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SCRIPTURE: Matthew 21:23-32
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CONCISE EXEGESIS:
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You can access the following sermons on this text FREE:
• "Trick Questions," by Pastor Steven Molin
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• "The Strange Parade," by the Rev. Charles Hoffacker
CHAPTER 21: THE CONTEXT
The earlier part of this chapter tells of Jesus' triumphal march into Jerusalem (vv. 1-11) and his cleansing of the temple (vv. 12-13). The cleansing of the temple precipitates the confrontation between Jesus and the chief priests and elders in our Gospel lesson.
VERSES 23-27: BY WHAT AUTHORITY?
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?" 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. 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?' 26But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." 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.
"When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching" (v. 23a). We will see these two groups linked again when they seek to have Jesus killed (26:3, 47; 27:1, 3, 12, 20).
"By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" (v. 23b). This is "an appropriate question by those responsible for the faith, morals, and institutional life of Judaism" (Craddock, 456). "These things" most likely refers to the cleansing of the temple and Jesus' teaching.
"According to rabbinical ideas, the authority to teach and make binding decisions was conferred by the semikkah or laying on of hands, by which a man was ordained a rabbi. The (chief priest's) question implies that Jesus does not belong to the rabbis or accredited teachers" (Johnson, 508).
The question of authority is important through Matthew's Gospel (7:29; 8:8; 9:8; 10:1; 16:19; 18:18; 28:18).
But Jesus responds to their question with another question, "Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" (v. 25a). Jesus' question implies that his authority is from the same source as John's.
Responding with a question might seem evasive, but Jesus makes this daring promise: "If you will tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things" (v. 24). Instead of ducking their question, he steps onto the high wire, daring them to follow.
"And they argued with one another, 'If we say, "From heaven," he will say to us, "Why then did you not believe him?" But if we say, "Of human origin," we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet'" (vv. 25b-26). Jesus' question places the chief priests and elders in a dilemma. If they say that John's baptism was from heaven, they are faced with John's witness to Jesus (3:3, 11-14) and their own failure to respond to John's preaching. If, on the other hand, they say that John's baptism was not from heaven, they fear that the crowd, which believes in John, will turn on them.
"So they answered Jesus, 'We do not know'" (v. 27a). It is a weak answer from those responsible for the nation's religious life. By refusing to answer, they compromise their own authority.
"Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things" (v. 27b). When the chief priests and elders refuse to answer Jesus' question, he refuses to answer theirs, thus rejecting their authority to examine him. Jesus follows his refusal with three or four parables, depending on how you count 22:1-14 (21:28-32; 21:33-43; 22:1-10; 22:11-14).
Each of these is a judgment parable, and teaches us the importance of obedience to salvation, a key Matthean emphasis.
VERSES 28-32: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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.' 29He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. 30The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir (Greek: kyrie –– Lord or sir)'; but he did not go. 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. 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.
Jesus asks a second question, "What do you think?" (v. 28a). The religious leaders dodged the question about John's authority, but they cannot dodge this story, the point of which is obvious. When they fail to answer, the story and their failed response condemn them.
"What do you think? A man had two sons" (v. 28a). This parable, found only in Matthew, outlines two responses to God's call. The first son says, "I will not" (v. 29a), but changes his mind and does what is needed. The second son says, "I go, sir" (v. 30), but does not go. Both sons are guilty of violating the commandment, "Honor your father and mother" (Exodus 20:12). Which son sinned most grievously?
Verses 31-32 make it clear that the tax collectors and prostitutes are the first son, and the chief priests and elders are the second son.
Obedience is a problem for God's people in every time and place. "How easily 'church work' degenerates into little more than simply maintaining the institution" (Hare 248). The faithful are always in danger of becoming complacent –– but the Good News is that sinners are always candidates for repentance and salvation.
"Truly I tell you" (v. 31c) signals the importance of that which follows. "The tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you" (v. 31d). Tax collectors and prostitutes are code words for sinners. The Good News is not that God will ignore sinners' sinful ways, but that they, knowing their sins, are candidates for repentance and salvation. The religious elite, thinking themselves holy, find it nearly impossible to face the reality of their own sin.
"For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him" (v. 32a). "In the way of righteousness" is a Semitic expression similar to "right paths" or "paths of righteousness" (Psalm 23:3, NRSV and KJV respectively).
"and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him" (v. 32b). "Jesus further contrasts the Jewish leadership with the first, initially disobedient son by noting that unlike him they did not 'change their minds afterwards'...and respond appropriately by believing him" (Hagner).
We would do well not to emulate either son, but rather to be obedient in both word and deed!
–– Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used by permission
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Allison, Dale C. in Van Harn, Roger (ed.), The Lectionary Commentary: Theological Exegesis for Sunday's Text. The Third Readings: The Gospels (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001)
Barclay, William, Gospel of Matthew, Vol. 2 (Edinburgh: The Saint Andrew Press, 1957)
Bergant, Dianne with Fragomeni, Richard, Preaching the New Lectionary, Year A (Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 2001)
Blomberg , Craig L., New American Commentary: Matthew, Vol. 22 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992)
Boring, M. Eugene, The New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. VIII (Nashville: Abingdon, 1995)
Brueggemann, Walter; Cousar, Charles B.; Gaventa, Beverly R.; and Newsome, James D., Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSV –– Year A (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1995)
Bruner, Frederick Dale, Matthew: Volume 2, The Churchbook, Matthew 13-28 (Dallas: Word, 1990)
Craddock, Fred B.; Hayes, John H.; Holladay, Carl R.; Tucker, Gene M., Preaching Through the Christian Year, A (Valley Forge: Trinity Press International, 1992)
Gardner, Richard B., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Matthew (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 1990)
Hagner, Donald A., Word Biblical Commentary: Matthew 14-28, Vol. 33b (Dallas: Word, 1995)
Hare, Douglas R. A., Interpretation: Matthew (Louisville: John Knox Press, 1993)
Johnson, Sherman E. and Buttrick, George A., The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 7 (Nashville: Abingdon, 1951)
Keener, Craig S., The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Matthew, (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1997)
Long, Thomas G., Westminster Bible Companion: Matthew (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997)
Morris, Leon, The Gospel According to Matthew (Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1992)
Senior, Donald, Abingdon New Testament Commentaries: Matthew (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998)
Soards, Marion; Dozeman, Thomas; McCabe, Kendall, Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year A (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1993)
Thayer, Joseph Henry, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (NY: American Book Company, 1889)
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