An indictment in the temple – 26^th Sunday in ordinary time – Matthew 21: 28-32

Jesus has entered Jerusalem (Luke 21:1) and cleanses the temple (21:12). He then makes his way to Bethany for the night (Luke21:17) and the next morning on the way to the temple curses the fig tree as a sign of judgment to the religious leaders of Israel. He enters the temple for the second time only to have the authority behind his actions questioned by the chief priests and the elders. In response he narrates a trilogy of parables called the parables of judgment (21:28-22:14). We are in the first of the three parables of judgment.

When Jesus was asked to explain his authority, he turned the tables confronting the religious leaders of their acceptance to the people-popular message of John the Baptist. The religious establishment would dare not deny the efficaciousness of John’s mission for that would not go down well with the masses. However, to accept his mission would be to accept Jesus as the Messiah, and the Chief priest and elders would rather hang themselves than admit to such a truth. Their response to Jesus’ question is “we do not know.”