Monday 16 December 2024
Numbers 24:2-7, 15-17. Teach me your ways, O Lord – Psalm 24(25):4-9. Matthew 21:23-27.
I will not tell you my authority for acting like this
Jesus can argue like the trickiest of lawyers or, to put it more kindly, he often manages to slip out of verbal traps set for him. Time and time again the authorities, resentful of his following and threatened in their own world view, try to catch Jesus out with what in politics today are called ‘gotcha’ questions. The thing about these ‘gotchas’ however, is that no one learns anything and no minds are changed. They are a form of gladiatorial sport with no purpose other than to make the other person look or feel small. This bullying is a particular problem in the realms of social media. Thoughtful comment and consideration have given way to the loudest voice.
When questioned on what authority he has, Jesus managed to make the question a referendum on his questioners. He didn’t bully or threaten, didn’t yell loudly. He just framed the question in such a way that forced his questioners to think. Instead of insisting on our point of view, perhaps we should practise questioning and commenting in such a way that we elicit thoughtful answers.
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