By What Authority (Matthew 21)

Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men.

“Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.

“Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

I apologise for the gap in posts, my uncle who we had been praying for to get better passed on during Easter, we have had a hectic week. I apologise for not blogging.

The first account is of the disciples witnessing a miracle and the Lord answers that we too can perform the same miracles if we believe and not doubt.

The most important lesson is bearing fruit, we too if we are not planted and active in the service of our Lord will wither and die when we do not bear fruit.

We do not die physically but in our hearts, it is incredible to be part of something so much bigger than you, to act in faith knowing the outcome is not dependent on you, but belongs to the Lord on whose authority you step out in faith.

The second account I have chosen to highlight in this chapter is of the religious leaders of the time questioning the Lords authority.

We know the authority we stand on, my caution is that we do not take the authority and make it ours.

Lest we be left behind those people we thought we were so much better than because they did not act in a way that pleased us or in a way that we thought they should have.

“Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.