In today’s Gospel Jesus’ authority is questioned and challenged. Jesus, a layman, has just performed a prophetic action in the Temple: “Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those engaged in selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.” Jesus seems to be overturning the sacrificial system centered in the Jerusalem Temple. He challenges them with the prophetic words: “It is written: ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:12-13; Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11).
Some Jewish authorities, the chief priest and elders of the people, question Jesus’ authority for performing this upsetting prophetic action as they attempt to maintain the status quo: “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?” Jesus already referred to Jeremiah the prophet who many years previously also performed an upsetting prophetic action in the Temple challenging the worshipers to stop putting false trust in the Temple.
“You put your trust in deceptive words to your own loss! Do you think you can steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury…and then come and stand in my presence in this house, which bears my name, and say: “We are safe! We can commit all these abominations again!”? Has this house which bears my name become in your eyes a den of thieves?” (Jeremiah 7:8-11)
Jesus recognizes that he, like Jeremiah and John the Baptist, is acting outside of official religious authority but challenges these religious leaders not to try to restrict where God can work. So, Jesus asked them the challenging question: “Where was John’s baptism from? Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” While the people “all regard John as a prophet” these religious leaders are afraid to commit themselves one way or the other. They are comfortable with the status quo and recognized and official authority but very uncomfortable with those claiming authority directly from God such as Jeremiah, John the Baptist or Jesus. Jesus tries to show them that God’s authority cannot be restricted. It is foolishness to try to do so.
Image: “Trabzon Hagia Sophia Christ teaching in the temple 93 082b” by Dosseman is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.