The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 21:23,
"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 you this authority?'"
Here is quite the spectacle! The Son of God is teaching the people in the temple courts and here comes the religious "leaders" demanding an explanation. The people Jesus was teaching at the time were there to listen and be taught, so the only ones clueless in the scene were these "leaders".
In verse 15 we read, "But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he [Jesus] did and the children shouting in the temple courts, 'Hosanna to the Son of David,' they were indignant."
Clearly they thought authority was their own domain. However, any claim to their authority rested in the supposition they were representing the very One whom they confronted, that they challenged! From one viewpoint, we might find this quite humorous. However, from another, what a frightful position these "learned experts" in the things of God placed themselves in!
I wonder how many "religious authorities" of today will some day find they have been at odds with the very One upon whom their claimed "authority" derives from.
I am quite certain these religious leaders of Jesus' day felt threatened by him and sought to protect their authority by confronting Jesus. Good luck with that! I suspect there are a number of religious authorities today who will not entertain any perceived challenge to whatever authority they lay claim to.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"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 you this authority?'"
Here is quite the spectacle! The Son of God is teaching the people in the temple courts and here comes the religious "leaders" demanding an explanation. The people Jesus was teaching at the time were there to listen and be taught, so the only ones clueless in the scene were these "leaders".
In verse 15 we read, "But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he [Jesus] did and the children shouting in the temple courts, 'Hosanna to the Son of David,' they were indignant."
Clearly they thought authority was their own domain. However, any claim to their authority rested in the supposition they were representing the very One whom they confronted, that they challenged! From one viewpoint, we might find this quite humorous. However, from another, what a frightful position these "learned experts" in the things of God placed themselves in!
I wonder how many "religious authorities" of today will some day find they have been at odds with the very One upon whom their claimed "authority" derives from.
I am quite certain these religious leaders of Jesus' day felt threatened by him and sought to protect their authority by confronting Jesus. Good luck with that! I suspect there are a number of religious authorities today who will not entertain any perceived challenge to whatever authority they lay claim to.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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