Matthew 21:23-32
23 When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ 24Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” 26But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ 27So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28 ‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” 29He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. 30The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For 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 after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
Today's Gospel invites us to reflect on these points:
Jesus’s teaching in the Temple;
Jesus being investigated by the high priests and the elders about His authority as a Teacher;
Jesus’s response to His investigators; and
The morality of the event.
The high priests and the elders represent the two main groups that pass down the Jewish tradition. This tradition is a merging of (1) the inspired and written Bible that was received by Moses on Mount Sinai and, (2) the oral tradition that was received by Moses, delivered orally to Aaron, and by him to the elders.
According to this combined tradition, no one has the right to teach before he is twenty years old, nor before being a disciple of a well known teacher. For example, St. Paul proudly refers to being the student of the great Gamaliel in Acts 22:3. Hillel was another great first century teacher, and there were many others. Additionally, the ordination of a rabbi had to be backed by a teacher that granted him the authority to teach or preach. Without referring to a teacher/preacher known by the high priests, the preacher is denied credibility. This is why they ask Jesus by whose authority he preaches and teaches. Jesus responds to their question with a similar one. The question sounds easy but, in fact, is difficult to respond to.
Jesus refers to John the Baptist, who taught and preached about penitence, the Kingdom of God, baptizing in the water of the River Jordan, justice, rights and respect of the poor. John the Baptist was highly esteemed and accepted by the population. John was considered a prophet even though he had no venerable teacher that taught him or granted him backing and support.
Afraid of the reaction of the crowd, who highly respected John the Baptist, the high priests and the elders claim that they don't know who granted him this authority.
Jesus didn't say to them, “I don't know,” but “I will not tell you by whose authority I teach and preach!" He knows very well that His authority derives from His Father. By His answer He invites them to see God's authority through His teaching, preaching, miracles and signs.
Then Jesus comes to the morality by giving them the parable about the two sons. The first claims to love and respect his father but in fact doesn't comply with his father’s will, and the second, who looks disobedient but ends by respecting his father‘s will.
Acta non verba (acts not words) are the evidence of faith, love and obedience to the Father's good will! Those who know their Scriptures by heart and praise God with their lips, but not from their hearts, are similar to the first son who promised to obey his father but in fact turned his back. Those who for some reasons and for some times, refuse to obey their Father but end by repenting and doing their Father's will attest to their deep roots in God's love and service.
Where do we stand, by the one who talks and promises but turns their face from their Father, or do we join the second who, for some time, shows disobedience, then comes back to him/herself and to the Father's Presence, Love and Service?