Matthew 21:23-46

We are studying in Matthew, the 21st chapter.  Grab your coffee, journal, and your Bible, and lets get down to it!  Before you read any further, I would like to ask you to please read through the whole passage, Matthew 21:23-46, first in your Bible or online HERE! 

Here we get to observe yet another important conversation Jesus has, this time with chief priests and the elders of the people.  These religious leaders have just seen the glorious entry Jesus made into Jerusalem; palm branches waving and praises being sung.  You know they could not just let this slide by unaddressed in some manner, right!?!  No one ever gave them such a warm welcome and they were important (in their own eyes!).

There are enemies of the truth today just as there were in Jesus' day.  These people always like to question the authority given to those who do more good than themselves.  The chief priests couldn't attack Jesus' teachings or the conduct of Him or His followers.  Why?  Because they were above reproach.  Here is the attack they used, "By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?"  They didn't really question what Jesus was doing, but who told him he could do it.

We should pray to have such wisdom as Jesus had when He answered.  He did not explain or defend His practice.  "Answer not a fool in his folly, lest you also be like Him," (Prov. 26:4) Jesus did however have an answer.  We must "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." (1 Pet.3:15)

Then, we come to the parables.  I want to ask you a few questions to ponder on about these parables.

-What response in God looking for in sinful people?
-Who is the wicked vinedresser (Husbandman, depending on translation) in the second parable?  Do you think the Jews understand what Jesus meant in the parable?
-What event was about to happen in 70 AD?  Jesus alludes to this event from time to time in His ministry.
-Which category do I fall in?  Am I one of those who repents and more and more conform myself to the will of God?  Or, am I pretending to go along with Jesus' programs, but really never followed through on it?  (This is also a good topic to discuss with your family at dinner time or family devotion time.)