Matthew 21:23-32
Read Matthew 21:1-22. Look at how Jesus entered the city, cleansed the temple, and cursed the fig tree. He did it with authority.
Think of a time when you refused to obey someone because you disputed that person's authority. What actions did you take to avoid being obedient? How did your actions affect your relationship with that person?
Matthew 21:23-27
Look at the conversation between Jesus and the Religious leaders.
a) Role of religious leaders
b) Religious leaders rude interruption of Jesus's teaching
c) Their private conversation concerning their answer
d) Their lame response to Jesus' question
The religious leaders did not acknowledge Jesus' authority and therefore avoided obeying Him.
Have you ever questioned or challenged the authority of Jesus in your life? How did you feel afterwards?
1 Samuel 15:22-23
How did Saul fail to submit to God's authority in this story? (He refused to destroy everything according to God's word. vs. 1-21)
Do you only submit to God's will only when you agree with what he says or when you find it convenient?
Or do you try to obey God at all times, no matter what He says?
Matthew 21:28-30
What would your reaction be if these were your children?
What was the difference between the response of the two sons? (one obeyed the other did not)
The first son refused to obey, but changed his mind (or repented) and went to work in the vineyard. The second son did not follow through with his commitment to work. He lied to his father. In the first century a son would not think about refusing a command from his father.
List commands of Jesus that are difficult to obey.
a) witnessing
b) not judging
c) tithing
List commands of Jesus that are easy to obey
a) do not murder
b) give to the needy
c) Love one another
Look at the "difficult" list again. Some of these difficult items we at first say no to but we eventually obey. THE POINT IS OBEDIENCE DOES EVENTUALLY COME.
Look at the "easy" list of commands of Jesus.
Why is it easy to say yes to these items?
When we say yes, do we really follow through?
Is our claim not to be a murderer valid in the light of Matthew 5:21-22.
To sum up this section, obedience to Jesus may mean doing something we don't want to do. Obedience is not simply making promises, it is demonstrating those promises through our actions.
Matthew 21:31-32
Which of the two son's did what the father wanted?
Compare those who Jesus considered obedient with those who were considered disobedient.What do you think was going through their minds when they heard Jesus say that others were ahead of them.
Why were those people considered obedient or disobedient? (They either believed John's message about righteousness and changed their lives or they did not believe.
Conclusion
Think of a commitment that you have made in the past to Jesus and have not followed through on. Obedience is not related to commitment but to action.
(The content of this bible study was taken from various sources. If you would like a list of those sources, let me know and I would be glad to email them to you)
For Futher Study visit these links:
1. The Source of Jesus' Authority
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.21.5
2. Pretend Obedience Versus Delayed Obedience
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/index.php?action=getCommentaryText&cid=1&source=1&seq=i.47.21.6
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