Sunday December 14th: You born for dis!
December 14, 2025
Tuesday December 16th: A time for action
December 16, 2025
“What authority have you for acting like this?”
Matthew 21:23-27
In this passage, the religious leaders were angered with Jesus for destroying an age-old tradition of buying and selling in the Temple. Clearly, they did not understand Jesus’ action and therefore demanded he reveal the source of his authority.
To expose their hypocrisy, Jesus then challenged them to state what they believed about the authority of John the Baptist. Obviously, they did not believe John’s authority was from God; otherwise, they would have believed in him. However, if they said John acted on his own authority, they would have to face the wrath of the people who believed John was a prophet. Saying “we do not know” displayed their hypocrisy and cowardice by not admitting what they truly believed, preferring to bow to public opinion rather than seek the truth. Jesus then was under no obligation to answer their question about the source of his authority.
Lord, give us the courage to be like you, not afraid to expose hypocrisy in ourselves and others, wherever we may find it. Amen.
