by what authority are you doing these things?

Matthew 21:23

BY WHAT AUTHORITY ARE YOU DOING THESE

THINGS?

On the surface this seems like a good question to ask someone.

This is a common question in life. Many question the right of the federal

government to do certain things on the basis of the constitution of the United States.

Questions are asked of people daily if they have the authority to do certain things or demand certain things of others.

Even more importantly, it would seem that one should question religious authority.

When the chief priests and elders asked Jesus these questions as recorded in Matthew 21, Mark 11 and Luke 20, they were not honest in asking this question.

It was not the question, but their attitude that was wrong.

As usual, they wanted to trap Him in answering a certain way so they could use it against Him.

This is near the end of Christ’s personal ministry.

Christ is going to answer the question with a question so they as well as future readers could answer the question for themselves.

Authority in our discussion comes from a Greek word that is usually translated authority or power. It means “the power of rule or government, the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others” (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words)“the power of authority and of right” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament).

Authority defined

What are we talking about and how serious is this question? Since authority is the right to command and to enforce obedience, then it is important to understand how authority is obtained. Authority may be absolute, assigned, or assumed. All authority is supreme, inherent, and original with God. All authority other than that inherent with God is either appointed by Him or taken by one who claims to have received it from Him.

By What Authority?

After His powerful sermon on the mount

Matthew 7:28-29

And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

What Did Others Believe?

As He taught in Capernaum on the Sabbaths

Luke 4:31-32

Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.


When He cast out a demonLuke 4:33-36

33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice,34 saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!"


When He cast out a demon Luke 4:33-36

35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him.36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."


Even the Gentile centurion recognized His authority

Luke 7:2-10 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue."


Even the Gentile centurion recognized His authorityLuke 7:2-10

Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. "Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.


Even the Gentile centurion recognized His authorityLuke 7:2-10

"For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.


In Forgiving SinsLuke 5:17-26

24 "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" --He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."

What Had Jesus Said About Authority?

In Executing JudgmentJohn 5:26-27

"For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.”


In DoctrineJohn 7:16

Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.


In ObedienceJohn 8:28

Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.


In His Eternal ExistenceJohn 8:58

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."


In Giving His LifeJohn 10:17-18

"Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."


In Being One With The FatherJohn 10:24-30

29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 "I and My Father are one."


In Who Sent HimJohn 11:41-42

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me."


In All He SpokeJohn 12:49; John 14:24

"For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.” "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.”


The previous day – Matthew 21:12-17

He cleared the temple - 12He quoted from the Old Testament

– 13, 16He healed in the temple - 14He received praise from the people

- 15

What Prompted This Question?

First parableMatthew 21:28-32

Some rejected authority – then regret it – GentilesActs 11:18Ephesians 3:6

Some pretended to accept authority – but were hypocrites – Jews – (27)

What If We Reject His Authority?

Second parableMatthew 21:33-44

Prophets were sent to themThey killed them

Matthew 23:34Jesus was sent to them

They would kill himLuke 9:22


Judgment

Kingdom of God given to another nationActs 13:46

They would be ground to powder Matthew 24:1-2Luke 21:24


Never question divine authority Matthew 28:18

Understand that authority either comes from God or manGalatians 1:8

Don’t be a hypocriteRevelation 3:15-16

If we reject Him, we will suffer the consequencesRomans 11:17-22

Summary

Jesus is the source for all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore no human has any authority unless it has been delegated to them. Authority was delegated to the apostles and prophets of the New Testament. They wrote down the word of God. After they died, no one was given any authority to change the written word. All authority comes through the word.

Conclusion

Jesus’ words still are true today. “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved!” (Mark 16:16) The apostles taught the same thing, “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 2:38) Obedience to those words today still produce the same result – forgiveness of sins.Will you obey Christ today? He still has all authority!

Conclusion

by what authority are you doing these things?

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