Matthew 21:23-32
Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.
“Notice what you notice.” It seems to me that the Jewish leaders had every right to question Jesus’ authority. After all, He had no “seminary” degree – that is, He had not been taught by one of the leading Jewish rabbis (unlike Paul). So if He were just an “anybody off the street”, He could have been leading the people into dangerous territory (think Jim Jones, “Kool Aid”, and Jonestown). However, Jesus had in fact been well-taught. He was filled with the Holy Spirit at His baptism – or even before! So He had credentials that the best of the Jewish leaders could not touch! And His responses to their challenges prove that point!
But staying with this authority topic… We have a major problem within the church worldwide – our unwillingness to hand full and final authority of our lives over to Jesus and His Holy Spirit working within us. We want control! Yeah, we acknowledge that we lack self-control in certain areas in our lives. But more importantly too many of us are unwilling to grant ultimate control over our directions and decisions to the One Who knows us best, Who created us in the womb, lives in us, and loves us completely. Not unlike the Jewish leaders, we have an authority problem. Let’s not make the same mistake they made; let’s get it right, folks!
Slava Bohu!
So true, Fred. Jesus spoke the parable about lip service obedience, rather than repentance in thought, agreeing with God, and action. Makes me think of His warning that not everyone who calls Him Lord will get to heaven. We say He is our or my Lord. But do we let him rule fully? Ouch!