By what authority?
“By what authority...?” – to set free and allow to grow
Trinity 14, 25th September 2011
Matthew 21. 23-32
This is a daunting moment. Jesus is in the Temple in Jerusalem. He finds himself in front of a crowd.
The setting and the timing of this Gospel passage are important. Today’s reading comes from Matthew, chapter 21. In other words very shortly before the chief priests and elders of the people discuss their scheme to seize Jesus and put him to death. (Just 5 chapters later).
It is also found in Luke and Mark, and at the same point in their narrative: ie after Jesus has entered Jerusalem and cleansed the temple.
Jesus finds himself in front of a crowd. This is high drama. Jesus is confronted by formidable figures: senior priests and other well known public figures. These are powerful people who can cause him a great deal of trouble if they so choose. Their question is more than a question. Indeed; it’s an attack. It goes like this:
By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?
Jesus’ reply is brilliant. It may be that he has prepared himself for such questions about authority.
His reply to his attackers takes the form of a question.
A question they cannot answer because the consequences are too troublesome.
Jesus asks them: Did the baptism of John come from heaven or was it of human origin?
The memory of John the Baptist is still vivid in the public mind. It needs to be handled very carefully. The thing about John was: his preaching pulled no punches. John observed no social boundaries. He was treated as a prophet by the people. This means that he is respected by many, and feared by some, because of his authenticity. He touches the nerve of truth in his hearers.
Jesus has trapped his questioners. They admit defeat by their reply: We do not know. Almost tauntingly Jesus replies:
Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
I’m sure Jesus knew what he was doing by replying as he did. He knew that the manner of his reply would not reduce the danger he was in.
Rather it would increase, the threat he was under.
He survives this particular clash. In fact he does not leave it there. He chooses to press home his advantage with a short story.
A story which is a direct attack on his questioners.
Jesus speaks of a father with two sons. The father gives an order. The first son refuses, but later does what his father has ordered. The second son is all co-operation and willingness, but never does what his father orders.
The men confronting Jesus represent the public life of Israel. These men enjoy the privileges of the state religion, but they do not always practice its principles.
The society at whole is like the second son – professing loyalty, duty, faithfulness, and obedience, but not living accordingly.
By contrast, the outcasts of society, such as the prostitutes and tax gatherers, seem to have said: “No to God”. And though they suffer the contempt of society, they live with decency and kindness. They, Jesus says are like the first son – not professing holiness, but living according to the will of God. Jesus leaves no doubt as to whom he admires and identifies with.
The attackers begin to turn away. They have lost their skirmish, but Jesus knows that he has made many enemies.
What are we to make of this gospel today?
First, the obvious warning about: what we say and what we do.
The parable reminds us to be careful not to be like the second son, who is all co-operation and willingness, but dosen’t do what he’s asked to do. Put another way: it’s always better to say NO to a request and later discover, we can, and want to, say: Yes;
than to say YES too quickly and then let people down.
Secondly, we are reminded of something about the word: Authority. The question to Jesus is:
By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?
The word authority is often associated with power and control, and influence. We say: “The powers that be”. And it’s a small step from this to the word: Authoritarian, which carries so many implications.
The chief priests and elders of the people are seriously wobbled by John the Baptist, and then by Jesus, because they speak with authority. What John and Jesus have been saying and doing has authority because it is authentic, because it makes sense, because it rings true. Those who hear what the prophet John and then Jesus say are responding to an authority that feels very different from the rules and regulations, that often characterised the Judaism they knew.
In the greek language of the first century AD which was used to record the gospels, the word for authority means: to set free.
In latin the word for authority means: to allow to grow.
With these understandings in our minds surely we are getting to the heart of the matter. The people who hung on Jesus’ words did so because, what he said and the way he said it, spoke right into their lives and deep into their hearts.
Similarly for us the words and teachings of the Lord Jesus carry authority when we feel them: setting us free and allowing us to grow. That’s what it’s all about: freedom and growth. Freedom from all that holds us back; and growth into all that is energising. Into all carries the hallmarks of goodness, beauty and truth.
I’ve heard a lot of troubling things about people’s lives this week. I’m very conscious that there’s a lot going on for individuals and familes, and in the world around us that is very challenging.
I’m thinking for example of: financial insecurity; redundancy; strained family relationships; and medical tests.
Christians are called to love and care for one another and that is one of the greatest strengths of a local church. Let’s keep our loving and our caring at full strength.
As we reach into a new week may our YES to Jesus be a real deep, from the heart: YES: in matters small and great.