A PRAYER TO START
Jesus invites not only belief, but to live what we believe; to experience a life in unity, freedom, intimacy and love with God our Father and one another. This is a prayer of confidence to live what we believe. A prayer confident that we can stand firm against what attempts to direct us to walk in another way. Begin your time today praying this prayer adapted from a section of the psalm 119…
Father, how I love the way of Jesus! His way is the meditation that sets my morning steps and to which my evening journey finds its rest. The way of Jesus makes me wiser than those who are against me for he is with me. With Jesus, I have more understanding than the voices shouting to me “Come this way!” or “Go that way!”; whether the voices stir from within, speak to me in the images on my phone, direct me through the authorities over me, or offer guidance through a trusted friend. With the Spirit of Jesus, I understand more than those who claim to know you only in study or in the past, for I live his way. I hold back my feet from walking evil ways, keeping to your path. How sweet is the name of Jesus upon my lips, his words and ways are like a delectable treat that I cannot get enough of! Because of Jesus, I know how to live, and how not to as well. Amen!
DIVING INTO THE DETAILS
In the closing days leading to the cross, Jesus draws near to Jerusalem in a symbolic fashion. Jesus’ final admittance into this holy city (Matthew 21:1-11) is often referenced as his “triumphal entry”, though the scenes is spectacular, if not peculiar to you and I, it is certainly not triumphant; especially considering the way Roman victors re-entered their kingdom capitals having triumphed in foreign lands. No, Jesus enters without a brigade of soldiers, and no demonstration of the spoils of conquest, nor captives to parade and humiliate. Rather, he enters on back of donkey and a colt. These less than prestigious beasts did not symbolize triumph, but they did however symbolize the presence of the King (1 Kings 1:32-40). The long awaited messiah, the king of the line of David was here!
The disciples had seen glimpses of Jesus’ kingly authority (chapters 8-9, 14:13-21, 22-33; 16:13-20; 17:1-13), as had the blind men (20:29-34), the centurion (8:5-13), and the Canaanite women (15:21-28). Now, the crowds in Jerusalem join in proclaiming, “Hosanna [literally, “salvation has come”] to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of Lord! Hosanna in the highest [let all the angels in heaven join in the song of praise for salvation is here]!” (21:9).
Upon his return, the king clears away the selfish stewards of the kingdom gates (21:12-13), overturning a system of religion that preyed upon the self-obligations. You can also call these self-submitted obligations, convictions. Convictions that we are free to have, or not, as live as sons and daughters of the kingdom (17:24-27, listen to this sermon for more background). The two-drachma tax required conversion of the market currency in order to be properly given; thus the “money-changers” were profiting off of those seeking to communion with God the Father through the exchange rate. Rather than the gates of the kingdom being accessed through seeking God in a “house of prayer”, barriers and restraints were put in place for no other reason than greed. Of course those who oversee the system do not like to have their way of life upended (21:14-17), and so they challenge the rightful claim of the returning king.
Read Matthew 21:23-46.
Most of us know that way to the Father is no longer though a set of physical gates and obligations to entering his presence; but rather, through the living Son (see John 14:6). Yet here in the flow of Matthew’s story, the recently heralded king once again proceeds through the emblematic entry to the kingdom and is immediately challenged on what authority he presumes to lead this revolution. As is his custom, Jesus responds to the challenge in a surprising way, with a challenge himself: “I will also ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.” (21:24)
The system’s leaders must have wondered in those brief seconds between Jesus’ sentences, “What question will he ask?” They must have thought themselves prepared for any confrontation or they would not have challenged him, especially having witnessed the “wonderful things that he did” (21:15). They certainly lacked no confidence in their own convictions. Yet, they were unprepared for the question that followed: “The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” (21:25). The wisest, by both cultural and religious standards of the day, were put on their heels, discussing amongst themselves how to, ironically enough, avoid the trap set by the prey they were seeking to ensnare themselves.
Their deliberated dilemma reveals their heart. As David Garland (220) notes,
“The reader is let in on the quandary of the authorities as they mull over the possible answers about John’s authority and is able to witness their basic dishonesty. They cannot say that John’s commission came from heaven because that would incriminate them for having ignored him (and his testimony about Jesus). They cannot say that his commission was not from heaven because that would imply that he was a fraud and cause them to lose more respect from the people who venerated him as a prophet. Controlled by their fear of the people…they decline to commit themselves one way or the other.” (emphasis added)
Untruthfully, they answered Jesus, “We do not know” (21:27), yet they knew they what they believed. These men of such sure conviction were exposed as ones lacking the character to stand on those convictions. Could this be because their convictions were shaking footing in the first place?
It was fear that caused them to decline to commit themselves one way or the other. Fear that kept them from honestly be exposed before Jesus. And remember, such exposure always leads to an invitation to healing. Indeed, Jesus said he would answer them if they were only honest first. Instead they allow their fear to dictate their response. Fear of the people, most certainly, and fear of being exposed before God as one’s who had rejected His salvation. They plead ignorance when in reality they were willful rejecters of the kingdom.
Some people have true doubts about God and his kingdom. Nicodemus, (John 3:1-21, 19:39) a man in a similar position to those in this story, engages with Jesus around his skepticism yet does not claim ignorance, but only confusion. We have seen others, including the disciples, misunderstand the nature of the kingdom, how it comes and how it beckons us to live; yet they do not deny that it is indeed here as Jesus’ kingly entry denotes. However, there are those who know better but refuse to commit themselves one way or the other. The parables Jesus shares following this exchange condemn the refusal to commit themselves one way or the other and foreshadow the devastating consequences of a heart hardened by rejection. Once again, David Garland (220) is helpful in summarizing the scene,
“The three parables that follow implicitly condemn [the religious leaders] for their refusal to heed [both] the call of John [and the call of Jesus to “repent for the kingdom of God is at hand, as well as,] for the violence they will [soon] do to Jesus. The parables also outline what God requires: (a) belief, repentance, and obedience (going to the vineyard); (b) rendering to God what is owed (providing the fruits of the vineyard); and (c) responding worthily to God’s grace (wearing the garment of righteousness).”
What keeps you, and those you love from committing themselves to way of faith that is fruitful? Jesus makes a statement at the end of chapter 21 that connects back to a previous, rather curious, scene; he says, “Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to people producing its fruits” (21:43). Earlier that morning Jesus cursed a fig tree that was fruitless, and said to his amazed disciples that faith without doubt would allow them to do the same and so much more (21:18-22). Faith in Jesus would allow us to be a part of amazing things, including condemning those things that are fruitless such as fear, dishonesty, pride, and the like. Do we have the faith to denounce what is unfruitful and give life to those who are producing the fruits of the kingdom?
DEVELOPING DISCERNMENT
Chapter 21 of Matthew’s gospel story brings us to a place of decision on Jesus. He enters into the scene as a returning king, though many thought him only a prophet (21:11). His kingly revolution, or reclamation, is challenged on the convictions of those opposing him; though he turns their convictions back upon them and reveals something broken that keeps them from committing to his message to turn and follow him into God’s kingdom. They miss the invitation in the exposure, will we?
Don’t skip this part. Information is of little use in quickening a transformed life if we are undiscerning people. Take the time to thoughtfully answer these questions, and maybe use them as conversation starters in Gospel Community, at work or in your home. Doing so will pay dividends in the long run!
In what ways do you tend to challenge Jesus’ revolutionary authority?
In what ways do those you know and love do the same?
What keeps you, as well as your spouse or roommate or co-worker or sibling, etc., from committing one way or the other to following Jesus? Is it fear, complacency, lack of belief, etc.? Explain.
How can you help others “changer [their] minds and believe” (21:32) Jesus' message? What unfruitful things need your cursing?
A PRAYER TO CLOSE
Sometimes we need a prayer for faith to curse what is unfruitful in our own life as well as the lives of those God has destined us to share this time and place with. Other times we need to pray in faith to curse that which keeps us and others from committing fully to the way of Jesus. Pray in faith today,
Father, I know that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. And, I know that no one comes to you except through him; there is no other way to live that leads to flourishing, wholeness, healing and peace. Because Jesus is true, I pray that the pride that keeps myself and others from confessing our need for you be suffocated and shriveled, allowing us to see clearly our fruitlessness without your provision. I pray that the apathy that keeps myself and others from seeking you be drowned with a downpour of passion because of your grace. I pray that the dishonesty that keeps myself and others from committing ourselves to your way be exposed as we see the light of your path. I pray that the fear that keeps me and others from entering into your presence would be annihilated by the love we experience as your Spirit fills us and confirms in us our place in the kingdom because of Jesus. In his name I pray, Amen.