The chief priests and the elders of the people

What right do you have to do these things?

Receive his word and let it guide your actions

Treat his authority as one opinion among many

Wait for other people to approve him first

Keep control and obey only when it suits you

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I confess that I have sinned and tried to rule my own life. I need your mercy and your rightful authority over me. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my sin and trust you as my Lord and Savior. Lead me in your truth and make my life yours. Amen.

Receive Jesus' Authority

Lord, revive your Church to honor the authority of Jesus again. Where we have become defensive, proud, or selective in listening, humble us. Make us a people who sit under his teaching, obey his voice, and speak of him with clarity and courage, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Renew Reverence for Christ

Pray by naming one place where you resist Jesus' authority, asking him what is true, and then asking for the grace to obey one clear step today.

Pray for a Teachable Heart

Pray for religious leaders, teachers, and church communities: that questions about Jesus would be honest; that pride would give way to humility; that authority would be used to serve truth, not control people.

For Leaders Who Question

Father, thank you that Jesus' authority is not borrowed or fragile, but good and wise. Thank you that his teaching can be trusted and his rule brings life, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thank You for Jesus' Rightful Rule

Lord, when your words confront my plans, help me stop arguing and listen with a willing heart. Give me humility to obey quickly, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

A Willing Heart Under Christ

Καὶ{KE###KEH###And} ⸂ἐλθόντος{el-THON-tos###ehl-THON-tohs###having come} αὐτοῦ⸃{af-TOO###ahf-TOO###he} εἰς{ees###ees###into} τὸ{TO###TOH###the} ἱερὸν{hee-e-RON###hee-eh-ROHN###temple} προσῆλθον{pro-SEEL-thon###proh-SEEHL-thohn###(they) approached} αὐτῷ{af-TO###ahf-TOH###to him} διδάσκοντι{di-DAS-kon-ti###dee-DAHS-kohn-tee###teaching} οἱ{hee###hee###the} ἀρχιερεῖς{ar-khee-e-REES###ahr-khee-eh-REES###chief priests} καὶ{KE###KEH###and} οἱ{hee###hee###the} πρεσβύτεροι{pres-VEE-te-ree###prehs-VEE-teh-ree###elders} τοῦ{TOO###TOO###of the} λαοῦ{la-OO###lah-OO###people} λέγοντες·{LE-gon-tes###LEH-gohn-tehs###saying} Ἐν{en###ehn###By} ποίᾳ{PEE-a###PEE-ah###what} ἐξουσίᾳ{ek-soo-SEE-a###ehk-soo-SEE-ah###authority} ταῦτα{TAF-ta###TAHF-ta###these things} ποιεῖς;{pee-EES###pee-EES###you do} καὶ{KE###KEH###and} τίς{TEES###TEES###who} σοι{see###see###to you} ἔδωκεν{E-do-ken###EH-doh-kehn###gave} τὴν{TEEN###TEEN###the} ἐξουσίαν{ek-soo-SEE-an###ehk-soo-SEE-ahn###authority} ταύτην;{TAF-teen###TAHF-teen###this}

Matthew 21:23 — LiteralTAB

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