Matthew 21:18-27, DAY TWO

The republic in which we live was established on the basis of certain ‘rights.’

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.-

-That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed...

In order to enact these rights citizens had to fight for them. The British, who claimed a legitimate authority over most of what we call New England, determined to exert their authority, causing a conflict known as the Revolutionary War.

After numerous battles, far too many casualties, and years of conflict the British surrendered. Citizens in this country then had a multi year struggle to define sources of authority and various powers to enforce the authority.

In the first century the Jewish people were in a dilemma. Rome claimed authority over the land and people. The Roman army was the instrument of that authority, exercising power to collect taxes, to settle disputes and so on.

Yet, as the Jews understood the world, God was the ultimate and only sovereign. God’s authority was enacted by the priests and elders.

Two conflicting authorities were a regular challenge for Jews trying to live a faithful life of obedience to God.

Into this uncertain context comes this man Jesus, whom is often recognized as a teacher who exercises a unique power, speaking as one having authority.

On this second day of Jesus’ final week the two incidents we will look at this morning can help us to discover how we can live faithfully under God’s ultimate authority.

A Barren Fig Tree

As Jesus and His followers enter Jerusalem Jesus notices a nearby fig tree. Though early in the season, this tree has leaves which generally occured after the fruit had appeared,

Expecting fruit Jesus sees that the tree is barren. There is no fruit. Jesus’ response:

Matthew 21:19 HCSB

Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And He said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” At once the fig tree withered.

Those travelling with Jesus are startled. They might have expected the tree to wither over time. However, as soon as Jesus spoke the words, the tree withered.

When they expressed their amazement Jesus replied with a brief statement regarding faith and belief.

Matthew 21:21–22 HCSB

Jesus answered them, “I assure you: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done. And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Faith without Doubting

Prior to entering Jerusalem Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John to a mountain. Jesus was transfigured in front of their eyes. The other disciples, waiting at the foot of the mountain met an obstacle they could not overcome:

Matthew 17:14–16 HCSB

When they reached the crowd, a man approached and knelt down before Him. “Lord,” he said, “have mercy on my son, because he has seizures and suffers severely. He often falls into the fire and often into the water. I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”

After Jesus successfully cast the demon out of the child His disciples asked Jesus - ‘Why couldn’t we drive the demon out?’

Jesus reply sounds there sounds familiar:

Matthew 17:20–21 HCSB

“Because of your little faith,” He told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. [However, this kind does not come out except by prayer and fasting.]”

The kind of faith that overcomes the enemy, the quality of faith that allows us to overcome the evil one, is ours. It is to be exercised without doubting.

The Greek word Jesus used for ‘doubting’ is not as much concerned with the questions that we often ask. Rather, as Jesus speaks of faith and doubt, doubt generally refers to a hesitation to act, a slowness to claim what is rightfully ours.

The Power in Prayer

In Jewish culture talk of moving mountains was generally reserved for impossible circumstances. Jesus’ followers would be familiar with the account of Zerubbabel and his work on rebuilding the temple as God’s people returned from Exile.

There were obstacles to finishing the Temple. As Zerubbabel expressed concern the prophet Zechariah was given a word of encouragement:

Zechariah 4:6–9 HCSB

So he answered me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts. ‘What are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. And he will bring out the capstone accompanied by shouts of: Grace, grace to it!’ ” Then the word of the Lord came to me: “Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you.

No mountain can hinder God’s purposes. As Jesus uses the picture He is reminding His disciples that His assignment will not fail, that He will accomplish all the work God has given Him to do.

The Authority of Faith

As Jesus entered the temple complex He was met with some angry and confused officials. They immediately challenged Jesus -

Matthew 21:23 (HCSB)

“By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority?”

Authority is an important concept. Jews lived acknowledging only One authority - God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. As noted previously, the Jewish religious leaders were caught in a dilemma. Roman governors ruled the city, Roman army troops were visible for security. Roman officials, often assisted by Jewish tax-collectors like Zaccheus and Matthew (one of Jesus’ own disciples), protected by army troops collected taxes.

As Jesus entered Jerusalem His acts of cleansing the Temple threatened to create a disturbance that might cause the Roman’s to intervene.

Where did Jesus receive the authority to act as He did - claiming to return God’s Temple to God’s purposes?

As is often the case, Jesus turns the question back on the chief priests and elders:

Matthew 21:24–25 HCSB

Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for Me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from men?” They began to argue among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

This puts those religious officials squarely in a dilemma they know they cannot solve.

(see Matt 21:25b-27).

Matthew 21:28 - 22:46

The remainder of Jesus’ second day in Jerusalem is taken up by teaching. In a series of encounters between Pharisees, Sadducees. In each encounter - whether with a parable or a direct answer - Jesus highlights over and over how the religious leaders had totally missed what God was doing.

Matthew 22:45–46 HCSB

“If David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how then can the Messiah be his Son?” No one was able to answer Him at all, and from that day no one dared to question Him anymore.

This summarizes what we might identify as the beginning of the end - setting the stage for an arrest, trial, and ultimately a crucifixion.

Prayer, Believing, Authority

Jesus’ curses a fig tree, teaches His followers about prayer and then confounds the religious authorities with His own supernatural authority.

Before we leave let’s examine the link between these three words.

PRAYER:

In the OT prayer was most often spoken aloud:

Old Testament Theology, Volume 3: Israel’s Life 3.1 Communication

Prayer involves words; a common verb in connection with prayers is the simple verb said. It involves words addressed to someone else, not words that simply help me articulate something for myself; it is an exercise in person-to-person communication. It means I speak and God hears; it is relational. But it is communication of a certain kind, communication that aims to get the other person to act in a certain way.

Now Jesus comes and teaches His followers how to pray - remember Matthew 6? Not only does He teach how to pray, He prays. His cursing of the fig tree is a prayer - He is asking His Father - CREATOR GOD - to insure that this particular tree never again bears fruit.

When the disciples marvel at that prayer, Jesus follows up with a crucial point:

If we aren’t confident in the one to whom we are praying, we will likely never receive an answer.

Prayer is not rooted in our need. Prayer is not really about us. Prayer is an expression of trust, of acknowledging that God alone can do what we ask.

BELIEVING

When we pray, do we truly understand to whom we are praying?

One advantage of writing my prayers is the ability to review the things for which I pray. And honestly, I’m ashamed much of the time. Many of my prayers are filled with doubt, filled with questions such as, IF God can…; and I’m not really sure God wants this or that.

On the other hand Jesus promises His disciples that any obstacle can be moved - simply by asking God! Oh, that we would have that kind of believing when we pray!

AUTHORITY

Jesus has no hesitation when challenged about His right to act as He did. The answers Jesus gives to the Pharisees and Sadducees and the parables that Jesus shared all underline one unmistakable fact: He has all authority. He had already told His disciples this:

Matthew 11:25–28 HCSB

At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this was Your good pleasure. All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal Him. “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

What more do we need to know about Jesus’ authority?