15th Sunday After Pentecost
Matthew 21:23-32 (NRSV)
A parable of doing God's will
When 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?" 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.
ReflectionWhen 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?" 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.
John was called directly by God. Jesus was baptized and God spoke directly to the people about Jesus at his baptism. What more authority do we need? And if we believe, why question Jesus' authority? Only in our unbelief do we question Jesus authority.
And we all do this sometime or another. We wonder where was Jesus in this situation or another. Why wasn't he here to take action? Is he real? We have questions of faith sometime or another. But there is a difference for a believer with questions. When we question and have doubt, our doubt turns into doubt about ourselves rather than Jesus.
Jesus is quick to answer questions and doubts we may have. Quick enough that the answer may even seem harsh or evasive, but rather it is very to the point. Jesus is God and when we believe this, there will be action and work done in Jesus' name. You can't just profess to believe, if your have faith and believe you have actions that demonstrate that faith and belief. Our doubt is removed of ourselves and of Jesus. We are children of God and disciples of Jesus. Straight to the point. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, when I question you, answer quickly and straightforward that I understand quickly and have no doubt about it. Lead me this day to the actions you would have me take in love for you and others. --- Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment