Scriptures: Luke 20:1-8; Matthew 21:23-32
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
Luke 20:1-8
On one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, the priests and scribes came to him with the elders. 2 They asked him, “Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?”
3 He answered them, “I also will ask you one question. Tell me: 4 the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?”
5 They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7 They answered that they didn’t know where it was from.
8 Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Mark 11:27-33
Matthew 21:23-27
When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”
27 They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The Parable of the Two Sons
Matthew 21:28-32
But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’ 29 He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.
30 He came to the second, and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I’m going, sir,’ but he didn’t go.
31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell you that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering into God’s Kingdom before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him.”
I find it so interesting that these religious leaders just couldn’t win.
They challenge Jesus about the authority he had to teach and perform miracles, and he always had an answer to stump them. We see them conspire to kill him, but they were frightened of the people. But when eventually they did, they must have felt they had won.
But NO!! How wrong were they? They didn’t realise the greater victory they were instigating for our Lord’s cause. He did not stay dead!!
They never expected the consequences weeks later when the Holy Spirit descended on the believers at Pentecost. The thing they feared had become worse for them. Remember that Jesus said to his disciples that “greater things than these shall you do because I go to My Father.” Now the power and authority that Jesus had was multiplied, 10, 100, 1000, 10 thousand (and more) times.
These religious leaders certainly had something to worry about. How would they ever stop this – the power of the Holy Spirit?
Acts 4:3-21 ERV (Just after the lame man was healed in Acts 3)
The Jewish leaders arrested Peter and John and put them in jail. It was already night, so they kept them in jail until the next day. (4) But many of the people who heard the apostles believed what they said. There were now about 5000 men in the group of believers.
(5) The next day the Jewish rulers, the older Jewish leaders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. (6) Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander were there. Everyone from the high priest’s family was there.
(7) They made Peter and John stand before all the people. They asked them over and over, “How did you make this crippled man well? What power did you use? By whose authority did you do this?”
(8) Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and you older leaders, (9) are you questioning us today about what we did to help this crippled man? Are you asking us what made him well? (10) We want all of you and all the people of Israel to know that this man was made well by the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth. You nailed Jesus to a cross, but God raised him from death. This man was crippled, but he is now well. He is able to stand here before you because of the power of Jesus! (11) Jesus is ‘the stone that you builders thought was not important. But this stone has become the cornerstone.’ (12) Jesus is the only one who can save people. His name is the only power in the world that has been given to save anyone. We must be saved through him!”
(13) The Jewish leaders understood that Peter and John had no special training or education. But they also saw that they were not afraid to speak. So the leaders were amazed. They also realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus. (14) They saw the crippled man standing there beside the apostles. They saw that he was healed, so they could say nothing against the apostles. (15) The Jewish leaders told them to leave the council meeting. Then the leaders talked to each other about what they should do.
(16) They said, “What shall we do with these men? Everyone in Jerusalem knows about the miracle they did as a sign from God. It’s too obvious. We can’t say it didn’t happen. (17) But we must make them afraid to talk to anyone again using that name. Then this problem will not spread among the people.”
(18) So the Jewish leaders called Peter and John in again. They told the apostles not to say anything or to teach anything in the name of Jesus.
(19) But Peter and John answered them, “What do you think is right? What would God want? Should we obey you or God? (20) We cannot be quiet. We must tell people about what we have seen and heard.”
(21) The Jewish leaders could not find a way to punish the apostles, because all the people were praising God for what had been done. This miracle was a sign from God. The man who was healed was more than 40 years old. So the Jewish leaders warned the apostles again and let them go free.