Reflections on Scripture with Dr. Leins
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:00 | the darkness |
| 0:07 | [Music] |
| 0:12 | hello today |
| 0:14 | let’s talk about the right question |
| 0:18 | the scripture before us is the 21st |
| 0:21 | chapter of Matthew’s gospel verses 23 |
| 0:23 | through 32. |
| 0:26 | Jesus has just made his triumphal entry |
| 0:28 | into the city of Jerusalem he’s caused |
| 0:30 | quite a stir riding a donkey fulfilling |
| 0:33 | prophecy and being surrounded by |
| 0:35 | multitudes of people crying Hosanna that |
| 0:38 | is save us Lord and blessed is he who |
| 0:42 | comes in the name of the Lord |
| 0:44 | the Jewish authorities were surely |
| 0:46 | threatened by the rabbi from Nazareth |
| 0:48 | who had skyrocketed to the height of |
| 0:51 | popularity and public acclaim |
| 0:53 | then Jesus entered the temple and |
| 0:56 | overturned the tables of the money |
| 0:57 | changers and the seats of those selling |
| 1:01 | animals for sacrifice |
| 1:03 | what had appeared to be a threat became |
| 1:05 | a direct attack and it seemed that Jesus |
| 1:09 | was not only opposing religious |
| 1:11 | authorities but perhaps the entire |
| 1:13 | Temple system |
| 1:16 | point one the question of authority |
| 1:19 | it was no surprise then that Chief |
| 1:22 | priests and Elders came to Jesus and |
| 1:24 | confronted him with a question |
| 1:27 | by what Authority are you doing these |
| 1:29 | things and who gave you this Authority |
| 1:32 | ah |
| 1:34 | they asked the question of authority |
| 1:38 | Jesus could have said |
| 1:41 | what he told the high priest when he was |
| 1:43 | asked if he was the Christ the son of |
| 1:45 | God |
| 1:46 | then Jesus said I am and you shall see |
| 1:51 | the son of man sitting at the right hand |
| 1:52 | of power and coming with the Clouds Of |
| 1:55 | Heaven |
| 1:56 | or Jesus could have answered what he |
| 2:00 | told his disciples before his Ascension |
| 2:04 | all authority in heaven and on Earth has |
| 2:06 | been given unto me |
| 2:09 | but the problem was not what Jesus said |
| 2:13 | about his authority anyone could claim |
| 2:16 | to be the Christ the son of God anyone |
| 2:19 | could claim to have all authority in |
| 2:21 | heaven and on Earth |
| 2:22 | frankly anyone also can be discounted as |
| 2:26 | delusional and just plain crazy the |
| 2:29 | problem was not what Jesus said |
| 2:32 | the problem was |
| 2:33 | what Jesus did and what Jesus was it was |
| 2:38 | becoming more and more clear that Jesus |
| 2:40 | was the Christ the son of God and that |
| 2:44 | he did have all authority in heaven and |
| 2:47 | on Earth |
| 2:49 | but for now |
| 2:51 | Jesus would not answer the chief |
| 2:53 | priest’s question |
| 2:55 | instead Jesus turned the table on the |
| 2:58 | chief priests by asking them a question |
| 3:01 | the baptism of John was from what source |
| 3:04 | from heaven or from Men |
| 3:08 | Jesus asked in effect what was the |
| 3:10 | source of John’s Authority |
| 3:13 | if they said John was of Heaven Jesus |
| 3:16 | could accuse them of not following |
| 3:17 | Heaven’s Authority |
| 3:19 | if they said John’s Authority was from |
| 3:21 | men well then the people would reject |
| 3:23 | them as false teachers so |
| 3:26 | the chief priests were caught |
| 3:32 | they refused to answer |
| 3:34 | Jesus said that if they would not answer |
| 3:37 | his question he would not answer theirs |
| 3:38 | so the question of authority remained |
| 3:42 | unanswered |
| 3:45 | 0.2 the question of obedience |
| 3:49 | the chief priests had thought to hold |
| 3:51 | Jesus accountable |
| 3:53 | they immediately learned that to stand |
| 3:55 | before Jesus was to be held accountable |
| 3:57 | themselves |
| 3:59 | Jesus told them a parable of two sons |
| 4:02 | it posed the question of obedience |
| 4:06 | a man had two sons and asked them to |
| 4:09 | work in the vineyard |
| 4:10 | one son said he would go but he did not |
| 4:14 | the other son said he would not go but |
| 4:18 | later he did |
| 4:20 | Jesus asked which did the will of the |
| 4:23 | father hmm so one son said yes but did |
| 4:27 | no the other son said no but did yes |
| 4:31 | which one did the will of the father |
| 4:33 | well one might think neither one really |
| 4:36 | but the priests said that the son who |
| 4:40 | later did the father’s will was obedient |
| 4:43 | the implication was that they thought |
| 4:45 | themselves obedient because they did the |
| 4:47 | father’s will |
| 4:49 | Jesus responded that the tax collectors |
| 4:51 | and harlots would get into heaven before |
| 4:53 | those priests |
| 4:55 | why |
| 4:57 | because the tax collectors and harlots |
| 4:59 | said no to God |
| 5:01 | but when John came they repented and did |
| 5:04 | yes the priests on the other hand |
| 5:07 | claimed to say yes to God and claimed to |
| 5:10 | be a deal to be obedient |
| 5:13 | but they actually did neither when John |
| 5:16 | came they had said no to John |
| 5:18 | and when John demonstrated that he was |
| 5:20 | from God the priest still did not repent |
| 5:25 | they said and did no to the word of God |
| 5:30 | the truth was that they were disobedient |
| 5:33 | Sons this was a hard Truth for the chief |
| 5:36 | priest to hear they counted upon their |
| 5:38 | Works righteousness their own obedience |
| 5:41 | to the word of God it was the |
| 5:43 | justification for their Authority they |
| 5:46 | had earned their seats in Jerusalem and |
| 5:48 | they thought they had earned their seats |
| 5:50 | in heaven because of their obedience but |
| 5:53 | Jesus was showing them that they were |
| 5:55 | not obedient |
| 5:57 | the Bible says that whoever is guilty of |
| 6:00 | breaking one commandment is guilty of |
| 6:02 | breaking them all |
| 6:03 | Jesus had just shown them that they had |
| 6:06 | broken God’s word |
| 6:08 | in fact not only were the elders and |
| 6:11 | chief priests not obedient to the law of |
| 6:14 | God no one is obedient to the law of God |
| 6:17 | no not one as scripture declares none is |
| 6:22 | righteous no not one Psalm 53 and Romans |
| 6:26 | 3 |
| 6:28 | so the claim that the chief priests made |
| 6:31 | that they were obedient to the law of |
| 6:33 | God and that they were therefore |
| 6:35 | righteous |
| 6:36 | was a false claim |
| 6:39 | now to review |
| 6:42 | the first question about Authority was |
| 6:44 | left unanswered the second question |
| 6:47 | about obedience was answered with a |
| 6:50 | false claim |
| 6:52 | Jesus was about to give his hearers the |
| 6:55 | third question |
| 6:57 | point three |
| 6:59 | the question of righteousness |
| 7:03 | listen closely to the teaching that |
| 7:06 | Jesus gave to the chief priests and the |
| 7:08 | elders to conclude this section |
| 7:11 | it’s found in Matthew |
| 7:13 | chapter 21 |
| 7:16 | verse 32. |
| 7:18 | Jesus said for John came to you in the |
| 7:22 | way of righteousness |
| 7:23 | and you did not believe him but the tax |
| 7:26 | gatherers and harlots did believe him |
| 7:28 | and you seeing this did not even feel |
| 7:32 | remorse afterward so as to believe him |
| 7:39 | Jesus said John came to you in the way |
| 7:42 | of righteousness righteousness is a |
| 7:45 | theme found throughout the Holy Bible |
| 7:47 | and when you hear or read the word |
| 7:49 | righteousness it should be like a fire |
| 7:52 | alarm going off in your spirit |
| 7:54 | righteousness is of extreme importance |
| 7:56 | to God and of extreme importance to our |
| 7:59 | lord Jesus even from the beginning of |
| 8:01 | his ministry do you remember when John |
| 8:04 | was baptizing in the River Jordan and |
| 8:06 | Jesus came to be baptized |
| 8:08 | John tried to prevent Jesus saying it |
| 8:11 | was he who needed to be baptized by |
| 8:13 | Jesus but the Lord answered permitted at |
| 8:18 | this time for in this way it is fitting |
| 8:20 | for us to fulfill all righteousness |
| 8:24 | Jesus the most righteous one who ever |
| 8:26 | lived was going to be baptized with a |
| 8:29 | baptism of repentance for the |
| 8:31 | Forgiveness of sins |
| 8:33 | but he had no sin |
| 8:36 | in order to fulfill all righteousness he |
| 8:40 | would be baptized |
| 8:42 | in order to fulfill whose righteousness |
| 8:46 | he was already full of righteousness |
| 8:47 | himself he was God in flesh |
| 8:50 | but it was in order to fulfill |
| 8:53 | your righteousness that Jesus was |
| 8:56 | baptized when he was baptized Jesus |
| 8:59 | identified himself with you and with |
| 9:02 | your sin so that you could be baptized |
| 9:04 | and identified with him and his |
| 9:07 | righteousness |
| 9:09 | John came in the way of righteousness |
| 9:11 | that is John understood that Jesus was |
| 9:13 | the way of righteousness John knew that |
| 9:15 | he himself was not righteous but that |
| 9:19 | Jesus |
| 9:21 | was to be |
| 9:22 | his righteousness |
| 9:25 | unfortunately the chief priests and |
| 9:28 | Elders lacked that understanding they |
| 9:31 | thought that they kept the whole law of |
| 9:34 | God and they thought that they |
| 9:36 | themselves were righteous and had earned |
| 9:38 | a place in heaven |
| 9:40 | the truth is that they were not obedient |
| 9:42 | and they were not righteous the |
| 9:44 | scripture says that no one is righteous |
| 9:46 | no one except Jesus Christ of course |
| 9:51 | Saint Paul explains it this way in |
| 9:54 | Romans chapter 3. |
| 9:56 | verses 21 and 22 verses 25 and 26. |
| 10:01 | but now apart from the law |
| 10:04 | the righteousness of God has been |
| 10:06 | manifested being witnessed by the law |
| 10:08 | and the prophets even the righteousness |
| 10:10 | of God through faith in Jesus Christ for |
| 10:14 | all those who believe this was to |
| 10:16 | demonstrate his righteousness because in |
| 10:19 | the forbearance of God he passed over |
| 10:21 | the sins previously committed for the |
| 10:24 | demonstration I say of his righteousness |
| 10:27 | at the present time that he might be |
| 10:30 | just and the justifier of the one who |
| 10:33 | has faith in Jesus |
| 10:36 | God Alone is righteous |
| 10:40 | we cannot keep his laws and Commandments |
| 10:43 | perfectly |
| 10:44 | if we break one we are guilty of them |
| 10:47 | all |
| 10:49 | we need Jesus to give us his |
| 10:51 | righteousness by grace through faith how |
| 10:54 | does that work |
| 10:56 | the Cross of Christ is the place of a |
| 10:59 | Great Exchange the cross is where Jesus |
| 11:02 | gives you his righteousness and eternal |
| 11:05 | life and in exchange he takes your sin |
| 11:09 | and your Eternal death |
| 11:11 | Jesus received a baptism of water for |
| 11:15 | you so that in your baptism you could be |
| 11:18 | identified with him |
| 11:20 | then Jesus received a baptism of Blood |
| 11:22 | on the cross for you so that by faith in |
| 11:26 | him you would be covered with his |
| 11:29 | righteousness |
| 11:30 | Paul explains it this way God is both |
| 11:33 | the just and the justifier now the word |
| 11:36 | just in Greek is the same as the word |
| 11:38 | for righteous so God is the just and the |
| 11:41 | justifier that is God is both the |
| 11:44 | righteous one and the one who makes you |
| 11:47 | righteous by grace through faith |
| 11:52 | that is what Jesus was teaching the |
| 11:54 | chief priests in this scripture reading |
| 11:56 | though we do not know how many of them |
| 11:58 | understood or received his teaching |
| 12:02 | conclusion |
| 12:04 | today we have been talking about three |
| 12:06 | questions now armed with the right |
| 12:10 | understanding from Jesus we can answer |
| 12:13 | those questions first the question of |
| 12:17 | authority where do we find Authority for |
| 12:19 | our lives |
| 12:20 | true Authority is found in Jesus Christ |
| 12:24 | and in his word |
| 12:25 | though many people will claim to have |
| 12:27 | authority and may even try to have |
| 12:30 | authority over you |
| 12:31 | the Holy Bible teaches that Jesus and |
| 12:33 | His holy word have all authority in |
| 12:36 | heaven and on Earth and are the only |
| 12:39 | source of true and trustworthy Authority |
| 12:43 | second the question of obedience |
| 12:48 | where do we find obedience |
| 12:51 | through obedience |
| 12:52 | is found only in the person of Jesus and |
| 12:56 | his life |
| 12:57 | from the time of the chief priests and |
| 12:59 | Elders until today many have claimed to |
| 13:01 | live lives of obedience to God |
| 13:04 | but that is foolish talk |
| 13:06 | only one has lived a perfectly obedient |
| 13:10 | and holy life Our Savior Jesus |
| 13:14 | and third |
| 13:15 | the question of righteousness |
| 13:17 | how can we become righteous |
| 13:20 | the key to righteousness is found in |
| 13:22 | Christ and his cross |
| 13:24 | God demonstrates his righteousness |
| 13:27 | by judging and punishing the sin of the |
| 13:29 | world |
| 13:30 | God also demonstrates his righteousness |
| 13:33 | by making all those who believe in Jesus |
| 13:36 | righteous by grace through faith those |
| 13:40 | without faith must face God’s judgment |
| 13:44 | in their own sinfulness |
| 13:48 | in today’s passage Jesus has taught us |
| 13:51 | that no one can be saved by counting on |
| 13:54 | his or her own works of righteousness |
| 13:56 | because we all sin and fall short of the |
| 13:58 | glory of God |
| 13:59 | if we start counting our own righteous |
| 14:01 | works then every work of our |
| 14:04 | Disobedience and unrighteousness also |
| 14:07 | will be counted and judged |
| 14:09 | however |
| 14:11 | when you receive the righteousness of |
| 14:13 | Christ Jesus by grace through faith not |
| 14:16 | only are you saved Hallelujah thanks be |
| 14:19 | to God but you are inspired by God’s |
| 14:22 | word and by Christ living within you to |
| 14:25 | help you lead a holy and righteous life |
| 14:27 | you want to lead one |
| 14:30 | but you cannot do this perfectly |
| 14:33 | though with Christ you can do it |
| 14:36 | purposefully |
| 14:39 | you can try to live a holy life |
| 14:42 | and Christ will help you for Jesus |
| 14:44 | himself is your righteousness and |
| 14:47 | righteous Jesus your savior is living |
| 14:50 | within you |
| 14:51 | right now |
| 14:54 | amen |
| 15:02 | [Music] |
| 15:10 | [Music] |
| 15:14 | [Applause] |
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