Matthew 21:23-46
Dear RTB’ers,
When the chief priests and the Pharisees try to challenge Jesus, He always gets the upper hand. But with today’s reading, they got a triple-dose of Jesus’ upper hand! In spite of being in the their own temple area, the Jewish leaders were on weak ground in challenging Jesus’ authority. From their perspective this man was an itinerant country preacher from Galilee who has somehow “performed” (or faked?) hundreds of miracles, first in Galilee and now in Judah. When He shows up in their temple area, they want to know, basically, where He is from – that is, where did He get His schooling, who are His associates and mentors, is He synagogue-schooled or someone who just simply “showed up”? By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority? (v. 23b) Jesus answers with a question that they cannot answer and Jesus is free from their hooks.
Then Jesus sets His own hooks with two parables – the two sons and the wicked tenants. In both cases, the Jewish leaders see themselves as, first the son who fails to do his father’s bidding and second, those wicked tenants. When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they held Him to be a prophet. (vv. 45-46)
Very simply, folks, don’t test Jesus! He is God, we are not!
Blessings.
See also: