Matthew - Week 66

By What Authority 

READ 

Matthew 21:23 

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?” 

The religious leaders were always trying to trap Jesus. Although many of the common people believed in Jesus as the Messiah, the leaders did not. This is why in reading the Scriptures and seeing the word “Jews,” one must determine if it is referring to the common people or the leaders. They asked Jesus where He received the authority to teach and do what He did. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes disagreed with religious leaders? Just because they have more formal training than you does not mean they are always right.  

RESPOND 

With a fellow believer, read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 to see that God has made the wisdom of this world to look foolish. 

A Question from Jesus 

READ 

Matthew 21:24-27 

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.” 

It was typical of Jesus to answer a question with a question. Jesus asked a question to which these religious leaders should have known the answer. They were caught in a dilemma, however, about how to answer so they admitted they didn’t know. Jesus then told them neither would He tell by what authority He was doing what they observed. 

REFLECT 

Some think they can disprove something by a question, but another question can show they are not the wise ones.  

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the fact that just because someone is speaking behind a pulpit does not mean that person is wiser than those sitting in the pews. The Bible and the Bible alone is the standard for truth.  

Working in the Vineyard 

READ 

Matthew 21:28-30 

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. 

Jesus now told a story, commonly called a parable, which would characterize the religious leaders. One son said the right words but didn’t obey. The other son said the wrong words, but did obey. As the religious leaders heard this, they surely wondered what point Jesus was trying to make. At the beginning of His story, Jesus asked the religious readers to respond to what they would think about it.  

REFLECT 

Notice how a question can be used to cause a person to listen more closely. The person must pay close attention in order to answer. 

RESPOND 

Notice what James 1:22-25 says about reading the Word but not obeying. God did not give the Bible just to fill minds with information but to change lives. That a person knows more Bible verses than you does not prove he or she is more connected with God. A change of life reveals this. 

Obeying the Father 

READ 

Matthew 21:31-32 

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 religious leaders were like the son who said the right words but disobeyed. The son who said he would not go, but did was like the tax collectors and prostitutes because they believed in Jesus. The Pharisees and religious leaders had refused to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus.  

REFLECT 

Does this impress on your mind how serious God is about believers in Jesus obeying His commands? 

RESPOND 

With a believer, read 1 Samuel 15:21-23 to see that even in the Old Testament God considered obedience to be better than sacrifice.  

Ambushed in the Vineyard 

READ 

Matthew 21:33-36 

33 “Now listen to another story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 34 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop. 35 But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.” 

This parable will also eventually point to the religious leaders and their rejection of the Son of God. The landowner in this story refers to God and the vineyard would refer to Israel. God had sent prophets to the nation but the religious leaders had rejected them.  

REFLECT 

Remember in dealing with a parable that not every detail should be made to refer to a particular doctrine.  

RESPOND 

With a fellow Christian, read the parable of the vine and the branches in John 15:1-8. The parable is about fruit bearing and should not be used to teach loss of salvation if fruit is not produced.