THE TRUTH SHOULD BE A PRIORITY - Matthew 21:26
Matthew 21:26 But if we shall say, Of Men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
The chief priests and the elders came to Jesus and asked HIM where HE derived HIS authority. Jesus replied that HE would answer their question if they first answered a question for HIM. Jesus asked them where the baptism of John came from, heaven or of man. The priests and elders gathered together and argued among themselves that they could not say from heaven least Jesus revealed that they knew the truth and they did not obey. They also realized that they could not say that it was from man because the people felt that John the Baptist was from God and it was the people who gave them power.
The priests and the elders came to Jesus and gave a politically correct answer in that they could not answer Jesus’ question. This answer was politically correct because it ensured that they would not be revealed as frauds and they would be able to maintain their power base at the same time.
The priests and the elders were not ready for change. They loved their power base and they were not willing to give up what they had in order to pursue the truth. While they pretended to be of God, in reality, they wanted nothing to do with God because God would require that they change. The priest and the elders had asked Jesus where HIS authority came from for the purpose of destroying HIM. If HE answered it was from God, they would have accused HIM like they always have of heresy and if HE answered that it was from man, then they would have felt justified in their attempts to destroy HIM and rid HIS influence from the land.
Are you like the priests and the elders who were looking for ways to avoid having a personal relationship with God? Yes they wanted to pretend they are religious just as thousands of individuals pretend to be religious by attending church every week. However, there is more to your daily walk than simply professing that you are of God. You must strive to hear God’s voice for your life and you must be willing to obey God and do what HE has said.
The priests and the elders were more concerned about their power then they were afraid to answer truthfully to a question that Jesus asked them. They feared man; they did not fear God. They had their priorities backwards. Here God desires them to fear HIM and not be afraid of what man could do to them. Nonetheless, that is exactly what they did, they did not fear God and what HE could do to them through HIS Son Jesus but they feared those who they purported to serve.
When you add virtue to your life, you put on the mind of Christ. You are supposed to think upon those things that are true. When you have the fear of the Lord in your life, you pursue the truth rather than pursuing what is easy at that particular moment. God desires to have your mind. HE desires that you fill it will HIS truth so that when you are faced with a difficult decision of following God or please the people, your natural response will be to allow the fear of God in your life to do that which is right in the eyes of God. Fill your life with the truth, with virtue and the fear of the Lord. Do not allow yourself to be like the priests and elders who put power above the will of God.