Good morning. After the fig tree, Jesus returns to Jerusalem and enters the temple. The chief priests and elders are mad at Him because of His casting out those selling things in the temple. By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority? So Jesus tells them that He’s going to ask them one question, and if they answer it He will tell them by what authority He does these things. The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men? He's got them there. If they say from heaven, He will ask why they did not believe John. If they say from men, they will be afraid the multitudes will stone them because the people believed that John was a prophet, and the chief priests and elders did not. That left them with one response – we don't know. So Jesus tells them that He is not going to tell them by what authority He does these things. Then Jesus tells them about the two brothers (no it's not the prodigal son). He tells both to go do something. The first says he will, but does not. The second says he won't, but changes his mind later and does. Which one did the will of his father? Of course it was the second one. Jesus tells them that the bad people will get into the kingdom of God before them. (Matthew has been saying kingdom of heaven up till now. The Jews were so afraid of using God's name in vain that they said kingdom of heaven instead of kingdom of God.) John the Baptist came preaching righteousness, and the Pharisees did not believe him. They were like the son who said yes, but did not do the will of his father. The sinners did believe John, and were like the son who first said no, but then did the will of his father. And you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him. Not even jealousy could cause them to change their minds. Father thank You that the reader said yes to You, and did Your will. Make his/her path smooth.

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