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The Trap that the Chief Priests Laid Before Jesus

Text: Matthew 21 : 23 - 46

The chief priests and elders must have felt that they had laid a neat and deadly snare. If Jesus had said that his authority was from God, they could challenge that statement and tie Him up in endless debate. If He said otherwise, He would discredit Himself.

Little did they expect that Jesus would use the same line of argument to entrap them. Jesus displayed an uncanny comprehension of how their minds worked, and how they reasoned! Their trap had been spotted and sprung! Their intended prey was free!

CAUGHT IN THEIR OWN SNARE

The chief priests and elders were now caught in a trap that they could not get out off easily. Jesus had raised a question publicly. They had to give a reply in public too! They did not expect Jesus to raise up a contemporary public figure like John the Baptiser for debate purposes. His life was just too new, too contemporary for deep comments. Their religious thinkers had not yet made up their minds concerning him. They did not have “traditions” to fall back on! There were only three options the chief priests and elders had.

1. Authority of Heaven

The first option was to declare that John’s authority was from heaven, that is from God Himself. That line of reasoning would entrap them completely. Jesus could well insist that since they recognized John’s authority was from heaven, then they must also listen to what John said. Two things may be highlighted for our discussion here.

a) The preaching of Repentance

John had preached the theme of repentance vigorously. He had assailed the religious leaders mercilessly. He had even labeled them as “a brood of vipers” (Matthew 3:7). The Pharisees and Sadducees gave John a wide berth!

b) The proclamation of the Messiah

Jesus could point to either aspect or both, and they would be trapped. The fact was that the chief priests and elders paid scant attention to what John preached.

2. Authority from Men

The alternative was to declare that John’s authority was from men. If they took this route, they knew that they would face the wrath of the multitudes. John was popular with the multitudes. All honoured him as a special prophet from God. To speak against John and to dismiss his preaching ministry would be to court disaster!

3. To plead “No comments”

The only way out was to plead “no comments”. However, this would not prove to be of much help at all.

a) Their wisdom as religious experts would be questioned

They were supposed to be the religious experts in the land. How could they not know how to interpret the significance of the life and ministry of John? How could they not even be able to tell whether John was sent from God, or whether he preached without divine approval and authority!

b) They would have to forego their right to question Jesus

If they could not interpret the straightforward preaching ministry of John, how could they comment on the life and ministry of Jesus?

i) How would they interpret the many mighty miracles He performed?

ii) would they interpret His deep teachings?

iii) would they interpret His actions?

The chief priests and scribes thus disqualified themselves and their right to demand an answer from Jesus concerning His authority!

THE PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS

Jesus however was not done yet! He went on to speak a special parable directed towards the chief priests and elders.

“But what do you think? A man had two sons,
and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today,
in my vineyard.’
He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it
and went.
Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered
and said, ‘I go, sir,’ (literally, ‘lord’) but he did not go.
Which of the two did the will of his father? They said to Him,
‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that
tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God
before you.'”
MATTHEW 21:28-31

1. Determined to engage the audience (including the chief priests)

Since everybody was listening to the dialogue between Jesus and the chief priests, their attention was secured. Jesus sought to apply that attention to good use.

2. Words versus Action

There was a son who was reluctant and willful. However, he regretted and then finally did the will of his father. There was the other son who showed every promise to be a good lad, but he proved to be an unworthy son!

The parable must have been obvious to all! The chief priests and elders were like the second son. They were full of good words. Their lives yielded no fruit of righteousness. What Jesus said “Tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you” must have stung the chief priests and elders deeply.