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PARABLE OF TWO SONS: SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS WARNED
TUESDAY, APRIL 28
Matthew 21:23-32

Memory verse: Matthew 21:27

 

“…Neither tell I you by what

authority I do these things.”

 

PARABLE OF TWO SONS: SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS WARNED
 
The context was Jesus’ teaching in the Temple, a domain that belonged only to the priests and the elders of the people. Those religious leaders confronted Jesus and asked Him, “By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?” (Matt 21:23). Instead of answering their question directly, Jesus asked them a question, saying that if they answered Him, He would also answer their question. Jesus asked, “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” (Matt 21:25). These leaders said they could not tell because if they answered that John came from heaven, why did they not believe him? If they said he came from men, they feared the people who believed that John was a prophet. Jesus’ reply was He would not tell them by whose authority He entered and taught.
 
Jesus gave the parable of the two sons. He did not begin this parable with the phrase, “the kingdom of heaven.” This parable was a rebuke of the religious leaders. There would be no Kingdom of Heaven for these religious leaders if they did not repent of their sins and receive Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah who would die on the cross for their sins. They would not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. They thought they were the spiritual leaders of God’s people and Jesus was a trespasser of the sole authority to teach God’s truth. They did not ask Jesus with a desire to find out the truth. They asked from a self-righteous perspective, seeking only to correct others because they believed they were right and others were wrong. Jesus knew their motive behind the question. They did not come to learn but to find fault.
 
Jesus had always answered the questions of those who were sincere. Such came to find the truth because they wished to learn and obey, like Jesus’ disciples. But when they asked with ulterior motives, it was best to answer them with a question like Jesus. Their refusal to answer Jesus evidenced their insincerity.
 
THOUGHT: Do I ask questions to learn, to show off or to find fault?
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may I always be teachable when taught and have the humility to learn from everyone Thou sendeth into my life, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

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