Jesus Turns the Tables

Here are some thoughts on this Sunday's gospel shared with the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.  What are your thoughts? 

Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32

²³When [Jesus] 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.
  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’; 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.”

 

“When [Jesus] entered the temple…” This was after he had cleaned house by driving out the moneychangers (21:12) making it a fit place fit for Jesus to teach.

 

What were “these things” that the Jewish leaders were referring to? Was it simply Jesus’ teaching or perhaps it had to do with the earlier raucous commotion of turning over of tables and driving out the moneychangers, or maybe it was everything combined: Jesus’ healing ministry, teaching, his procession into Jerusalem, and his upending presence.

 

The chief priests and elders were concerned about authority. “What right have you to do all these things? Who said you could?” Perhaps this reflected their insecurity since the crowds loved Jesus’ teaching because he spoke with authority, unlike the scribes and Pharisees.

 

Do you love the way Jesus turns the tables on the chief priests and elders; not answering their question as to the source of his authority; at least not in the way they expected. Instead, Jesus set a trap for them in the way they had tried to set one for him. They were afraid to honestly answer the question about John the Baptist. If they voiced their opinion, they would lose favor with the crowds. If they admitted John’s baptism was from heaven, Jesus would nail them about not believing him. They were stuck and couldn’t answer—at least not in the way they wanted.

 

So, instead of answering the authorities, Jesus tells a parable. Those of us who have children or have worked with them will easily recognize the behaviors exhibited in the parable. Yeah—been there.

 

At least here was a question the chief priests and elders could answer. It was so obvious, how could they miss it? However, it put them in their place. We too are the two sons; at times the first one and at other times the second one. We too are a mixed bag—sometimes doing God’s will, even though we may do so kicking and screaming and at other times quick to respond to God’s call, but we don’t do what we said we would. Martin Luther taught that we are all simultaneously saints and sinners. Both elements exist within us at the same time. Aren’t you grateful that God’s love, mercy, and grace extend to us; to all? Even “…the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you” (v. 31). Even Jesus’ detractors are included.

 

comic strip