Introduction “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I don’t want to’, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the man went to the other and said the same thing. ‘I will sir,’ he answered, but he didn’t go. Which of the two did his fathers will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.”

Matthew 21:28-31

 

   The Pharisees in Judea apparently wanted to stir up a rivalry between John The Baptist and Jesus. Everyone could see for themselves that a great number of those who had followed John had left him to follow Christ. While it made John happy, it stirred up a controversy for others. And the religious leaders were egging it on. They wanted both of these men to just go away. So, as a result, they were willing to do everything in their power to see that it happened. And what better way to put an end to what they saw as a threat to their corrupt system, than to cause an all-out “holy war” between Jesus and John? The Son of God saw right through it and left the area altogether.