life in Jerusalem and beyond. 

Because the temple was the Holy place where God’s presence was located, those who controlled the temple wielded a great amount of authority and power. The temple was more than a location, it was a clearly defined seed of power and authority. 

With this in mind when we see the Chief Priests ask Jesus under what authority he did the things he did we need to understand they were appealing to their own authority.  Jesus was teaching something that they didn’t authorize and Jesus was doing things (like forgiving sins and healing the sick) that they thought required their authorization to do as part of the temple system. 

Jesus was not an authorized user of temple authority.  He was not a Chief Priest; in fact, he held no official role in the temple. And becuase of this they were doing everything they could to discredit Jesus teaching publically.

Sound familiar?

The temple authorities were not interested in the message or even in the spiritual implications of what Jesus was teaching. It was purely political...

Knowing this Jesus responded with a question that challenged their authority at the source: What authority did John the Baptist have to do what he was doing?

This question presented a serious problem for the Priests. JTB was considered a prophet by the majority of the people that were gathered in the Temple. They knew that if they were to say that JTB’s authority was not recognized they would have a riot on their hands. However if they said it was from God they would be legitimizing Jesus teaching as he was Baptized by JTB. (A little bit of a simplification here but you get the picture.

So, Jesus’ question about the authority under which John baptized drives a fine point on the discussion.

If John’s authority came from God, it’s because God was operating apart from the temple system.  And if God was operating outside of the temple system, if people could access God without submitting to the temple requirements, the authority and power of the temple priests all but vanished instantly. 

So understanding this the Temple leadership answered....“I don’t know”…Not I don’t know the answer…but I don’t know how to answer without conceding to your point.

Understanding this dynamic during this encounter helps us understand the parable that concludes this text. 

Jesus contrasts two sons; one who initially responds incorrectly by saying the wrong thing, but eventually does the right thing. The other son immediately responds by declaring their desire to do what the father asked, but then actually not obeying. 

The chief priests are part of a temple system that appears to act faithfully to God’s commandments, but in reality does not do what they were supposed to be doing.

This is strong condemnation made at the priests and the temple.  They act like they are going carryout their holy vocation, but they don’t. For all its religious activities and regulations, it does not fulfill the purpose that God would have for it. Instead they replaced God’s stated purpose for the temple with their own lust for power and control.

Jesus is not making a case here for independence from authority. The truth is self authority is no better that the wrong outside authority.

Jesus is warning us to make sure those who we give authority are in fact under God’s authority.

How do we judge this?

Galatians 5:22-24

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

When those in authority prioritize these things not those things that further some sort of worldly agenda or personal need to be revered then we will be able to find the tranquility that we all want and in fact need.

As followers of Jesus we must seek the gift of discernment grant any person, or organization any amount authority over our lives.

Yes God is the ultimate authority in our lives but His care and leadership are most often given by people He has called…not those who feel it is their destiny.

Practice:

Compare the lives of those you are listening to with Galatians 5:22-24 Does there life reflect love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

If not renounce the authority they have on your live and draw closer to Jesus…Give authority to the only one that can give you and I the tranquility we desire.

As we prepare for to come to the the table let us prepare to submit to the Authority of God almighty by listening to and agreeing with this statement: The Apostles creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth;  and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,  Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;  He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. 

Do you affirm this belief today? if so Say together We do?

Communion