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“Some Believe and Some Believe That They Believe” (Matthew 21:23-32)
Terry Sharbaugh, March 13, 2011Part of the Final Lessons from the Greatest Teacher series, preached at a Sunday service
TOWARD THE CROSS:
In the last week of His life, Jesus revealed some of His
most amazing parables. These final few days before He died were used to drive home many of the most important points of His ministry, to a group of disciples that had little idea of what was to come. As we walk through this season of Lent, let us
allow the words of our Lord to remind us of some of the most crucial truths that exist within the Kingdom of God. Before we start, ask yourself a question. If you could communicate one truth to your loved ones (kids or friends) right before you died, what would it be?
Matthew 21:23-32
23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him. (ESV (http://www NULL.esv NULL.org))
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