Matthew 21:23-32. What Authority?? 28/9/08
{23) 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?" {24} 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. {25} John's baptism--where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' {26} But if we say, 'From men'--we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet." {27} So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. {28} "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.' {29} "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. {30} "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. {31} "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. {32} 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.
This reading here has a lot to say to us as Christians as we go about our daily life and our spiritual life. Again it has a very telling word that is surely very uncomfortable for many of us. It is a message that many will find very challenging and hard if they take seriously what Jesus is saying. Yet, as we heed and live in light of what is told to us here, we find that which is not only freeing but also life-giving and powerful.
The question raised here has to do with; "By what authority was Jesus doing the miracles that he was doing; and saying what he was saying: As well as addressing then the authority that lay behind John the Baptist; the leaders of the church of the day; and thereby of us also as we live out our lives. By what authority do we do what we do?
Now it is all fine for us to talk about Jesus, John the Baptist and those people mentioned here in this reading: but us here today, that is another question, isn’t it? We don’t like living under anybodies authority. We are our own authority on almost anything. We do what we think is right in our own eyes! To a certain extent we will do what we have to in order to get on in our society and workplace: But, whenever we can, we want to live by our own authority. And it is destroying us!
So we are no different than those who were questioning Jesus. You see, they too, wanted to be free to do what they thought was right in their own eyes. They did not want to submit to Jesus and to do as they were told. They wanted to be in control of their own lives and to be able to justify their own stand; even when they came to stand before those who have come from God and who stand in his stead before them. They refused to listen and obey; preferring instead to put Jesus to death; whilst being very pious and self-righteous in doing so.
Do we want to do the same thing? Might I suggest that this attitude appears to be all too prevalent today. God’s authority seems to be questioned again and again in so many ways. We seem to think that we can ignore and change what God has told us in his Word. We don’t need to take his commandments seriously. We don’t need to attend church regularly. [Look at our attendance in recent weeks and months. Is it my word and authority that you are snubbing, or is it God’s? The answer to that question could have a bearing on my Call here. Does God and his Word mean so little? Are we able to twist God’s authority in such a way that we can live and do as we please and it doesn’t matter?]
Now I could give many other examples and questions along the same line, but you surely get the message. Now all too often in response to this we are like those who faced Jesus that day: "We don't know." We shrug our shoulders and try to squirm our way around the issue. If we honestly answer the questions we know that we will catch ourselves out. We don’t want to know! We don’t want to submit! We want to play ignorant. We want to do our own thing.
Well let us listen to Jesus’ little story and the question that goes with it.
"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.' "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered.
It is all very straight forward. Those who recognise authority do as they are told; even if they don’t want to. Those who do not, do as they please. Who of us do as we are told? Hard but true!
Here then listen to what Jesus Goes on and says. "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 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.
Here is the crunch point; and the Good News that is needed for those who are willing to listen. The people who knew and know that they are in trouble; who know that they have failed; find the way, the truth and the life, that enables us to be right with God, despite our failures. Those who listen and believe know where true authority lies.
In the message of John the Baptist we find our one and only hope. “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Turn away from your self-centredness and turn back to God, for God’s kingdom in and through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross, is near. So not only do we have before us a God who created this magnificent world and all that is in it. Even after we have rebelled against him and do what is evil in his sight, he comes right into our midst, as one of us, and does what is needed for us to be forgiven and assured of eternal life with him in heaven. So we have a God in our midst who is not only so great and holy, but is also so gracious and loving. Surely this then means that we will look to him as the only real authority for our lives. Surely!
Surely we will turn to him and seek to live and do as he would want us to. Surely we will look to what God had done to and for the tax-collectors and prostitutes, for they knew they were in trouble and looked to and trusted in Jesus and his death on the cross. They repented and believed in all that he had to offer. We hear this: we see what he does for us through the waters of baptism and the bread and wine of Holy Communion; will we not long for these things and ever seek to be where he wants us to be and do what he wants us to do. Surely we will ever seek to be close to this one who has done so much for us.
As we do live under his authority and the authority of his Word and those who administer it rightly, there find that which is so freeing. As we submit to this authority we find that we are empowered to go forward the confidence and certainty. Instead of struggling to find, know and do that which is right and good for us, we find in his Word that which is truly helpful and good for us and the people around us. We know who to listen to and what to do. We don’t need to or try to justify ourselves; we simply receive what he has to give us and do what he wants us to do. We be a part of who he is and what he is about and know that blessings will result.
So as we are connected to him who has not only the authority to do great miracles, but also to forgive sins, we know that all will work out. As we live under his authority we know that we are a part of the kingdom of God. His authority is supreme; and to him ever knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. To him then be all glory and honour now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
{23) 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?" {24} 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. {25} John's baptism--where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' {26} But if we say, 'From men'--we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet." {27} So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. {28} "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.' {29} "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. {30} "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. {31} "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. {32} 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.
This reading here has a lot to say to us as Christians as we go about our daily life and our spiritual life. Again it has a very telling word that is surely very uncomfortable for many of us. It is a message that many will find very challenging and hard if they take seriously what Jesus is saying. Yet, as we heed and live in light of what is told to us here, we find that which is not only freeing but also life-giving and powerful.
The question raised here has to do with; "By what authority was Jesus doing the miracles that he was doing; and saying what he was saying: As well as addressing then the authority that lay behind John the Baptist; the leaders of the church of the day; and thereby of us also as we live out our lives. By what authority do we do what we do?
Now it is all fine for us to talk about Jesus, John the Baptist and those people mentioned here in this reading: but us here today, that is another question, isn’t it? We don’t like living under anybodies authority. We are our own authority on almost anything. We do what we think is right in our own eyes! To a certain extent we will do what we have to in order to get on in our society and workplace: But, whenever we can, we want to live by our own authority. And it is destroying us!
So we are no different than those who were questioning Jesus. You see, they too, wanted to be free to do what they thought was right in their own eyes. They did not want to submit to Jesus and to do as they were told. They wanted to be in control of their own lives and to be able to justify their own stand; even when they came to stand before those who have come from God and who stand in his stead before them. They refused to listen and obey; preferring instead to put Jesus to death; whilst being very pious and self-righteous in doing so.
Do we want to do the same thing? Might I suggest that this attitude appears to be all too prevalent today. God’s authority seems to be questioned again and again in so many ways. We seem to think that we can ignore and change what God has told us in his Word. We don’t need to take his commandments seriously. We don’t need to attend church regularly. [Look at our attendance in recent weeks and months. Is it my word and authority that you are snubbing, or is it God’s? The answer to that question could have a bearing on my Call here. Does God and his Word mean so little? Are we able to twist God’s authority in such a way that we can live and do as we please and it doesn’t matter?]
Now I could give many other examples and questions along the same line, but you surely get the message. Now all too often in response to this we are like those who faced Jesus that day: "We don't know." We shrug our shoulders and try to squirm our way around the issue. If we honestly answer the questions we know that we will catch ourselves out. We don’t want to know! We don’t want to submit! We want to play ignorant. We want to do our own thing.
Well let us listen to Jesus’ little story and the question that goes with it.
"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.' "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. "Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered.
It is all very straight forward. Those who recognise authority do as they are told; even if they don’t want to. Those who do not, do as they please. Who of us do as we are told? Hard but true!
Here then listen to what Jesus Goes on and says. "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 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.
Here is the crunch point; and the Good News that is needed for those who are willing to listen. The people who knew and know that they are in trouble; who know that they have failed; find the way, the truth and the life, that enables us to be right with God, despite our failures. Those who listen and believe know where true authority lies.
In the message of John the Baptist we find our one and only hope. “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Turn away from your self-centredness and turn back to God, for God’s kingdom in and through Jesus Christ and his death on the cross, is near. So not only do we have before us a God who created this magnificent world and all that is in it. Even after we have rebelled against him and do what is evil in his sight, he comes right into our midst, as one of us, and does what is needed for us to be forgiven and assured of eternal life with him in heaven. So we have a God in our midst who is not only so great and holy, but is also so gracious and loving. Surely this then means that we will look to him as the only real authority for our lives. Surely!
Surely we will turn to him and seek to live and do as he would want us to. Surely we will look to what God had done to and for the tax-collectors and prostitutes, for they knew they were in trouble and looked to and trusted in Jesus and his death on the cross. They repented and believed in all that he had to offer. We hear this: we see what he does for us through the waters of baptism and the bread and wine of Holy Communion; will we not long for these things and ever seek to be where he wants us to be and do what he wants us to do. Surely we will ever seek to be close to this one who has done so much for us.
As we do live under his authority and the authority of his Word and those who administer it rightly, there find that which is so freeing. As we submit to this authority we find that we are empowered to go forward the confidence and certainty. Instead of struggling to find, know and do that which is right and good for us, we find in his Word that which is truly helpful and good for us and the people around us. We know who to listen to and what to do. We don’t need to or try to justify ourselves; we simply receive what he has to give us and do what he wants us to do. We be a part of who he is and what he is about and know that blessings will result.
So as we are connected to him who has not only the authority to do great miracles, but also to forgive sins, we know that all will work out. As we live under his authority we know that we are a part of the kingdom of God. His authority is supreme; and to him ever knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. To him then be all glory and honour now and always. AMEN.
Pastor Roger Atze
Redeemer Lutheran Church
Toowoomba
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