Matthew 21:23-27 NRSVue
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.
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Some thoughts on this scripture
Reflection
God is busy in our world, trying to get people to see clearly. Like the priests and elders, do I sometimes evade the truth of what God is trying to tell me? I ask Jesus to help me to be a truthful person. Even small lies and deceptions should have no place in my speech.
Reflection
Among the people of God, authority can be misused. Jesus used his divine authority, not to dominate, but to serve. Whatever authority I have, let me use it in loving service of those around me.
Reflection
In this exchange, Jesus might look as if he is playing a cheap trick on the
Chief priests and elders. But notice the differences between them. The Chief
priests and the elders are motivated by a desire to protect their own
position and authority, and by fear - they are afraid of the crowds. Jesus,
on the other hand, always speaks out fearlessly, regardless of how it might
jeopardise his popularity.
Reflection
Do I let fear run my life? Do I make decisions on the basis of preserving my
position and power? Can I talk to Jesus about this, and ask for the grace to
be free, as he was?
Reflection
There is a big mystery about Jesus: where he came from, why he does what he
does. Everything about him made people think, doubt, get confused or find
faith. He wants us to mull over his life, savour it, even take our doubts
seriously. Prayer is our daily insertion - personal or communal - into the
mystery of the life and the purpose of Jesus in his life on earth. In him
heaven and earth are mingled. In prayer heaven mingles with earth. Praise
God!
Reflection
The chief priests and elders will be the main opponents of Jesus during his
passion. They hope to force Jesus into a public admission that his power
comes directly from God, thus opening him up to a charge of blasphemy. The
chief priests and elders constituted the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem, with
the Temple as its symbolic centre. They worked alongside the Roman officials
and King Herod to maintain the peace and security of the city. John's
movement posed for them not only a religious threat (because it was not
centred on the Temple) but also a political threat (because it promised to
get out of hand.) Therefore they would have been slow to approve John's
baptism as coming "from heaven" (because it would harm their relations with
the Romans and Herod). On the other hand, they could hardly dismiss it in
public as a purely human invention because it was apparently so popular with
the Jews.