Matthew 21:23-32 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 21:23-32 on biblegateway.com
Verse 23When 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?" Verse 24Jesus 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. Verse 25Did 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?' Verse 26But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." Verse 27So 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.
Verse 28"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' Verse 29He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. Verse 30The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. Verse 31Which 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. Verse 32For 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.
Devotion
It is no big secret that questions can be deceptive and powerful. Sometimes we ask questions because we are genuinely interested in learning and growing from the answers. Sometimes we ask questions as a way of demeaning or distancing someone or thwarting change.
In the gospel reading, it seems clear that the chief priests' and elders' questions are intended to keep Jesus at a distance. When they challenge Jesus' authority and John the Baptist’s ministry, they challenge the possibility that this Jesus God could really be at work in their world to do a new thing. In the end, their questions are effective. Jesus is silenced and distanced from them, and they fail to experience the transforming power of God at work in their lives.
Prayer
O God, overcome our defenses by which we build walls of suspicion and doubt that seek to keep at a distance the transforming power of your love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.