Day 5: Tuesday - Teaching in the Temple

Dogwood Series: No. 5

Jesus entered the Temple courts, and while He was teaching,

the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him.

“By what authority are you doing these things?”

they asked, “and who gave who this authority?”

Matthew 21:3

Tuesday morning, as Jesus is teaching the people in the Temple, the religious leaders approached and demanded to know by what authority Jesus was “doing these things.”  One can only imagine all that is included in “these things’:  chasing out the moneychangers and animal sellers, healing the sick, allowing the children to sing His praises, teaching His unorthodox lessons.  Jesus was not interested in debating these men, so He met their question with a question – promising to answer theirs when they answered His.

The question appeared harmless:  John [the Baptist]’s baptism – where did it come from? Was it from heaven or was it a product of men?  Seems easy enough, don’t you think?  Au contraire!  The religious leaders had to huddle and discuss their options, for they knew they were in a Catch-22 situation.  “If we say, ‘from heaven,’ He will ask, ‘then why didn’t you believe him?’  But if we say, ‘from men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”  My, my… what to do… They opted for no answer at all:  “We don’t know.”   Jesus replied, “Then I don’t have to answer your question either.”  Checkmate.

Jesus returned to teaching the crowds, starting with two parables aimed directly at the religious leaders.  They knew He was talking about them, and wanted to arrest Him on the spot.  But they were afraid of the people, so they turned and walked away.

Parable of the Two Sons 

Story:  A father asks his sons to work in the vineyard.One son says, Yes, and doesn’t.  One son says, No, and then does. 

Question:  Which son did what the Father wanted?

Moral:  John came to show the way of righteousness.  You didn’t believe Him, but the prostitutes and sinners did.  Even then, you never repented. 

Parable of the Tenants  

Story:  A Landowner sends his servants to the tenants to collect his share of the crop.  The workers beat, stone, and kill two different sets of servants.   

Finally the landowner sends his son, and they kill him as well.  

Question:  What will the landowner do?

Moral:  The Kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to those who will produce fruit.

Jesus’ teaching on Tuesday is recorded in 

Matthew 21:28-25:46, Mark 11:27-13:37, and Luke 20:1-21:36.