Today, our gospel message comes to us from 21st chapter of Matthew, beginning with the 23rd verse, “A parable of doing God’s will.”
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?”
Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Matthew 21:23-32, NIV)
Dear Heavenly Father, we gather here today in Your name, eager to delve into Your Word and understand Your teachings. We acknowledge Your supreme authority, the authority by which Your Son Jesus taught, healed, and showed us the path to eternal life. We recognize, Lord, that just like the chief priests and elders, we too sometimes question Your authority, especially when Your teachings challenge our comforts and preconceived notions.
Lord, as we explore the parable of the two sons today, we ask for the wisdom to understand its meaning for our lives. Help us to not just be people who say 'yes' to You with our words, but let our actions also bear witness to our faith. Guide us to be more like the son who, despite his initial refusal, chose to obey his father.
We pray that our hearts may be open to receive Your Word, to be challenged by it, and to act upon it. May the message of today's passage inspire us to a greater and more authentic faith, where our deeds match our declarations of love and obedience to You.
Lord, fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that our understanding may be deepened, our commitment to You strengthened, and our lives become testimonies of Your transformative love.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
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?”
Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
“‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him. (Matthew 21:23-32, NIV)
Dear Heavenly Father, we gather here today in Your name, eager to delve into Your Word and understand Your teachings. We acknowledge Your supreme authority, the authority by which Your Son Jesus taught, healed, and showed us the path to eternal life. We recognize, Lord, that just like the chief priests and elders, we too sometimes question Your authority, especially when Your teachings challenge our comforts and preconceived notions.
Lord, as we explore the parable of the two sons today, we ask for the wisdom to understand its meaning for our lives. Help us to not just be people who say 'yes' to You with our words, but let our actions also bear witness to our faith. Guide us to be more like the son who, despite his initial refusal, chose to obey his father.
We pray that our hearts may be open to receive Your Word, to be challenged by it, and to act upon it. May the message of today's passage inspire us to a greater and more authentic faith, where our deeds match our declarations of love and obedience to You.
Lord, fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that our understanding may be deepened, our commitment to You strengthened, and our lives become testimonies of Your transformative love.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
“The Power of Obedience and Authentic Faith”
by Kenny Sallee, ThM
by Kenny Sallee, ThM
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today, I want to talk about authority, repentance, and the transformative power of obedience. These are all themes in the passage from the book of Matthew that we just read.
The chief priests and elders questioned Jesus about His authority. They were leaders in the religious community, respected by many, but they could not see the authority of Jesus. This is because their eyes were veiled by their own assumptions, self-interest, and a rigid interpretation of religious laws. They were the guardians of the status quo, and anyone who disrupted it was a threat, even if the disruptor was the Son of God.
When Jesus turns the tables and questions their understanding of John's baptism, they falter. They cannot answer His question without exposing their hypocrisy, and so they plead ignorance. Sometimes, a refusal to commit or decide is in itself a decision—a decision to maintain our ignorance, a decision to not recognize the voice of truth even when it's standing right in front of us.
Jesus then tells the parable of the two sons. One son initially defies his father but eventually does his will. The other son says he'll obey but then doesn't. Jesus uses this simple story to make a profound point: Obedience is more than words; it's action.
It's easy to say we believe in God and His teachings, but do our actions back up our words? The tax collectors and prostitutes mentioned in the story were often considered the lowest of the low. Yet, Jesus says they're entering the kingdom of God ahead of the self-righteous religious leaders. Why? Because they believed John, they repented, and they turned their lives around.
Brothers and sisters, don't just say you believe—show it. Don't just speak righteousness—live it. Jesus didn't come to call the self-righteous; He came to seek and to save those who are lost. That includes all of us. We all have a past. We all have said 'no' to God in many ways, but the good news—the gospel message—is that it's never too late to say 'yes'.
We don't earn God's love through obedience; rather, our obedience is a response to His overwhelming love for us. It's a love that sent Jesus to the cross, a love that forgives and transforms, a love that endows us with the very authority that the religious leaders failed to recognize in Jesus.
Today, I urge you to examine your own hearts. Are you questioning God's authority in your life? Are you saying 'yes' with your lips but 'no' with your actions? Or have you initially said 'no' but are willing to turn around?
The door to God's kingdom is open, but it requires more than mere words to enter. It requires a willing heart and obedient actions. It requires faith that transforms. The good news is that it's never too late to change.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we come before You today, humbled by Your Word and the lessons it has for us. We thank You for the wisdom that comes from the teachings of Your Son, Jesus Christ. We are grateful for the authority by which He taught, healed, and showed us the way to You.
Lord, we recognize that we often question Your authority, especially when it's inconvenient for us. We ask for Your forgiveness for the times we have said 'yes' with our lips but 'no' with our actions. Forgive us for sometimes being more like the second son who promised but did not deliver, rather than the first who eventually obeyed.
Father, as we go out into the world, help us to remember the essence of genuine faith—an active, obedient faith that goes beyond mere words. May we not just be hearers of Your Word, but doers also. Let our lives be a living testimony to Your transformative power and love.
We pray for those who are struggling to believe, who are caught in the dilemma of acknowledging Your authority. We ask that You open their hearts, just as You did for the tax collectors and prostitutes who were transformed by Your grace.
And as we reflect on the inclusivity of Your Kingdom, let us never forget that grace is available to everyone. May we never look down upon anyone as unworthy, but see them through Your eyes, as souls in need of Your love, just like we are.
Thank you, Lord, for always giving us another chance to turn around, to come back to You, and to live lives worthy of Your calling.
We pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus, our Savior.
Amen.
Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Message by Kenny Sallee, ThM.
Today, we'll delve into a profound passage from the Gospel of Matthew. In this passage, Jesus teaches us valuable lessons about authority, obedience, and the true essence of faith. These lessons are as applicable to us today as they were when Jesus first spoke them in the temple courts.
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