Heaven or Human?

Heaven or Human?

Matthew 21:23 – Then Jesus went into the Temple. While he was teaching, the high priests and the elders of the people came to him and asked, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

verse 24 – Jesus answered them, “I, too, will ask you one question. If you answer it for me, I will also tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 – Where did John’s authority to baptize come from? From heaven or from humans?” They began discussing this among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 – But if we say, ‘From humans,’ we are afraid of the crowd, because everyone regards John as a prophet.”

verse 27 – So they told Jesus, “We don’t know.” He in turn told them, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

The high priests and the elders were faced with a simple multiple choice question when Jesus asked them about the authority of John the Baptist. Was it from heaven or from humans? But they chose to answer – “we don’t know” They didn’t want to face the potential rebuke of not believing John if they answered that his authority was from heaven. They also didn’t want to face the anger of the people if they answered that his authority was from men. They were scared.

Not wanting to give up on them. Jesus then gave them a parable to think about. Continuing with verse 28 – “But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 – His son replied, ‘I don’t want to,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30 – Then the father went to the other son and told him the same thing. He replied, ‘I will, sir,’ but he didn’t go.

Verse 31 – Which of the two did the father’s will?” they answered, “the first one.” Jesus told them, “I tell all of you with certainty, tax collectors and prostitutes will get into God’s kingdom ahead of you! 32 – John came to you living a righteous life, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. But even when you saw that, you didn’t change your minds at last and believe him.”

Jesus knew the hearts of the high priests and elders. He knows our hearts too! Some of us see the evidence of Jesus in the changed lives of those who have believed in Him – yet perhaps we are still afraid and are holding back from believing completely because of what might happen to our lives if we do.

Dear Jesus, some of us are afraid of what will happen to our lives if we trust You totally and completely. We want to believe! Please calm our doubts and fears and give us your peace that surpasses all understanding. We entrust our lives to your care today. Amen!