A Question for Jesus, Matthew 21:23-32

This post concerns a question for Jesus from the scribes and elders.

‘A Question for Jesus’ describes how Jesus answered when confronted with a question about authority.

While teaching on the next day after cleansing the temple, the scribes and elders demanded who had given Jesus authority. Jesus agreed to answer their question if they would answer one question for Him, Matthew 21:25. “The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from men?”

This caused a dilemma. The scribes reasoned that if they said, ‘from heaven,’ then Jesus would ask why they did not believe John. If they said, ‘from US me’ they feared upsetting people because the people considered John a prophet. So, they said they did not know. Jesus then refused to tell of His authority.

Then, He immediately told them a parable about a father telling his two sons to work in the vineyard. The first refused but later repented and went. The other agreed to go but did not go. Jesus then asked the scribes which did the will of the father. They answered the first.

Then Jesus explained the point of the parable, Matthew 21:31-32. “the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before 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 when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.”

Jesus likens the conduct of the Pharisees to that of the second son. Although they claimed righteousness, their actions showed that they were actually in rebellion and would not obey God. They had failed to believe and obey God’s will as preached by John the Baptist.

The tax collectors and sex workers believed and obeyed.

Today, we too must believe and obey God’s instructions as found in the New Testament. For example, Peter said forgiveness of sins results from believing in Jesus and being baptized, Acts 2:38. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins,”

So, what did we learn?

1.Belief, repentance, and baptism comprise salvation from sins.

2.The Pharisees did not believe and obey.

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