Matthew 21:18-46 The Authority of Jesus Christ
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Intro:
Intro:
I was sitting in a coffee house studying this week and there was a large family next to me that had at least four generations at the table
The oldest was the grandfather who spent most of the time acting like he understood what his great grandchildren were saying
The next were the grandparents, who were obviously the Matriarch and Patriarch
There were three grown children with their spouses
Finally a couple a grandchildren who were not sitting next to their parents
When it came time to eat the grandchildren didn’t want to eat their main food, they wanted the sweets
When the parents attempted to get them to eat their food the grandparents intervened
Leave them alone. They are fine. Let them eat what they want
One parent told their child to put the sweet down until they ate their food
The grandma shot her daughter a look and the siblings erupted in laughing
The daughter replied “Who are you? You would’ve never let us do that.”
The grandma replied “I don’t have to worry about taking them home now.”
You can have authority that comes with a position
Then you can have authority that comes with experience
Read Matthew 21:18-22
Read Matthew 21:18-22
Transition:
Jesus has cleansed the temple and now the scribes are challenging Jesus’s authority
Instead of arguing with them He asks them questions and shares two parables
Both of the parables are about people who are doing what they should be doing even though they know better
Jesus is obviously doing the will of God by ministering to the poor and healing the sick
This only illuminates the scribes shortcomings and triggers their insecurities
When you are working in the power of the Holy Spirit you will do the same to other supposed Christians
They may react the same way as the Pharisees
I. Cursing the Tree vs. 18-22
I. Cursing the Tree vs. 18-22
Jesus shows his authority by dealing with a fruitless fig tree
This is actually a two-part story
On the way in to cleanse the temple Jesus was hungry
When he discovers a fig tree that should’ve have fruit and doesn’t, he curses it
Jesus then uses it to teach several lessons
First, he has authority over nature
First, he has authority over nature
That is going to be necessary for the disciples as he in confronted Scribes
Sometimes when confronted people lose their courage and heed to leaders even when wrong
Seeing Jesus deal with a tree and have it shrivel gave them resolve
Second, Jesus used as an illustration of the fruitless leaders
Second, Jesus used as an illustration of the fruitless leaders
In this acted-out-parable, Jesus warned of coming judgment upon an unfruitful Israel.
It showed God’s disapproval of people who are all leaves and no fruit.
“The story is clear and simple, and its point obvious, that what counts is not promise but performance.”
so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Third, It was an opportunity to encourage their faith
Third, It was an opportunity to encourage their faith
How did the fig tree wither away so soon?
Jesus explained that this miracle was really the result of a prayer made in faith
(if you have faith and do not doubt).
He then encouraged His marveling disciples to also have this kind of faith, trusting that God would hear them also.
This promise of God’s answer to the prayer of faith was made to disciples, not to the multitude.
This is a promise to those who are following Jesus.
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
II. By What Authority? vs. 23-32
II. By What Authority? vs. 23-32
Jesus shows his authority by dealing with the authorities
Exposing Their Motives vs. 23-27
Exposing Their Motives vs. 23-27
When we think of the extraordinary things Jesus had been doing we cannot be surprised that the Jewish authorities asked him what right he had to do them.”
The religious leaders raised the question of Jesus’ authority, and He answered by raising the question of their competence to judge such an issue.
Their ability to judge John the Baptist and his ministry was a measure of their ability to judge Jesus as well
They answered only after carefully calculating the political consequences of either answer.
They didn’t seem interested in answering the question honestly, only cleverly.
This showed they were more interested in the opinions of the multitude rather than the will of God, so Jesus didn’t answer their question to Him.
Rejecting the Way Vs 28-32
Rejecting the Way Vs 28-32
This parable shows us two different kinds of sons.
They were in the same house, and we could say that the father had a right to the services of both his sons.
Perhaps they wished that the father would just leave them alone, but he did not.
It was good and right for the father to expect that the sons would work for him.
By general Biblical principle, we can say that it is not our duty to separate them except through exhortation and appeal to conscience.
Their sure separation must await the end of the age; until then, the tares and the wheat grow together.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them.
Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
III. Authority from Above vs. 33-46
III. Authority from Above vs. 33-46
Jesus shows his authority comes from His Father
Rejecting the Son vs. 33-41
Rejecting the Son vs. 33-41
Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,
Cornerstone Rejected vs. 42-46
Cornerstone Rejected vs. 42-46
therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’