Holy Week. Tuesday Reflection: Jesus confronts the hypocrisy of Jewish leaders

Among the people of God, authority can be misused. Jesus used his divine authority, not to dominate, but to serve. Whatever authority I have, let me use it in loving service of those around me. In this exchange, Jesus might look as if he is playing a cheap trick on the Chief priests and elders.In Mt. 21-23 Matthew is demonstrating that God did not forsake his people, Israel, even though the Jewish leadership has not accepted Jesus’ claims. Instead the Jewish leaders forsook God by not receiving the servants that God sent.  

The Bible tells us that a hypocrite is someone who puts on a mask and pretends to be something he is not. Hypocrisy is to claim to know and follow certain beliefs but to behave in a way that counteracts those beliefs. Mukama atutaase atuggyemu obunanfuusi.