The Gospel of Matthew 21:23-32:
When Jesus 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?” Jesus 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. Did 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?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So 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. “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which 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. For 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.”
Let us Pray The Collect for this Sunday: O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Authority Matters: Authority matters when used correctly, in today’s world authority seems to mean I have the power to do what I want without consequences. It ranges all the way from the pulpit to our seats of government and everything in between. The authority given to Jesus came from God. Jessus is challenged by the chief priests and elders and they demand, “By what authority are you doing these things?” Jesus carries the very authority of God. He has all authority! That same question can be asked of all who have authority. Today as we look around there are many who use their authority for positive results. And some use the power to get what they want, and in turn they are questioned, but like the Chief priest and elders they refuse to answer. not because they do not know, but because they fear their constituents (crowd). Their silence exposes their true beliefs, and they care more about public opinion than truth and more about control than doing what is right. They care more about maintaining status than recognizing what is God’s work. Jesus shows that spiritual authority is recognized by humility, not position. Unfortunately, the spiritual authority they answer to is their own ego and their power. This passage dismantles the illusion that saying the right religious words or holding the right religious position equals faithfulness. True faithfulness is not what we say but what we do. True righteousness is not a polished exterior but a repentant heart. Jesus is saying: The kingdom is not inherited by pedigree, reputation, or religious performance. It is entered through repentance. He then tells The Parable of Two Sons; it is a simple but piercing story. A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. First son: Says “no” to his father but later repents and obeys. Second son: Says “yes” but never goes. The contrast is sharp: One is disobedient in speech but obedient in action. The other is obedient in speech but disobedient in action. Jesus then applies the parable directly. Tax collectors and prostitutes, those who initially lived far from God are entering the kingdom ahead of the religious leaders because they repented when they heard John’s message. The leaders, despite their religious “yes,” refused to change. This passage challenges every believer, especially those who have walked with God for a long time by asking: Do I honor God more with my lips than my life? Am I open to repentance, or do I assume I’m already “right”? Do I recognize God’s work even when it appears in unexpected people? Am I more concerned with being seen as righteous than actually obeying God? Jesus invites us to be like the first son—honest, humble, willing to turn when confronted with truth. Let us Pray: Redeeming Sustainer, visit your people and pour out your strength and courage upon us, that we may hurry to make you welcome not only in our concern for others, but by serving them generously and faithfully in your name. Amen.
