In today's text, an encounter that starts as a challenge to Christ's authority ends not only with His complete vindication, but also with the humiliation of His opponents. Jesus does not evade or change subjects, but simply assumes the authority He has been challenged on, and uses it so wisely that His opponents condemn themselves. Jesus's authority comes from heaven, and this is revealed in a public manner after His baptism by John. John's baptism initiated the sorting process that Jesus intensifies. The preaching of repentance drives some to the Saviour and others to their own self-sufficiency. This message of gospel repentance continues this sorting work down into today. Do the demands and the shame of the gospel drive you to the self-effort and self-righteousness of the Pharisees, or to the true righteousness of God's kingdom?