T Minus 5 Days and Counting: The Tuesday of Passion Week
You’ll find the events of this day in: Matthew chapters 21-25; Mark 11:27-13:37; Luke 20:1-21:38
Read Matthew 21:23-27
Some people love to be challenged. While some challenges are good, others are unwise. I once ministered to a family whose son was challenged by his friends to jump off a rock quarry cliff. The old saying goes, “If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?” This young man apparently did. His friends had successfully done it, so they dared him to. The ending was not good for him.
Usually you only respond to challenges you think may offer you a winning chance. After all, why challenge Einstein to a science contest, or Superman to weight lifting?
Jesus was repeatedly challenged by people who knew less than he, and whose motives were unrighteous. As passion week continued, Tuesday found Jesus back at the Temple. On this day he would be met with the religious leaders seeking to challenge him theologically. What they didn’t bargain on was being beaten. Matthew 21:23 tells us, “...the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and they said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus then begins to question them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things (Matthew 21:24).” This was a challenge, and it was clearly met. Jesus then goes on to challenge them for three chapters. This is one of the longest recorded conversations during passion week.
First, Jesus challenged their understanding of salvation.
This is done by two parables (stories or illustrations) that Jesus gave in Matthew 21:28-46. There are those who simply refuse to come to salvation through faith and repentance. The story of the two sons demonstrated this. One son at first refused to go work the vineyard, but eventually changed his mind. This is like so many of us who were saved. There was a time in our lives when we didn’t obey God or worship him, but then one day we obeyed. These religious leaders were like the second son in the story. No matter how often he was asked, he never obeyed. At the end of the story Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you (Matthew 21:31).”
“This is like so many of us who were saved.”
Second, Jesus challenged their understanding of God’s Mercy.
Matthew 22 records the parable of the wedding feast. The point of the parable is that God historically invited his people to, “Come to the wedding feast (Matthew 22:4).” They never came, so the master (who in this parable is obviously God) said, “Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find (Matthew 22:9).” God had sent prophets, priests, and kings to invite his people to come to the wedding, but historically Israel,”seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them (Matthew 22:6).” While others rejected the offer of salvation God was still gracious to invite any and all who would come.
Next Jesus challenged their understanding of Scripture.
These religious leaders had conflicts with the resurrection and with the most basic (and greatest) commandment. Jesus said of this, “On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:40).” He even asked them about the Christ. They couldn’t answer, “And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions (Matthew 22:46).”
Finally, Jesus challenged their understanding of self.
In Matthew chapter 23 he gives seven woes to the Scribes and Pharisees. “Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead peoples bones…(Matthew 23:27).” They believed themselves to be self-sufficient, but Christ broke them down and showed they were nothing more than people who looked good outwardly but, “...within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matthew 23:28).”
When we are confronted by Christ we are usually met in His word. What that word does is open and reveal us (see Hebrews 4:12). How do you respond when you are challenged by Jesus? He will challenge you! He loves you too much to leave you where you are. God’s goal for you is to conform you to the image of His son, Jesus Christ (see Romans 8:29). He gives you His Spirit and His word to enable you. That’s a challenge that is both difficult and doable!
Going Deeper:
There are many different parables given on this day. Since we could not cover all of them, take time to read some of them. Note the challenge they present both to the religious leaders of Jesus day, and to you today.
