During Holy Week, historically, we Christians annually follow the significant events of Jesus' final days on earth. Of these last few days, one moment stands out, and we may often question the significance of it: the confrontation between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders, the Pharisees, in the Temple.
In the Temple courtyard, Jesus teaches a crowd. The religious leaders, or Pharisees, come up, asking where Jesus gets His authority. But Jesus turns it around, telling two parables, or stories, to make a point. In the first one, He talks about two sons, showing that actions matter more than appearances. In the second story, He tells of wicked tenants who don't listen to their landlord’s messengers, even hurting them, which leads to even worse consequences.
What did Jesus use these parables to teach? He wants the Pharisees to see that there is no shortcut to holiness (this is legalism!), and the posture of their hearts matter far more than their words and appearance. He also shows them that they themselves are like the wicked tenants and the landlord is like God. God has sent them messengers and they continue to not listen, and when He sends His Son, they brutally kill Him, but they lose everything because of their wickedness— God will bring them to an end. Ouch.
The Pharisees don't understand Jesus' power or message. They don't accept Jesus' authority, a big mistake, they’re hearts are hard and their spiritual eyes are blinded.
Holy Week is such an appropriate time to reflect and repent, to acknowledge the work of Christ to bring about our salvation. Maybe you’ve been trying to check all the boxes in an effort to be holy, but you aren’t doing it out of a deep love for the Lord. There is grace for those who honestly examine their hearts. Take the time now to pray and ask God to provide you with a new perspective to see Him the way that He truly is: The God who draws us close to Him and who would have you know Him.
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV).