Mt 21:23-46

It's February. I have survived the first month! Hallelujah! I attribute it to the inspiration from church leadership and cooperation in the family. I wish I can continue this till the day that I die.

• v23: on the 2nd day of the Passion week, Jesus entered the temple courts again and taught there.
  
• vv23-27: Jesus' authority questioned by the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now it showed how important the fact that Jesus was baptised by John, to which he hinged his answer (vv24-25). His reply proved to be a difficult one for the chief priests and the elders. It put them in such great dilemma (a classic case) that they could not reply either 'yes' or 'no' (vv25-26). So they picked neither (v27a). Jesus then easily brushed off their loaded question (v27).
• vv28-32: Parable of the two sons. What's said is not as important as what's actually done (v31).
• vv33-46: Parable of the Tenants. Those are wicked tenants--they kill the servants of their master and even the son of the master. Their motive? To take over the inheritance. They have positioned themselves directly against their master. And how will the master treat them? "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end." (v41)
  
• vv42-46: Jesus is the capstone that was rejected by the builders. And the weight of it will undoubtedly crush those whom it falls upon (v44). Jesus' harsh words to the chief priests and the Pharisees are in such sharp contrast to the compassion and gentleness he had on the poor and the needy.