The Confrontation Between Divine And Human Authority.

THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN DIVINE AND HUMAN AUTHORITY.

Matthew 21:23-27.

This conversation follows hard on the heels of Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple (cf. Matthew 21:12), and the symbolic withering of the fig tree (cf. Matthew 21:18-20). “Who gave you the right to do such things?” demanded the Temple authorities, and the leaders of the people (MATTHEW 21:23). Effectively, ‘Who do you think you are?’

Jesus answered their question with a question (MATTHEW 21:24), a sound teaching device used by the Rabbis. He could have said, ‘Ask Peter, he knows’ - but such things are only revealed by ‘My Father which is in heaven’ (cf. Matthew 16:16-17). But to ask about the authority of John the Baptist put the ball firmly back into the court of His questioners (MATTHEW 21:25).

The real question, after all, is who do we think Jesus is? (cf. Matthew 16:15). And, more importantly, who is He to us? On the answer to that question hinges our whole salvation, informing both our understanding and our lifestyle.

John had said, ‘Repent you all: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (cf. Matthew 3:2). Asked who he was, John answered that he was the one sent to prepare the way of the Lord (cf. John 1:23). Pointing to Jesus he declared, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’ (cf. John 1:29).

The people understood this (MATTHEW 21:26), yet the priests and religious leaders chose not to (MATTHEW 21:25). Their ‘politically correct’ refusal to answer Jesus stripped them of their own supposed authority, and He refused to answer them while they were in that state of mind (MATTHEW 21:27). A very sad state of affairs indeed.