Holy Week: Tuesday

Matthew 21:23–24:51, Mark 11:20–13:37, Luke 20:1–21:36

On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus entered into the temple and cleansed it in an electrifying display of zeal: tables were flipped, money boxes were flung, and chairs were upended. God’s Messiah had come back to his house, and he didn’t like what he saw (Malachi 3:1-2).

One can imagine the priests and religious authorities standing on the outskirts of the temple, watching in horror with their eyes wide and their mouths agape as Jesus called them to the floor for their spiritual (and material) mismanagement. But eventually, horror gave way to closed fists and clenched teeth: who did this itinerant teacher think he was, coming into such a holy place as if he owned it, as if he was some sort of high priest?

So when Jesus dared to return to the temple on Tuesday to teach the Passover pilgrims, the religious elite decided to spring a trap on him. “‘By what authority are you doing these things?’ they asked. ‘And who gave you this authority?’” (Matthew 21:23). The temple officials weren’t interested in honest dialogue; they wanted to pin Jesus against a wall. As Trent Butler observes:

“The scribes had authority. They had studied with rabbis. They had all the qualifications they needed to be qualified public teachers of the law. The priests had authority. They had inherited the position of priest all the way back to their forefathers Aaron and Levi. The elders had authority. Their age and experience had gained them leadership in the social and economic affairs of the community. These three groups of Jewish leaders knew that Jesus had no formal training with the rabbis, no priestly lineage, and no experience of the elders. How dare he usurp their positions and contradict their teachings. Could these Jewish authorities expose Jesus’ lack of credentials and thus rob him of the authority everyone recognized in his teaching?”

But ever wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove, Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John’s baptism — where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” (Matthew 21:24–25).

This put the religious leaders in quite a bind. If they answered that John’s baptism had authority from heaven, then Jesus could rightfully ask them why they hadn’t believe John’s message — and thus, why they hadn’t believed that Jesus was indeed the Christ. But if they answered that John’s baptism only had authority from man, they feared that the crowds would kill them in an act of mob violence because the people held John to be a prophet — and a martyr. Neither answer put the temple authorities in a good light, so they chose to plead the fifth. “We don’t know,” they said.

So Jesus decided he wouldn’t answer their question either, and he continued to teach in the temple with unmatched authority and power.

To this very day, Christ still bears unrivaled authority. In fact, as he himself said it, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18, emphasis mine). He is the undisputed king and ruler of all. The events of Holy Tuesday shine a floodlight on this reality. Jesus will not be defeated, denied, or destroyed — and not even the most sinister schemes of Satan can silence him. Christ reigns over his people forever and ever, for his glory and their good. He alone is worthy of all the blessing, honor, glory, and strength.

So on this Holy Tuesday, as we remind ourselves of Christ’s authority, let us happily give ourselves to him — heart, soul, mind, and strength. Let us turn away from the empty promises of the world, and let us gladly believe and obey his precious Word.