Last week we spoke of the power of “first impressions.” From a chronological standpoint, Paul’s “First Letter to the Thessalonians” was his first written words that have come down to us. It is the “first impression” of a life of Jesus discipleship written in the New Testament.

In this week’s gospel text from Matthew, we have a kind of closing bracket to that “first impression,” a bookend “final impression,” a last word from Jesus to the various Temple authorities. We have the third and final confrontation with those whom Jesus encountered as soon as he entered Jerusalem for his final visit into the Temple in Jerusalem.

His first encounter was with the Herodians (who were egged on by the Pharisees) when he was grilled about the question of paying taxes to Rome.

His second encounter was w…