Matthew 21:23-32 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 21:23-32 on biblegateway.com
Verse 23When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Verse 24Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Verse 25Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' Verse 26But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." Verse 27So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Verse 28"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' Verse 29He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. Verse 30The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. Verse 31Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. Verse 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
Devotion
Jesus doesn’t let them get away with it. The chief priests and the elders came trying to make him tell them his authority came from God. Then they could accuse him of blasphemy and get rid of him, since they were the ones who decided for the community of Israel what was from God. But Jesus challenges them, “By whose authority did John baptize, God’s or his own? Tell me that and I’ll tell you where my authority comes from.” They couldn’t answer that question without putting themselves in jeopardy from the community because so many thought of John as a prophet. They chose to protect themselves, “We don’t know.” So Jesus then refused to answer their question, too.
When we’re confronted with a choice between what we know God wants, and what we want for ourselves, it’s important to remember that our own desires can get in the way of what God desires.
Prayer
God, help us to keep our own desires from standing in the way of what you want for us. Amen.