Reflexion Connexion

In the previous story, there is a very clear rift between the common people, who believed John the Baptist was a prophet, and their religious leaders, who did not believe John (vv. 25-26). So who stood the best chance of being acceptable to God? The common people with all of their daily defilements, compromises, and wrong-headed ideas about theology or the chief priests and elders who practically lived in the temple and were involved in worship every day?

In the parable, Jesus tells a story of two sons. One of them said the wrong thing, but changed his mind and did the right thing. The other said the right thing, but never got around to doing it. Through the story, Jesus illustrated why tax collectors and prostitutes–that is, people whose lives said the wrong thing–were entering the kingdom of God ahead of the priests and elders, whose religious lives said the right thing. In other words, the parable reveals why the leaders would lose their way and the losers would lead the way.

Lord Jesus, You are the Giver of hope. If we have lived according to our own will while refusing to do God’s will, we can change our minds and right now You will take us to the front of the line. If we have lived pious and moralistic lives but without ever getting beyond mere words, we can hand our hearts over to You and right now You will make our spiritual life real. What matters is not what we have done or failed to do until now, but only that we surrender to Your kind heart which will empower us to be and do exactly what our Father wants.

The chief priests and elders were certain that Jesus would not have an acceptable answer to their question regarding his authority to clear out the money changers and teach in the temple. The only legitimate authority over the temple was in their hands and they had not authorized him. In fact, no one in any official office, legal or religious, in Jerusalem would have endorsed him. They were convinced that, acting on his own, he had no right to treat the temple as if it were his Father’s house.

Jesus was willing to answer their question, but he told them that they had to play fair. (Notice how, in this subtle way, even over them he exercised authority!) If they were going to raise the question of his authority, then they should be able to explain where other recognized spiritual leaders got their authority–John the Baptist, for instance. Only Jesus took the issue to a new level; one which I doubt they had anticipated.

They had been thinking of institutional authority: Which humans held religious control over the temple? Jesus, however, set human authority over against heaven’s authority, backing them into a corner. Taking the coward’s way out, they answered, “We do not know.”

O Jesus, what gives You the right to step into our lives and tell us what to do with our bodies (the temple of the Holy Spirit)? Where do You get authority over our thinking, words, or actions? From our heavenly Father who created us and determined the purpose and meaning of our lives. We surrender to Your authority, for You know what is best and demand only what is necessary. We are the clay, You are the Potter. Reveal in our lives the wonderful work of Your hands.

Jesus became hungry, he became thirsty, he became weary (Jn. 4:6; 19:28). Jesus was a human who had needs that were identical to our own.

See if you can make sense of this: Jesus would not turn a rock into bread to satisfy his hunger, but he would curse–and instantly destroy–a fig tree that failed to give him something to eat, regardless of the fact that it was not the season for figs. Why would he not instead miraculously put figs on the tree?

The fig tree is a symbol that explains everything that happens in this chapter from verses 12 to 46. It represents a fruitless religious system that had failed its purpose and calling.

Jesus went to the tree because he wanted to satisfy something within himself, a hunger, and the tree failed to do that for him. Do not waste time wondering whether Jesus was fair with the tree, but think of Jesus. He gave the tree an opportunity to serve his purpose, to meet his longing.

May we remember, O Lord, that You do not come to us like a tax collector, telling us, “You owe God! Pay up.” Instead, You come to us with a longing. You give us the opportunity to open our heart, to share with the needy, to give food to the hungry and water to those who thirst. You teach us that nothing can stand in our way, because with faith we can move mountains. Then You give us the privilege of doing the things You long to see done.

The critics of Jesus made no effort to restrain their anger and contempt. On different occasions they accused him of blasphemy, violating God’s law, and being in partnership with demons. Jesus knew what it was to be the target of others who turned their malice on him. They vented their misery on the Lord as if he were the cause of it rather than the cure.

Righteous people–religious people–and professional clergy “became indignant” when they “saw the wonderful things He had done.” Some of us find it difficult to connect with these people. We feel more like the dying thief who said, “We are receiving what we deserve . . ., but this man has done nothing wrong” (Lk. 23:41). Sadly, there are too many believers who are very like the chief priests and scribes–easily angered and quick to express it.

Jesus was not affected by their anger nor did he throw it back at them. He let himself become their target. When he spoke, it was in defense of others–people in need who came to God’s house of prayer and were being exploited, the blind and lame who came to him to be healed, and the children, who once again enter the story to show adults the way to live and behave before God.

It is the beauty of Your life, O Lord, that makes us love You and long to know You more and more. We are fascinated by the restraint You showed with those who abused You, Your willingness to put up with their cruelty, and, at the same time, Your unrelenting compassion for the sinners, the disabled, the outcasts, the children, and for us.