Questions! Questions! Questions!
August 4, 2019
We’re continuing our look at the last week of Jesus’ life in our study of Matthew’s gospel. In our last message, we saw Jesus demonstrate His authority as He rode through the streets of Jerusalem, seated on a young donkey, receiving the adoration of the crowds. We also saw His righteous anger on display as He cleared the outer court of the Temple of money changers and sacrifice sellers who were there not to serve those who had come to worship, but to scam and steal from them.
This week, we’ll see Jesus respond to the challenges to His authority brought once more by the Pharisees and Sadducees. Time after time, they attempt to trap Him into saying something which they consider blasphemous. And time after time, Jesus responds in ways that silence His challengers.
It’s tempting for us to respond to this text with our own disdain for those who so disrespected Jesus. And yet, so often, if we’re really honest…we refuse, in our own ways, to acknowledge the authority of Jesus, the Messiah, and surrender to Him as Lord of our lives. Following Jesus requires our willing surrender every day: for us to lay down our expectations and agendas, to decide that He really is enough as we walk in obedience to the One who both created and called us.