Matthew 21:23-32

The rejection of the king

Why do the intellectual and cultural leaders of society reject the authority of Jesus? For ordinary Christians who have seen and accepted the evidence, it can be unsettling and intimidating when the brightest minds think the opposite and actively oppose him. Matthew’s first readers faced just that situation. In this passage, Jesus unmasks the real reason for the vehement resistance to him from Israel’s leadership. They know the truth of Jesus’ identity but intentionally choose to reject it. Seeing the deliberate and determined refusal of the cultural elite to accept Jesus, despite the clear evidence, will strengthen confidence in Jesus’ true identity and in the great commission he has given.