Today’s Podcast
Today’s Scriptures
Today’s Bible reading plans include:
Ready – Matthew 21:23-32
Set – Matthew 21-22
Go! – Matthew 20-22
Matthew 21:23-32
23 Jesus returned to the temple and began to teach. The chief priests and elders came to Him and wanted to know who had given Him permission to disturb the temple precincts and to teach His crazy notions in this most sacred of spots.
Chief Priests and Elders: Who gave You the authority to do these things?
Jesus: 24 I will answer your question if first you answer one of Mine: 25 You saw John ritually cleansing people through baptism for the redemption of their sins. Did John’s cleansing come from heaven, or was he simply washing people of his own whim?
The elders knew that this question was tricky; there was no simple answer. If they acknowledged that John’s ritual cleansing was from heaven, Jesus would ask why they had not accepted John’s authority. 26 But if they said he had dipped people simply by his own accord, they would outrage the people who believed John was a prophet.
Chief Priests and Elders: 27 We don’t know.
Jesus: Then neither will I tell you about the authority under which I am working. 28 But I will tell you a story, and you can tell Me what you make of it: There was a man who had two sons. He said to his first son,
Father: Go and work in the vineyard today.
First Son: 29 No, I will not.
But later the first son changed his mind and went. 30 Then the father went to his second son.
Father: Go and work in the vineyard today.
Second Son: Of course, Father.
But then he did not go. 31 So which of the sons did what the father wanted?
Chief Priests and Elders (answering at once): The first.
Jesus: I tell you this: the tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 John came to show you the straight path, the path to righteousness. You did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. Even as you saw the prostitutes and the tax collectors forgiven and washed clean, finding their footing on the straight path to righteousness, still you did not change your ways and believe.
Today’s Devotional
From today’s background scripture God might say:
Saying the right words doesn’t go very far with Me. A lot of people know the right words to say. They’ve practiced them a long time. They know how to fool those around them with their pious words and for a short time they act the part well. With their knowledge, they fool those around them into thinking they know Me, but they don’t. They are far from Me.
I attempted to point out the same problem with the story I told the chief priests and elders in the temple that day. Those leaders taught their disciples all the right words. They knew the rituals. They practiced the forms and recitations and could point out the smallest deviations when someone failed to perform them perfectly. It’s not the recitations that builds relationships with Me. It’s not the words you know or the rituals you practice. I want you to know Me.
Knowing Me only comes through letting Me live in you. That comes through faith. Believe in Me for salvation. Believe that I can teach you. Believe that I love you more that you can ever imagine. Then ask Me into your life. Then just talk with Me. I will talk with you through My word, through pastors and other believers, and through My Spirit speaking to you. You can know Me, not just about Me.
Then as in the story I told the chief priests and elders that day, do what I ask you to do. Don’t just say you will obey, but really obey. Don’t be like the second son who told his father he would work in the field but didn’t. Be the first son who obeyed his father and went into the field and worked. Your heavenly Father will bless you when you obey His call. He has work for you to do.
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