The Authority of Jesus Questioned - Matthew 21:23-27
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Reflection: Jesus is rudely interrupted by the priests and the elders as he teaches in the temple courts. The priests were in charge of spiritual matters, as administered in the temple. And the elders were in charge of running the government and the law courts. As Jesus entered his final week, despite being hungry, as we saw yesterday with the barren fig tree, he goes back to his primary calling to preach in the temple to the lost sheep of Israel. But as we have seen before, he isn't afraid to address the contentiousness of the religious and national leaders, who are jealous of the growing following he is receiving.
But instead of answering their question regarding where his authority comes from, he counters with a question for them. Notice he isn't intimidated by their tactics. So he asks them a question, "Where does John's authority come from, man or from heaven?" Now they are in a quandary. If they say "from men", they are in fear of the mobs who have been following John. Right there that should show you how strong of leaders they were, as the people were all defecting to John and/or Jesus for leadership. Secondly, if they said heaven that would be playing into Jesus' hand, because John acknowledged Jesus as, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
What can we learn from how Jesus handles this situation? Our first inclination when our authority is challenged is to try to justify ourselves, often in a defensive manner. But if indeed we are doing something we are called to do by God, we are doing it by His authority, we should feel confident not defensive. When Jesus gave the disciples (and by application us) the Great Commission he said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, now go and make disciples." From this we can infer two things. One, there will be opposition, just as Jesus faced opposition when he brought the kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Two, we can be confident as we are going and making disciples, we do it in and by His authority.
Where has God called you to exercise authority on His behalf? It could be in your home. It could be someone God has called you to shepherd/guide in spiritual matters? All of us should be leaning on and learning from a shepherd in our lives. As we grow to spiritual maturity, God will then lead us to shepherd others in His authority and His power.
Jesus, thank you for the authority you have given us to make disciples in your name by baptizing, preaching, teaching and healing. Help us to grow in our understanding of the authority you have given us as believers and followers of Jesus, so that we can advance Your kingdom here on earth. Amen. /b>
24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Reflection: Jesus is rudely interrupted by the priests and the elders as he teaches in the temple courts. The priests were in charge of spiritual matters, as administered in the temple. And the elders were in charge of running the government and the law courts. As Jesus entered his final week, despite being hungry, as we saw yesterday with the barren fig tree, he goes back to his primary calling to preach in the temple to the lost sheep of Israel. But as we have seen before, he isn't afraid to address the contentiousness of the religious and national leaders, who are jealous of the growing following he is receiving.
But instead of answering their question regarding where his authority comes from, he counters with a question for them. Notice he isn't intimidated by their tactics. So he asks them a question, "Where does John's authority come from, man or from heaven?" Now they are in a quandary. If they say "from men", they are in fear of the mobs who have been following John. Right there that should show you how strong of leaders they were, as the people were all defecting to John and/or Jesus for leadership. Secondly, if they said heaven that would be playing into Jesus' hand, because John acknowledged Jesus as, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."
What can we learn from how Jesus handles this situation? Our first inclination when our authority is challenged is to try to justify ourselves, often in a defensive manner. But if indeed we are doing something we are called to do by God, we are doing it by His authority, we should feel confident not defensive. When Jesus gave the disciples (and by application us) the Great Commission he said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, now go and make disciples." From this we can infer two things. One, there will be opposition, just as Jesus faced opposition when he brought the kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Two, we can be confident as we are going and making disciples, we do it in and by His authority.
Where has God called you to exercise authority on His behalf? It could be in your home. It could be someone God has called you to shepherd/guide in spiritual matters? All of us should be leaning on and learning from a shepherd in our lives. As we grow to spiritual maturity, God will then lead us to shepherd others in His authority and His power.
Jesus, thank you for the authority you have given us to make disciples in your name by baptizing, preaching, teaching and healing. Help us to grow in our understanding of the authority you have given us as believers and followers of Jesus, so that we can advance Your kingdom here on earth. Amen. /b>
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