In this short series, we’ll spend a few minutes every day meditating on Jesus’ journey to the Cross. From Palm Sunday to Resurrection Day, this is a sacred period in the Christian calendar—a week that changed everything. 

 

Don’t Just Be Amazed

 

Read: Matthew 21:42-46

 

In my Bible, chapters 21 to 26 of Matthew are mostly in red, indicating that Jesus shared several life-changing lessons in the few days before His crucifixion.

But many in his audience in these chapters did not come to truly listen. They came with the intent to trap, trick, and trouble the Teacher.

The Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Herodians thought they had it figured out.  They assumed they had all the answers. But they missed the central truth that Jesus was the answer. They did not ask Him questions to revere Him.  They asked him questions to ridicule Him.

 

We look at accounts about these religious leaders and think, “How could they?” 

But how often do we come to Jesus with a self-reliant heart attitude?

How often do we tell Him, “Lord, thanks for Your help, but I’ll take it from here.”

 

How often do we get smug about certain attitudes or beliefs? We think to ourselves: “I’m the only one who has got the perfect theology and doctrine.” We listen to sermons and podcasts, and think: “I have all this stuff figured out already.” We approach the Word with a know-it-allness, convincing ourselves that our religiosity is enough. 

 

But Jesus confronts these religious leaders with hard-hitting words.

In the text we read today from Matthew, it says that the religious leaders knew that Jesus was talking about them. Other verses say they were “amazed” and “astonished” by His words.

In that moment, they had the choice to humble themselves. They could have let Jesus’ words convict them and draw them into a relationship with an eternal God. Instead, they dug in their heels and hardened their hearts. They looked for a way out, instead of looking to Him as the Way. 

Friend, when the Word of God confronts and convicts us, how do we respond? 

Do we duck and divert our attention to something else? (Matthew 21:46)

Do we stand amazed by His teaching—yet unchanged by the truth? (Matthew 22:22)

Do we ask questions with the intent of proving ourselves right or with the goal of learning and being transformed by Jesus? (Matthew 22:36)

Even the Pharisees and Sadducees were transfixed by His teaching.  Yet, they weren’t transformed by His teaching. 

This Holy Week, can we confess that being “charmed” by Jesus is simply not enough? May we invite Him to confront, convict, and change us with the Truth.

 

Prayer 

Father, I confess that my heart can grow cold toward Your Word. Like those religious leaders, I know that You are confronting me, but I sometimes choose not to listen. I allow distraction and busyness to be that “buffer” so I don’t have to deal with the cost of conviction and obedience. Lord, I don’t want to simply read Scripture. I want to be reshaped by it. Amen.

 

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