118. Challenging Jesus’ Authority to Teach

        ²³The 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?”
        ²⁴Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you a question; and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?”
        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, “From men,' we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a prophet.” ²⁷So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.”
        And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
        (Mt. 21:23–27)

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Mt. 21:23  The / And when he entered the temple, the (RSV)   (173:2/1891–2)

119. Parable of the Two Sons

        ²⁸Jesus asked the Jewish leaders, “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.' ²⁹And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he repented and went. ³⁰And he went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but did not go. ³¹Which of the two did the will of his father?”^a
        They said, “The first.”
        Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. ³²For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the harlots believed him.”
        (Mt. 21:28–32)

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a    “Which of the two did the will of his father?”—Saying we will do the will of God is not enough; we must actually do our Father's will. This is Jesus' fundamental teaching. The kingdom he taught is the will of the Father dominant in the heart of the believer. This kingdom is composed of those individuals who have faith in the Fatherhood of God and are dedicated to doing his will.
        The will of God for us, his earth children, is that we increasingly yield the fruits of the spirit in our daily lives. These character fruits of the spirit are most clearly seen in the life of Jesus. They include: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, patience, kindness, and self-control.   (continued on preceding page)

Mt. 21:28  Jesus asked the Jewish leaders, “What / “What (RSV)   (173:3/1893)

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