Matthew 21: The End of the Beginning (5)

Pray Psalm 2.7, 8.
“I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession..’”

Sing Psalm 2.7, 8.
(Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High)
Proclaim the message far and wide, that God has exalted the Crucified!
From heav’n He sent us His only Son, Who has for us salvation won!

Read Matthew 21.1-27; Meditate on verses 23-27.

Prepare.
1. Why did the religious leaders confront Jesus?

2. How did Jesus respond to them?

Meditate.
By this time, just a few days before the crucifixion of Jesus, the religious leaders have had enough of Him. The last straw was His entrance into Jerusalem, with people praising Him as the Son of David Who brings the salvation of God. In verse 15, the religious leaders recorded a mild protest. Jesus shut them down by turning to Scripture. That must have stung, especially as it was done publicly.

In our text today, the religious leaders barged in on Jesus as He was teaching in the temple (v. 23). Because they were the recognized “authorities” in all things pertaining to the temple, they decided to show Him up and reassert their authority over what can and can’t be taught in those precincts.

Clearly, they did not understand Whom they were dealing with.

Their question has two parts, each designed to put the matter of authority to teach on the table: “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” Undoubtedly, they thought that would both impress the crowd and leave Jesus stammering and stuttering. He was, after all, unschooled and uncredentialed. This public confrontation on the matter of authority to teach ought to put an end to Him.

Right.

Calmly and graciously, Jesus agreed to answer their question. On one condition: First, they must answer a question from Him. His question is the ultimate “hoist-them-on-their-own-petard” question: “What do you say about John the Baptist? Prophet? Or phony?”

The religious leaders conferred (can you hear the Jeopardy music going in the background?). They knew that, where this question was concerned, either way they answered, they’d lose. So they decided to leave the question blank. By doing so, they declared to everyone present that they were not competent to judge a man dead now for nearly three years, a man who had only preached repentance and baptized. And Jesus was not John the Baptist. He had done and taught amazing things (“these things”). If they couldn’t even decide about John, they were in no position to throw their weight around with Jesus.

So Jesus refused to answer their question, and left them standing dumb and embarrassed in front of the people.

Dumb and embarrassed, and angrier than ever. As we’ll see in our next installment, Jesus just adds more fuel to their fire.

Reflect.
1. People sometimes object to our faith in Jesus by asking what they consider to be a “gotcha” questions. Is it always necessary to answer these questions? Why or why not? (Prov. 26.4, 5)

2. On what authority was Jesus “doing these things”? By what authority do we do them (Matt. 28.18-20)?

3. What do we as followers of Jesus have authority to do? How should we exercise that authority?

“They answered Jesus, saying, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.’ ” He did not say, “Neither do I know.” It was as if he had said, “You know the truth because you are men, but you deny it because you are evil; I know it because I am God, but I will not tell you because you are unworthy.” Liars will lie to themselves if they have no one to deceive. Similarly truth will keep itself pure if it finds no one to save. Anonymous, Incomplete Word on Matthew, Homily 39

Lord, in Your Name, and by Your authority, You have made me to be Your witness. Help me today as I…

Pray Psalm 27.1-6, 9-12.
Pray for the nations of the world, and for the lost people in your Personal Mission Field, that they may turn to Jesus and worship Him.

Sing Psalm 2.1-6, 9-12.
Psalm 2.1-6, 9-12 (Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High)
Why do the nations vainly rage, conspiring together from age to age?
Earth’s kings and all of their counselors stand against the Lord and His Right Hand:

“Now let us cast His yoke below, His Kingdom authority overthrow!
Throw off His Law, reject His Word; no more be governed by this Lord!”

The Lord in heaven laughs in wrath at all who embark on this cursèd path.
His angry Word to them is plain: “Yet shall My King in Zion reign!”

To Christ the Lord be given all who humbly embrace Him and on Him call.
Be wise, be warned: His judgment comes to break the prideful, sinful ones.

Rejoice with fear in Jesus’ grace, and worship before His exalted face!
Beware His anger and judgment grim: How blessed are all who rest in Him!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).