Scripture: Matthew 21:23-32 (NIV)
Introduction
- Let’s talk about Matthew chapter 21
- Chapter 21 is the beginning of the end for Jesus.
- First, He rides triumphantly into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey as predicted by the prophet Zechariah in Zechariah 9:9.
- Next, he goes into the temple and turns over the tables of the money changers
- Now we see in verse 23 that the religious leaders are questioning His authority.
- Who are you Jesus and what right do you have to tell us we are wrong?
- You say you are the Son of God, and the temple is your Father’s house.
- You heal people on the Sabbath and raise people from the dead.
- You eat with sinners and tax collectors.
- You are just a carpenter from Nazareth.
- Why should we accept your authority?
- Who do you think you are?
- Let’s see what Jesus has to say. What will it take to convince you?
Message
- V23 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?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
- These are the guys at the top of the Hebrew food chain who should have know above all who Jesus was and what authority He had.
- These were the Jerry Falwells and Southern Baptist Conventions and Joel Osteens and Pope Leo XIV of their time.
- V24 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.
- So, Jesus gives them a question that will trap them
- V25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
- It is a simple question that can only be one thing or the other…
- They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
- If they answer that He is from heaven and sent by God then they would have to answer for why they didn’t believe in him and they knew it.
- V26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
- But if they deny that John the Baptist was sent by God, then the people will revolt.
- Remember the reception they had just given Jesus on His arrival like a king.
- V27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
- All they could come up with is to say: “we don’t know.”
- Unfortunately, that’s what so many religious authorities say today.
- Oh, they can speak with great authority about the rights of women in ministry.
- They can even dictate morals and recommend political candidates.
- But can they really tell me who Jesus is? Do they really respect His authority?
- Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
- Jesus won’t tell them since they wouldn’t answer His question.
- V28 “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.’
- Jesus loved to tell stories to make His point.
- V29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
- This son was reluctant to do what his father asked but eventually gave in
- V30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
- The other son said he would do it but didn’t – we call that passive aggressive
- V31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
- “The first,” they answered.
- The religious leaders could see that the first son was obedient
- Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
- Here’s where He convicts these false leaders.
- V32 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.
- The religious leaders didn’t recognize Jesus’ authority because they didn’t believe in John the Baptist
- But the tax collectors and the prostitutes did and they were obedient.
- Why do you think that is?
- Why do you think that the religious leaders weren’t willing to repent and believe in John?
- Let me take you back to who John was predicted to be through the Prophet Isaiah from Matthew chapter 3:1-10:
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
- Isaiah predicted it.
- John the Baptist delivered it.
- Jesus fulfilled it.
- For me, this is pretty convincing.
- What will it take to convince you?
- What else do you need?