Matthew 21

Read Matthew 21.

This chapter in Matthew is all about authority and submission. In the first three sections, Matthew presented Jesus as an authority figure as follows:

• In verses 1-11, Jesus entered Jerusalem greeted by a cheering, worshipping crowd. Matthew explicitly ties this to Jesus’ position as king, quoting Zechariah 9:9. Thus, as the Messiah, the true Davidic king that the Jews were ostensibly waiting for, Jesus presented himself as the ruling authority figure of Israel.
• In verses 12-17, Jesus entered the temple. While there, he rid the temple of merchants and healed the sick. Again he received the worshipful shouts of people, this time from children (v. 15). This paragraph presents Jesus as the authority over worship—cleansing the temple of corrupt worship and receiving the worship of others.
• In verses 18-22, Jesus cursed the unproductive fig tree, dooming it to perpetual unproductivity. When the tree responded immediately by withering, the disciples were surprised and asked Jesus how it withered so quickly. Jesus responded with a quick lesson on prayer. The curse Jesus pronounced on the tree and its immediate withering demonstrated his authority over nature. The lesson on prayer demonstrated his authority on truth

In verse 23, as Jesus was teaching, the earthly authorities (the chief priests and “elders of the people”) confronted him and demanded to know on what authority he was “doing these things.” Jesus presented them a riddle—on which they punted—and then refused to answer their question about authority (vv. 24-27). Instead, Jesus presented two kingdom parables, both of which struck at the heart of their unbelief.

The parable of the sons (vv. 28-32) contrasts the true heirs of the kingdom (crooks and hookers) from those who presented themselves as God’s children (the religious authorities). Sinners like prostitutes and crooked tax collectors have openly rebelled against God. Their sinful lifestyle shows it to everyone. But when John came preaching the gospel, they humbled themselves, changed their minds about sin, and followed Jesus. The religious authorities of Jesus’ day said all the right things about serving God. They were masters of pious talk and, judging only by their talk, you would think they were obedient children to God. But, like the son who promised to work but did not, the religious figures were disobedient. Jesus proclaimed that the Really Bad Sinners would enter God’s kingdom ahead of the priests and elders (vv. 32).

The parable of the tenants foreshadowed the coming crucifixion of Jesus by the very religious men who were now speaking to Jesus (see v. 39). Therefore, Jesus said, “the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit” (v. 43). The religious leaders “knew he was talking about them” (v. 45), but to repent and respond would put them in the same league as the crooks and hookers who followed Jesus. Everyone saw Jesus demonstrate his authority, but only a few humbled themselves and submitted to the authority of Christ.

Unbelief today can sometimes take the form of religious people such as the Pharisees and Sadducees. It can also take the form of atheists, agnostics, and the spiritually indifferent. Regardless of the form it takes, the response to Jesus is always the same—rejection. People who reject Jesus see and hear of his lordship, but they refuse to bow to his authority. The mark of a truly spiritual person is not his or her pious talk or religious activity; it is submission to the authority of Christ in every aspect of life. When you bow down to worship Jesus truly, you also hand over to him control over everything you do. That’s what salvation is all about—a repentant heart that turns from stubborn disobedience to complete surrender to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.