“WHICH DID WHAT HIS FATHER WANTED?”

Passage: Matthew 21:23-32

Key verse: 31-32

NIV

The Authority of Jesus Questioned(A)

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(B) 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 of human origin?”

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, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”(C)

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.

The Parable of the Two Sons

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.’(D)

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, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors(E) and the prostitutes(F) are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness,(G) and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors(H) and the prostitutes(I) did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent(J) and believe him.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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ESV

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

23 (A)And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him (B)as he was teaching, and said, (C)“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, (D)from where did it come? (E)From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, (F)‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ (G)we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was (H)a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

28 (I)“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in (J)the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he (K)changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, (L)the tax collectors and (M)the prostitutes go into (N)the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you (O)in the way of righteousness, and (P)you did not believe him, but (Q)the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward (R)change your minds and believe him.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Jesus saw the temple as a place of healing, prayer, and teaching the truth of God. But to the religious leaders, the use of the temple was a matter of authority: they had it by position, tradition, and law. Who gave Jesus such authority? Jesus’ question regarding John’s baptism revealed their hearts: while so concerned about people’s opinions, they had no space to consider God’s and rejected John’s baptism. In contrast, Jesus’ authority is revealed by actions, with no need to explain.

Then Jesus gives them the first of three parables. Both of the sons were rebellious, like us. Only Jesus said he would obey (Heb 10:9) and did so (Jn 19:30). They thought the conflict was between them and Jesus regarding authority. In reality, they were competing with “tax collectors and prostitutes” regarding obedience, and they were found wanting. True authority flows from a humble, obedient heart toward our Father God. What is it that our Father God truly wants? It is revealed in John’s baptism: that we repent and believe, joyfully following Jesus on the way of righteousness. What about us?

Prayer: Father, thank you for opening the way of salvation even for rebellious people like me. Help me to obediently follow Jesus, and you may draw many sons and daughters to repentance.

One Word: The Father wants us to repent and believe