May the mumbling commence!
When I was growing up, there was a popular song by John Mellencamp (Or was it John Cougar Mellencamp at the time? I can’t remember.) – a song about authority. It went something like, “I fight authority and authority always wins.”
In Matthew chapter twenty-one, there is a definite clash of authority between Jesus and the chief priests and elders. And Jesus brought up the question of authority in the case of John the Baptist. Read the confrontation from Matthew twenty-one as well as the parable that Jesus spoke after it:
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 are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this authority?"
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. John's baptism – where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?"
They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'From men' – we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
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.'
'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.
He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go.
Which of the two did what his father wanted?"
"The first," they answered.
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Verses 23-32)
The ones who would cling desperately to their authority demanded a close accounting of the authority of Jesus and John. Yes, the chief priests and the elders were attempting to hold onto something that was not theirs in the first place.
These leaders quailed beneath the teaching of John the Baptist. They did not like the change that would need to take place in their lives. Nor did they like the idea of being at the mercy of the crowds, who favored John (and Jesus). They chose instead to plot deception and destruction to keep their spot as king of the religious hill.
We don’t know - a cheap copout that, on the surface, costs them nothing. It costs them everything in God’s eternal time. The chief priests and elders missed their chance at bowing to the ultimate authority – God. They missed their chance to be cleansed.
John the Baptist came to show the way of righteousness, but the religious leadership did not believe in John. They were too caught up in their self-righteousness and inflated importance and authority. To have authority means that you have the respect of people and the blessing of God. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day had a firm hold on neither of these two elements of authority. They exercised authority by fear and intimidation.
Those that the Pharisees and elders thought to be great sinners – tax collectors and prostitutes – where entering the kingdom of God ahead of them. These “sinners” believed God’s messengers and repented. The tax collectors and prostitutes knew they needed salvation.
The Pharisees and elders denied their need for salvation. But they only give lip service to the commands of God like the second son in the parable. They say and claim that they do as God desires, but then they turn and refuse to do it.
They were fighting authority, and they were losing.
Don’t fight God’s desires and mercy and grace and love of you and all other people. Embrace it and align yourself with God – no matter what you have said and done (or not done) in the past.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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