“And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” He also said to them, “Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things” (Matthew 21:27).

Do not put the Lord to the test.  He is under no obligation to answer your questions.  Our Lord is gracious and kind but does not owe us anything.  There are many things we do not know and many things we do not need to know.  Be guided by the goodness of the Lord and humbly walk in the way He will lead you.  All authority is from the Lord.  Walk under His authority.

Lord, this age does not respect authority.  Many assume authority but forget that we live because the You have given us life.  You are the source of all life. You are above all.  Starting from that simple understanding, we can know that everyone else has a lesser authority because You grant it.  For a time, in this age, there are those who abuse it; but that does not mean that ultimately it is still not Yours.

Lord Jesus, I see what You said as clever, but You were just telling the truth.  Many are unable to comprehend the truth.  Guide me, Lord, so that I understand that all things are in Your hands.  Lead me in this understanding always so that I humbly walk under Your authority.  Help me to look to You, the author and source of life, for all things.  Help me not to ask questions so much as live out the answers You have already given.  Amen.

“The baptism of John was from what source: from heaven or from men?” And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’  But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet” (Matthew 21:25).

The way of the world seems to always fall into the ultimate trap of believing either partial truth or perpetrated lies.  But for the wicked, there is a prejudice against the truth.  This is reinforced by peer pressure.  Fear drives in this age, but we are to fear God above all other things.  Do not fall for the trap of one-or-the-other but seek truth.  Truth is Jesus who has come to lead us into all truth.

Lord, it is no different in our time.  The talking heads waffle between two positions.  Fear of the crowds drive many in our day.  It has affected me.  Lead me to be the person You are making me to be.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that I may humbly hold fast to the truths which You have spoken.  Lord, You have given me hope and a future.  Help me learn how to live by hope toward the future which is in You.

Lord Jesus, You have descended from heaven so that where You are I may also be.  You have immersed me in Your love and called for me to always follow You.  You have told me that I would suffer in this world because of it.  Help me to follow You all the days of my life and to walk in humble obedience through every situation I encounter.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You know I need to go.  Amen.

“But Jesus responded and said to them, “I will also ask you one question, which, if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things” (Matthew 21:24).

Jesus was never tricked by snares of the wicked.  If we look to the Lord and listen to His counsel, we can avoid being tricked by those who are always setting traps.  We do not need to figure everything out, but we do need to stand firm against untruth.  This age is filled with the deceived and deceivers.  Jesus humbly speaks truth.  He loves us and will not stop until those called believe are in His love.

Lord, I do not like contention, but the world is contentious.  Help me to learn how to be humble but stand firm against the wicked who seek to deceive.  Let me stand up against constant questions and hold fast to the truth You have revealed.  Guide me, Lord, in the way to think and act so that when confronted, I know how to respond.  Teach me how to answer questions as You did.

Lord Jesus, You have questioned me.  Help me to answer Your questions with my life.  Take me out of the way this world thinks so that I may learn to think as You created me to think.  Guide me so that I humbly walk the path You have set before me.  Through all things, teach me how to be aware and alert.  Lord, You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me to live them now and always.  Amen.

“When He entered the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” (Matthew 21:23)

We do not seem to be concerned with this question anymore.  “By what authority?”  Our culture reinforces that we are an authority unto ourselves.  I think this way and so it must be.  But Jesus was doing things with power and authority, and they were asking, “by what authority is this done?”  The truth is, by the only power there really is, the authority of God.  We pretend we have power, but God Almighty has all power and authority.

Lord, teach me what authority means.  Help me to respect authority.  All authority comes from You.  You are the source of all power.  Lead me away from this world’s self-centeredness and into the light of truth which is You.  Help me to stop questioning truth and to learn how to question all of the lies of this age.  Lead me ever more deeply into the truth of who You are and the authority in which You say and do things.

Lord Jesus, You were constantly questioned and confronted.  Help me to be unmoving in the questions and confrontations against my faith that happen in this world.  Help me to stand firm in faith knowing that all things are truly in Your hands.  Guide me, Lord, to live under Your authority.  Teach me to respect all authority knowing that it comes from You.  Teach me how to live under Your authority.  Amen.

“Seeing this, the disciples were amazed and asked, “How did the fig tree wither all at once?”  And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.  And whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it all” (Matthew 21:20-22).

The author and finisher of our faith is more than able to either wither us like the fig tree or make us able to do what He commands.  Our doubts and fears get in the way, but the One who commanded each star to stay its course will make of us what He will.  Do not tarry but look to the One who is the author of your faith and be led by Him.  He will make of You what He will, but you and I have our part in willingly receiving what He gives.

Lord, I look at these things and I think in terms of human limitations and not in terms of who You are.  Take me out of myself to be willing to receive whatever You give me.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I speak what You would have me speak and do what You would have me do.  Through all things, let me never forget that You are the One through whom all things have their being.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for not letting me rest in my own reasoning.  Help me to see Your hand upon all things and know that the Father will work all things together for good according to Your Holy and Triune purpose.  Help me to be amazed by Your love and expect that You will do good things through and around me.  Help me to keep my eyes upon You and what You are doing.  Amen.

“Now in the early morning, when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.  And seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves alone; and He said to it, “No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.” And at once the fig tree withered” (Matthew 21:18-19).

The lesson here is not the disappointment of Jesus, but the reality that a tree which does not do what it was created to do and does not serve a purpose.  We were created, and have the opportunity to become children of God.  If we will not bear fruit befitting the kingdom of God, what good are we?  This world is filled with self-centered people who act as though they are the center of all things.  It is not about you or me, but about the One who calls us to Himself.

Lord, there are many lessons You teach about how we are to live into the new life You give by grace.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to humbly submit to the life You are calling me to live.  Let me grow in You, and in that growing, bear the fruit that You will call me to bear.  Where I am unwilling, remove my unwillingness.  Where I need pruning, help me to be willing to be pruned.

Lord Jesus, with many parables You have called me to be intentional about the life You have given me by grace through faith.  Guide me to live this life no matter what it takes.  Help me to understand that I must be about the business of being what I proclaim when I say I am Christian.  It is about You and what You are doing in me.  Help me to focus upon You in thought, word, and deed.  Amen.

“And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there” (Matthew 21:17).

Even Jesus did retreats.  There are times when we just need to get away.  Some never get away and some never join.  Do not take either of these roads but seek balance in your life.  Let the Lord lead you, whether in work and at rest.  The Lord will bring balance to our lives if we follow Him.

Lord, help me to understand that I need You to lead me in every aspect of my life.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that I willingly work or rest according to what You give me to do.  Help me in all circumstances to become a person who is constantly in prayer.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way You know I need to go in order to live the life You are creating in me, in a way that is pleasing to the Father.

Holy Spirit, do not let me make excuses, nor go away from where You are leading me.  Let me not think only in terms of all that I need to do, but instead, take time for prayer and meditation.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life.  Help me through all circumstances to work or rest as You direct me.  Help me to spend every day and night with You guiding me in all things.  Amen.

“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant, and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?”  (Matthew 21:15-16)

Children sometimes have more wisdom than adults.  They see things as they are.  That clear sight is often deformed by this age so that by the time they are adults, they are blind to the reality of the Lord.  Do not hinder the children.  Sometimes we too need to be reminded of reality through the clear sight of a child who marvels and wonders at the reality of the Lord.  Lose the matter in your eyes to see the truth of the Lord.

Lord, I do have a shortsighted view of the world.  I am often lost in the disorder of this age.  Help me to see as a child, who often sees more clearly.  You said that unless we had faith as a child, we would not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Teach me what this means and lead me so that I become what You are talking about.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life. Teach me to sing Your praise.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your great compassion.  I am a child of God.  There are times to put away childish things, but there never is a time to stop being a child of the Heavenly Father.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go and help me to live into the life You have given me by grace through faith.  May I humbly walk with You all my days as You grow in me what You will.  Amen.

“And those who were blind and those who limped came to Him in the temple area, and He healed them” (Matthew 21:14).

Jesus heals the sin-sick soul.  Jesus takes care of our infirmities.  Oh, we may have something that will limit us in this world, but even this has a purpose.  Do not be led by circumstances, but by the One who heals us of sin.  Our God has great compassion for those who are hurting.  Do you reach out and care for others as You want to be cared for?  Be guided by His grace and mercy.

Lord, the lies of this age mask the truth.  You have always cared.  You still care.  I may not understand the way of this world, but You have made clear that Your ways are not the ways of this world.  Though there are still those who are wounded, You have healed all who believe so that they may join with You in eternity. Help me to never lose sight of this simple thing so that I may always walk with You.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for You have prepared the way of everlasting life for me.  Help me to walk, even though it be with a spiritual limp.  Help me to see more clearly, for I have walked many portions of my life totally blind.  Lead me in the new life You have given me so that I may see a little more clearly each day and walk more boldly in the faith You have given me.  Help me to go out and see You heal others of spiritual blindness and impediments to faith.  Amen.

“When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, “Who is this?”  And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee” (Matthew 21:10-11).

Who is Jesus.  The crowds thought Him a prophet.  Yes, He is, but He is more.  He speaks the word of God because He is God the Son, the Word made flesh.  All the prophets spoke of Him.  He is the One who fulfilled prophecy.  He grew up in Nazareth, but He is from eternity and returned to eternity.  Take care with what you hear.  There may be truth in what is said but listen for the whole truth.

Lord, crowds go away with some of the truth, but often, real and whole truth takes a little more work to hear.  They were not wrong that day, but they were not right.  Jesus, You are the eternal One who came down and became flesh for our sake.  You took our sins upon You that we might inherit Your life as sons and daughters of God.  Open our ears to hear and our eyes to see so that we are not carried away by the crowds of this age.

Lord Jesus, in humility You walked to Your own death.  All the while, the crowds were anticipating something else.  Help me to follow Your lead and walk where You lead.  I do not know what is coming, but You do.  Help me to trust You above all things.  Lead me through the crowds of this age to stand in Your presence and be whom You are making me to be.  Lead me, Savior and Lord of all.  Amen.