Matthew 21:23-27 -- On Honesty and Agendas

"And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things."
Matthew 21:23-27


This is an interesting story, and it is something that feels like it would have gone differently if it was approached differently. If these people had approached Christ with open minds and hearts sincerely wanting to know, then they likely wouldn't have worried about how to answer his question. Maybe they could have honestly told him what they thought instead of hedging, and then maybe Jesus could have taught them something. Instead though, it seems that they had an agenda and wanted to challenge him, and he showed them their own faults in the parables that follow this.

It makes me wonder how much of our lives would go differently if we didn't have an agenda and our hearts and minds were open. Would we ask different questions... of God or of others? Would we be less quick to doubt and get defensive, and more prone to listening and learning?

Today, let's try to let go of the pride that gets in the way of honest communication. Let's work on seeking to learn rather than seeking to challenge, and on integrity rather than image. And if we don't know how to change those things, let's plead with God to teach us, and change our hearts. Let's remember that it is better to "be a doorkeeper in the house of [our] God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness" (Psalms 84:10) no matter how much more lavish or low-effort. Let's be honest with God, and work to change ourselves for the better.