Series A – Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost – Sunday, September 28, 2014 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough
Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough: |
Time Stamp | Transcript |
0:28 | the holy Gospel According to Saint |
0:31 | Matthew chapter 21 verses 23-32 please |
0:34 | stand |
0:36 | Jesus entered the temple courts |
0:38 | while he was teaching the chief priests |
0:41 | and the Elders of the people came to him |
0:42 | by what Authority are you doing these |
0:46 | things they asked and who gave you this |
0:49 | Authority |
0:50 | Jesus replied |
0:52 | well I will also ask you one question if |
0:55 | you answer me I will tell you by what |
0:57 | Authority I’m doing these things John’s |
0:59 | baptism where did it come from was it |
1:02 | from heaven or from Men |
1:04 | so they discussed it among themselves |
1:06 | and they said well if we say from Heaven |
1:08 | he will ask then why didn’t you believe |
1:10 | him |
1:11 | but if we say from men we’re afraid of |
1:13 | the people for they all hold that John |
1:16 | was a prophet |
1:18 | so they answered Jesus we don’t know |
1:20 | and then he said well neither will I |
1:22 | tell you by what Authority I am doing |
1:24 | these things what do you think there was |
1:27 | a man who had two sons he went to the |
1:30 | first and he said Son go and work today |
1:32 | in the vineyard I will not he answered |
1:36 | later he changed his mind and he went |
1:39 | then the father went to the other son |
1:42 | and said the same thing and he answered |
1:43 | I will sir |
1:45 | but he did not go |
1:47 | which of the two did what his father |
1:49 | wanted |
1:50 | the first they answered Jesus said to |
1:53 | them I tell you the truth the tax |
1:56 | collectors and the prostitutes they’re |
1:58 | entering the kingdom of God ahead of you |
2:00 | for John came to you to show you the way |
2:03 | of righteousness and you did not believe |
2:05 | him but the tax collectors and the |
2:07 | prostitutes did and even after you saw |
2:10 | this you did not repent and believe this |
2:14 | is the gospel of the Lord |
2:17 | praise to you o Christ in the name of |
2:20 | Jesus |
2:23 | all right sometimes the assigned gospel |
2:25 | text feels like when you’re flipping |
2:28 | channels and you find a really |
2:30 | compelling movie playing on one channel |
2:32 | but it started 40 minutes ago you ever |
2:34 | have that happen it happened yeah I’ve |
2:37 | kind of given up on TV for such a reason |
2:38 | see I like the on-demand stuff now so |
2:41 | that way I don’t have to miss anything |
2:42 | so today’s text well it’s kind of like |
2:44 | that it begins with Jesus in Jerusalem |
2:47 | entering the temple courts and beginning |
2:49 | to teach now while Jesus is teaching the |
2:52 | chief priests and the elders interrupt |
2:55 | Jesus and demand to see Jesus’s |
2:57 | credentials by asking him by what |
3:00 | Authority are you doing these things |
3:03 | yeah notice the uh the religious leaders |
3:07 | they don’t believe in Jesus |
3:09 | strange isn’t it |
3:11 | can have religious leaders who claim to |
3:14 | be worshiping the same God that Jesus is |
3:17 | and they don’t actually believe in him |
3:19 | yeah have the kids say it nowadays |
3:21 | awkward right |
3:23 | yeah they don’t know who they’re who |
3:25 | they’re dealing with here so this is a |
3:27 | straight out rank unbelief cloaked in |
3:30 | religion |
3:32 | so of course you know they’re asking for |
3:34 | Jesus as credentials and this begs the |
3:36 | question what things exactly are the |
3:40 | things that they were referring to when |
3:42 | they asked the question by what |
3:43 | Authority are you doing these things you |
3:45 | know it kind of makes a good you know |
3:47 | well what things right that’s the point |
3:49 | we’ve kind of started in the middle of |
3:51 | the story the movie’s 40 minutes in |
3:53 | right so this requires us to apply our |
3:56 | three rules for sound biblical exegesis |
3:58 | in order to understand what is going on |
4:00 | in this text so if you have your Pew |
4:02 | Bible open up to Matthew chapter 21 |
4:05 | we’re going to start at verse one we’re |
4:07 | going to get a little bit of context |
4:09 | and you’ll notice that this is a text |
4:12 | that deals with what we normally call |
4:14 | Holy Week you know okay this is Jesus’s |
4:17 | last week on Earth and it begins with |
4:19 | his triumphal entry into Jerusalem we’ll |
4:21 | pay close attention to some of the |
4:22 | details here here’s what it says so as |
4:24 | they approached Jerusalem and came to |
4:26 | Beth phage on the Mount of Olives Jesus |
4:28 | sent two disciples saying to them go to |
4:30 | the Village ahead of you and at once you |
4:32 | will find a donkey tied there with her |
4:34 | cult by her untie them bring them to me |
4:37 | if anyone says anything to you tell them |
4:40 | that the Lord needs them and he will |
4:42 | send them right away this took place to |
4:44 | fulfill what was spoken through the |
4:46 | prophet say to the daughter of Zion see |
4:47 | your king comes to you Gentle riding on |
4:50 | a donkey on a cult the full of the |
4:52 | donkey the South there’s kingly |
4:55 | Messianic things going on here and it’s |
4:57 | nice that Jesus didn’t come in on a |
4:59 | white War stallion that would have been |
5:01 | a bad sign right so that’s actually if |
5:05 | you read the book of Revelation that’s |
5:07 | kind of how he comes the second time he |
5:09 | ain’t riding a donkey he’s on a war |
5:11 | horse we continue though the disciples |
5:14 | went and did as Jesus had instructed |
5:15 | them they brought the donkey and the |
5:17 | cult placed their cloaks on them and |
5:19 | Jesus sat on them a very large crowd |
5:22 | spread their cloaks on the road while |
5:24 | others cut branches from the trees and |
5:26 | spread them on the road the crowds that |
5:28 | went ahead of him and those that |
5:29 | followed shouted Hosanna to the son of |
5:33 | David blessed is he who comes in the |
5:36 | name of the Lord hosanna in the highest |
5:39 | well this isn’t going to go over very |
5:40 | well with the religious leaders |
5:42 | there’s the crowd all these pilgrims |
5:45 | coming into Jerusalem for for the |
5:47 | Passover |
5:48 | and Jesus rather than coming in on foot |
5:51 | like all the other pilgrims he comes in |
5:53 | on a cult full of a donkey and the crowd |
5:57 | addresses him and Praises him and |
6:00 | declares him to be the son of David |
6:02 | big deal |
6:04 | big deal |
6:05 | so Jesus’s first task once he gets into |
6:09 | Jerusalem is not going to be very fun |
6:10 | for the chief priests and the elders so |
6:13 | when Jesus entered Jerusalem the whole |
6:14 | city was stirred and asked who is this |
6:16 | the crowds answered this is Jesus the |
6:19 | prophet from Nazareth and Galilee so |
6:22 | Jesus entered the temple area and drove |
6:24 | out all who were buying and selling |
6:26 | there he overturned the tables of the |
6:28 | money changers and the benches of those |
6:30 | selling doves and pay close attention to |
6:34 | what he says here he says it is written |
6:36 | he said to them my house |
6:39 | will be a House of Prayer but you’re |
6:41 | making it a den of robbers |
6:44 | Jesus enters the temple and says it’s |
6:48 | his house this is part of what’s going |
6:51 | on in the background with the chief |
6:52 | priests and the elders saying by what |
6:54 | Authority are you doing these things |
6:56 | Jesus goes into the temple as if he owns |
6:59 | the place well he does |
7:01 | he’s God right in fact the temple itself |
7:05 | was a type and Shadow that points us to |
7:08 | Jesus because the book of Hebrews makes |
7:10 | it clear that the blood of animals and |
7:13 | beasts never cleanse people from sins |
7:16 | thing that cleansed peoples from sins is |
7:18 | the Once for all sacrifice of Jesus |
7:21 | Christ and so the temple points to Jesus |
7:24 | in other words you can say that Jesus |
7:26 | the temple enters the temple |
7:29 | right it’s great stuff lots of good |
7:32 | things going on here |
7:33 | and then it says this then the Blind and |
7:36 | the lame came to him at the temple he |
7:38 | healed them so right there in the |
7:40 | presence of the chief priests and the |
7:42 | elders and the people there are people |
7:44 | who are blind who are lame and they are |
7:48 | walking |
7:50 | and they are seeing there’s Miracles |
7:52 | going on left and right right |
7:56 | but |
7:58 | you gotta love the butt oftentimes butt |
8:00 | is a verbal eraser it erases the thing |
8:02 | before it right |
8:03 | yeah that’s a big butt so but when the |
8:07 | chief priests and the teachers of the |
8:09 | law saw the wonderful things he did and |
8:11 | the children shouting in the temple area |
8:13 | Hosanna to the son of David |
8:17 | it should say and they praised God |
8:20 | it says they were indignant |
8:23 | so they took issue |
8:25 | do you hear what these children are |
8:27 | saying they asked him yes he replied |
8:31 | have you never read from the lips of |
8:33 | children and infants you have ordained |
8:35 | Praise Jesus quoting Psalm 8 applying it |
8:39 | to himself |
8:42 | he’s got a major God complex right yeah |
8:44 | that’s because he is God so that’s |
8:47 | Guinea that’s our kind of initial pass |
8:50 | as to what’s going on so by what |
8:52 | Authority are you doing these things |
8:54 | let’s fill in a little bit more data |
8:55 | we’ll keep reading |
8:57 | so after this day one Jesus left them |
9:00 | and went out to the city of Bethany |
9:02 | where he spent the night so day one in |
9:04 | Jerusalem’s finished he goes to Bethany |
9:06 | spends the night and here’s what it says |
9:08 | early in the morning as he was on his |
9:09 | way back the city to the city he was |
9:12 | hungry and seeing a fig tree by the road |
9:14 | he went up to it but found nothing on it |
9:16 | except for leaves then he said to it may |
9:18 | you never bear fruit again immediately |
9:20 | the tree withered now a lot of people go |
9:23 | what’s this all about what’s with this |
9:26 | withering fig tree thing |
9:28 | well there’s something going on here |
9:31 | there’s a theme that Matthew puts into |
9:33 | his gospel and this goes back to John |
9:35 | the Baptist I’ll explain it in a minute |
9:37 | so let’s fill out the text and then I’ll |
9:40 | take you to the John the Baptist text |
9:41 | and you’ll begin to see when you compare |
9:43 | these two you can see what’s going on |
9:44 | there’s this trees without fruit theme |
9:48 | going on here and so Jesus curses the |
9:51 | Fig Tree it’s in the sense it’s kind of |
9:53 | like a visual Parable so you have to |
9:56 | look for the in the text who are these |
9:58 | trees without fruit well it’s the |
10:00 | Pharisees that’s what’s going on Jesus |
10:02 | curses the tree without fruit but let’s |
10:05 | continue so merely the tree withered |
10:07 | when the disciples saw this they were |
10:08 | amazed how did the Fig Tree wither so |
10:10 | quickly they asked |
10:12 | because Jesus told it too that’s all |
10:15 | right that’s how that works yeah he’s |
10:17 | God so Jesus replied I tell you the |
10:19 | truth if you have faith and do not doubt |
10:21 | not only will you do what was done to |
10:23 | the Fig Tree but you can also say to |
10:24 | this mountain the mountain is the Temple |
10:26 | Mount go throw yourself into the sea and |
10:29 | it will be done if you believe you will |
10:31 | receive whatever you ask for in prayer |
10:33 | so there’s our setup okay now we’ve done |
10:37 | a quick synopsis we’re now 40 minutes |
10:39 | into the movie we know what’s going on |
10:41 | so back to the point where we picked up |
10:43 | the story where we’re flipping the |
10:44 | channels and we dropped in on the story |
10:46 | Jesus entered the temple courts while he |
10:48 | was teaching teaching while he was |
10:51 | teaching the chief priests and the |
10:52 | elders the people came to him by what |
10:54 | Authority are you doing these things |
10:55 | they asked I mean this is this would be |
10:57 | like if somebody came into Kong’s Winger |
11:00 | right now in the middle of my sermon and |
11:02 | started having a challenge you know |
11:04 | started challenging Me by what Authority |
11:06 | are you preaching Pastor Roseboro |
11:08 | yeah |
11:10 | you know because it would be that it’s |
11:12 | that kind of awkward in the middle of |
11:13 | his teaching |
11:15 | so |
11:16 | he gave and who gave you this authority |
11:19 | Jesus replied I will also ask you one |
11:21 | question if you answer me I will tell |
11:23 | you by what Authority I’m doing these |
11:25 | things John’s baptism where did it come |
11:29 | from was it from heaven or from men now |
11:33 | let me remind you what took place |
11:34 | earlier in the gospel of Matthew if you |
11:36 | want to flip back to Matthew chapter 3 |
11:39 | now you’re going to understand what the |
11:41 | Fig Tree is all about and you’ll get |
11:44 | um let’s just put it this way John the |
11:46 | Baptist |
11:47 | he needed a PR guy to kind of smooth out |
11:51 | the relationship between him and the |
11:53 | Pharisees it did he no it wasn’t a very |
11:56 | good relationship okay let me let me |
11:59 | read to you now in those days John the |
12:01 | Baptist came preaching in the wilderness |
12:03 | of Judea repent for the Kingdom of |
12:06 | Heaven is at hand right this is the one |
12:09 | right who was prophesied would be the |
12:12 | Forerunner of Christ for this is he was |
12:14 | spoken by the prophet Isaiah when he |
12:16 | said the voice of one crying in the |
12:18 | wilderness prepare the way of the Lord |
12:19 | and make his path straight now John wore |
12:22 | a garment of camel’s hair and the |
12:24 | leather belt around his waist and his |
12:26 | food was Locus and Wild Honey little |
12:29 | funny note here have you ever seen those |
12:32 | um those companies that try to you know |
12:35 | take advantage of Christians in a sense |
12:37 | by you know we’ve got have you ever seen |
12:39 | like Ezekiel bread and things like that |
12:41 | we’ve got a Biblical recipe my question |
12:44 | is why there’s no diet company out there |
12:46 | selling the John the Baptist diet |
12:50 | it’s biblical |
12:52 | I just don’t think it would go over very |
12:54 | well just had to put that in there all |
12:57 | right so he wore a garment of camel’s |
12:59 | hair a leather belt around his waist his |
13:01 | food was Locust and wild honey and then |
13:03 | Jerusalem and all Judea and all the |
13:04 | region about the Jordan were going out |
13:06 | to him and they were baptized by him in |
13:08 | the river get this confessing their sins |
13:12 | uh the preaching of repentance they’re |
13:15 | confessing their sins and we have this |
13:17 | from another text that his baptism is |
13:19 | for the Forgiveness of sins |
13:21 | cleansing now |
13:23 | Pharisees the Sadducees the elders and |
13:28 | chief priests they didn’t think |
13:29 | themselves needing to have their sins |
13:32 | forgiven especially by somebody at the |
13:34 | likes of John the Baptist right |
13:38 | so here’s what it says but when he saw |
13:41 | many of the Pharisees and Sadducees |
13:43 | coming to his baptism |
13:45 | they were coming from Jerusalem to check |
13:47 | them out headquarters sent them on an |
13:49 | exploratory mission right |
13:51 | so here’s what it says |
13:54 | you can kind of throw into this he spit |
13:56 | a grasshopper leg at them and then |
13:58 | he said |
14:00 | you brood of vipers translation you |
14:05 | whose moms are snakes this is kind of |
14:08 | how that gets translated not good PR |
14:10 | okay who warns you to flee from the |
14:14 | Wrath to come bear fruit in keeping with |
14:17 | repentance and do not presume to say to |
14:19 | yourselves we have Abraham as our Father |
14:22 | for I tell you God is able from these |
14:24 | stones to raise up children for Abraham |
14:26 | and even now the ax is laid to the root |
14:29 | of the trees every tree therefore that |
14:31 | does not bear good fruit is cut down and |
14:33 | thrown into the fire |
14:39 | wow by the way that explains why we just |
14:44 | read in the context why Jesus Withers |
14:47 | the fig tree |
14:49 | fig tree a tree not bearing any fruit he |
14:52 | Withers it why that’s the visual Parable |
14:56 | who are the trees without fruit oh it’s |
14:59 | these religious guys these religious |
15:02 | guys who who claim that they keep the |
15:05 | law but you know what they don’t believe |
15:06 | in Jesus |
15:08 | they don’t trust him they don’t think |
15:10 | they need their sins forgiven |
15:12 | they’re not about to get in the waters |
15:14 | of the Jordan with the prostitutes with |
15:17 | the tax collectors are you kidding me |
15:19 | we’re holier than that we have Abraham |
15:22 | as our father and John the Baptist sees |
15:24 | them for what they are hypocrites |
15:27 | who cover their evil with religious |
15:31 | piety and all the while it’s unbelief |
15:34 | they don’t actually believe at all |
15:37 | scary isn’t it they are trees that don’t |
15:40 | have any fruit |
15:42 | so every tree therefore that does not |
15:43 | bear good fruit is cut down and thrown |
15:45 | into the fire |
15:47 | so there you go John the Baptist |
15:50 | preaching there’s the context so Jesus |
15:52 | asked this question there’s the |
15:54 | Pharisees right he they’re not even at |
15:57 | they’re not even at Square One these are |
15:59 | the people who refuse to believe the |
16:02 | message of John the Baptist they refuse |
16:04 | to believe him that the Messiah was |
16:05 | coming that the kingdom of heaven was at |
16:07 | hand they refused to repent |
16:09 | so jesus takes him back to square one |
16:13 | okay with this little challenge question |
16:14 | all right you guys want to know by what |
16:16 | Authority well let me ask you a question |
16:17 | okay |
16:19 | John the Baptist |
16:20 | his baptism was it from God |
16:23 | or from man |
16:26 | the Bible commentator Dr Paul krutzman |
16:30 | writes it says Jesus’s question place |
16:32 | them in a dilemma |
16:34 | by what Authority John the Baptist had |
16:36 | performed the work of his ministry and |
16:38 | especially as Baptist baptizing they |
16:40 | considered the matter very carefully |
16:42 | among themselves they carefully weighed |
16:44 | a possible answer which would not |
16:47 | compromise them |
16:49 | but there was only this alternative in |
16:52 | one case they invited a censure of |
16:54 | Christ why for not believing John |
16:57 | on the other they well risked the hatred |
16:59 | of the people oh you can’t have that see |
17:01 | one of the things about religious power |
17:03 | is it’s based upon the adulation of the |
17:07 | people |
17:08 | you don’t want to upset the people oh we |
17:11 | can’t say he that was from man because |
17:13 | the people would be upset in our |
17:15 | approval ratings would plummet right |
17:19 | so |
17:23 | if John had Divine Authority for his |
17:26 | baptism Paul krutzman continues there |
17:29 | was no excuse for their opposition to |
17:31 | him none if it truly was from God |
17:33 | there’s no excuse their refusal to |
17:36 | believe there’s no excuse for it on the |
17:38 | other hand if they should dare to |
17:39 | express their belief this is what they |
17:42 | really believed that John the baptism’s |
17:44 | baptism had no Divine Authority well the |
17:46 | hatred of the people could easily have |
17:47 | made it more than unpleasant for them so |
17:51 | the religious leaders they preferred to |
17:54 | give no answer at all thereby absolving |
17:57 | Jesus from the necessity of answering |
17:59 | their question close quote |
18:03 | hmm |
18:04 | wow |
18:06 | if they had to admit that John had |
18:08 | Divine Authority how much more did the |
18:10 | teaching the miracles of Jesus that he |
18:12 | had just performed in their presence |
18:15 | gave sight to the blind healed the lame |
18:17 | in the temple day one right how much |
18:19 | more did the teaching and the Miracles |
18:21 | of Jesus argue for his being sent by God |
18:24 | himself |
18:26 | They Knew by whose authority Jesus was |
18:28 | acting who else but God can give the |
18:32 | ability to somebody who’s lame to walk |
18:35 | who else but God can give sight to the |
18:37 | blind |
18:38 | in other words their unbelief |
18:41 | the Pharisees on belief it’s rank |
18:43 | immorality it’s a Breaking of the first |
18:46 | table of the law you will have no other |
18:47 | gods before me there’s the one true God |
18:50 | in human flesh and you don’t believe |
18:53 | what’s your God then |
18:55 | your piety yourself your power your |
18:58 | money what is it |
18:59 | sure isn’t God |
19:03 | but here’s the thing unbelievers cannot |
19:05 | deny the evidence of scripture |
19:08 | and yet they don’t want to accept the |
19:10 | truth |
19:11 | so therefore unbelievers lies evasions |
19:15 | excuses |
19:17 | slander |
19:18 | these are their only weapons this is |
19:21 | what they’re reduced to that you don’t |
19:22 | want to believe the truth the only thing |
19:24 | you’ve got left is to tell lies and |
19:26 | that’s what these guys do |
19:27 | right |
19:29 | so the text continues so they discussed |
19:31 | it among themselves and said well if we |
19:32 | say it’s from Heaven he’ll ask why |
19:34 | didn’t you believe him |
19:36 | but if we say it’s for men which is what |
19:38 | they believed we’re afraid of the people |
19:40 | for thou hold that John was a prophet |
19:43 | so they answered we don’t know and they |
19:45 | said neither will I tell you by what |
19:46 | Authority I’m doing these things and |
19:48 | then comes the parable |
19:50 | what do you think there was a man who |
19:52 | had two sons he went to the first and |
19:54 | said Son go and work today in the |
19:56 | vineyard I will not he answered |
19:59 | but later he changed his mind and went |
20:01 | now notice according to Jesus’s own |
20:03 | explanation of the parable the son who |
20:05 | says I will not |
20:08 | that’s like the tax collectors |
20:11 | that’s like the prostitutes |
20:13 | I will not |
20:16 | but later changed his mind changed his |
20:18 | mind repented that’s what that means |
20:20 | later he repented and went |
20:24 | then the father went to the other son |
20:26 | and said the same thing he answered I |
20:28 | will sir |
20:29 | but he did not go which of the two did |
20:32 | what his father wanted the first they |
20:34 | answered |
20:35 | so both sons both of them they were |
20:39 | approached with the same questions same |
20:41 | words one piously said sure Dad I’ll go |
20:45 | and work |
20:47 | but in spite of his apparent eagerness |
20:49 | and politeness |
20:52 | he set aside both his father’s Authority |
20:54 | and his duty to obey as a son |
20:58 | all cloaked and sure Dad |
21:01 | the other who’s rude |
21:04 | and kind of in the father’s face |
21:07 | upon second thought he went and worked |
21:09 | for his father but this kind of begs the |
21:11 | question here because we want to make |
21:12 | this clear we’re not saved by our works |
21:15 | in the Gospel of John chapter 6 verses |
21:17 | 28 and 29 here’s what it says so then |
21:19 | they came to Jesus and said what must we |
21:21 | do to be doing the works of God what |
21:25 | must we be doing to do the works of God |
21:27 | Jesus answered this is the work of God |
21:31 | that you believe in him whom he has sent |
21:36 | it’s the work of God |
21:38 | all other works |
21:41 | serving your neighbor and piety true |
21:44 | piety they all flow from belief |
21:47 | without faith it’s impossible to please |
21:49 | God Hebrews 11 says right |
21:53 | so what’s the work of God to believe and |
21:56 | this is what Jesus is getting to the |
21:57 | point at here and this is what he’s |
21:59 | pointing to their rank unbelief this is |
22:01 | the problem of these religious leaders |
22:02 | religious leaders they don’t believe |
22:05 | it seems oxymoronic does it not you’re a |
22:08 | religious leader and you don’t believe |
22:10 | the two should not mix right |
22:15 | what must we be doing to do the works of |
22:17 | God believe in the one whom the father |
22:19 | has sent back to the text |
22:21 | so then the apparable ends this way |
22:23 | Jesus said to them I tell you the truth |
22:25 | the tax collectors |
22:27 | the prostitutes |
22:29 | they’re entering the kingdom of God |
22:30 | ahead of you |
22:32 | what a slap in the face |
22:35 | the tax collectors and the prostitutes |
22:37 | are the ones whom the Pharisees and the |
22:39 | religious leaders had thrown out of the |
22:41 | synagogue |
22:44 | and they believed they believed the |
22:47 | message of John the Baptist about the |
22:49 | coming Messiah they believed and they |
22:51 | confessed their sins |
22:53 | they believed and they were baptized |
22:57 | the Pharisees needed that Jesus’s |
22:59 | forgiveness every bit as much as any tax |
23:01 | collector or prostitute ever did |
23:04 | and they persisted in unbelief |
23:11 | so there’s the slap the tax collectors |
23:13 | and the prostitutes they’re coming into |
23:15 | the kingdom |
23:16 | ahead of you and even after you saw this |
23:19 | you did not repent and believe John the |
23:22 | Baptist |
23:23 | so by what Authority is Jesus doing |
23:26 | these things well he’s doing these |
23:28 | things by the authority of the father |
23:30 | and by the authority of the fact that |
23:31 | he’s God the son in human flesh let me |
23:34 | remind you what it says in the gospel of |
23:36 | Mark chapter 2. this is worth you know |
23:39 | kind of the first signs of what Jesus |
23:41 | really truly has the authority to do it |
23:43 | says this when he Jesus returned to |
23:46 | Capernaum after some days it was |
23:48 | reported that he was at home and many |
23:49 | were gathered together so that there was |
23:51 | no room no more room not even at his |
23:53 | door and he was preaching the word to |
23:55 | them and they came bringing to him a |
23:57 | paralytic carried by four men and when |
23:59 | they could not get near him because of |
24:01 | the crowd they removed the roof above |
24:04 | him and when they had made an opening |
24:05 | they let down the bed on which the |
24:07 | paralytic lay and when Jesus saw their |
24:10 | faith he said to the paralytic son your |
24:14 | sins are forgiven |
24:17 | some of the scribes sitting there |
24:19 | questioning in their hearts why does |
24:21 | this man speak like this he’s |
24:22 | blaspheming who can forgive sins except |
24:24 | for God alone and immediately Jesus |
24:26 | perceiving in his Spirit what they thus |
24:29 | questioned within themselves he said to |
24:30 | them why do you question these things in |
24:32 | your hearts which is easier to say to |
24:34 | the paralytic your sins are forgiven or |
24:37 | to say rise and take up your bed and |
24:38 | walk |
24:39 | but so that you may know so that you may |
24:43 | know that the son of man has Authority |
24:46 | on Earth to forgive sins he said to the |
24:50 | paralytic I say to you rise pick up your |
24:53 | bed and go home and he rose and |
24:55 | immediately picked up his bed and went |
24:57 | out before them all so that they were |
24:59 | all amazed and glorified God saying we |
25:01 | have never seen anything like this |
25:04 | that’s right Jesus has the authority to |
25:08 | forgive sins that’s what he has the |
25:10 | authority to do and remember Matthew 28 |
25:13 | the Great Commission here’s what it says |
25:15 | and when they saw him Jesus after the |
25:17 | resurrection they worshiped him but some |
25:19 | doubted Jesus said to them all authority |
25:21 | in heaven on Earth has been given to me |
25:23 | all authority |
25:25 | Jesus has it all now |
25:27 | died and rose again he has all authority |
25:30 | there isn’t a single ruler on the planet |
25:34 | in the kingdoms of men |
25:36 | that has not been signed off on by Jesus |
25:40 | all authority has been given to me |
25:43 | so go therefore and here’s what he tells |
25:46 | us to do Make Disciples of all Nations |
25:48 | baptizing baptizing what’s baptism for |
25:50 | it’s for the Forgiveness of sins the |
25:52 | Apostle Peter says in Acts chapter 2 |
25:54 | baptizing them in the name of the father |
25:56 | son of the Holy Spirit and teach teach |
25:58 | them to observe all that I have |
26:00 | commanded you |
26:01 | the whole time with you always even at |
26:03 | the End of the Age |
26:05 | so Jesus has all authority he has the |
26:07 | authority to forgive sins to absolve |
26:09 | sinners |
26:11 | he’s given me the authority to declare |
26:13 | to you that you’re forgiven and to |
26:15 | preach his word only his word only the |
26:17 | things that he’s commanded this is what |
26:19 | I have the authority to do |
26:21 | and all of this for this reason |
26:23 | that like the tax collectors and the |
26:26 | prostitutes |
26:28 | you will believe and by believing be |
26:30 | forgiven and by being forgiven have life |
26:34 | eternal |
26:35 | Jesus has the authority to give you |
26:37 | eternal life and I’m here to declare to |
26:40 | you you Christians you have it already |
26:43 | in Jesus in his name amen |
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