By Whose Authority?

Luk 20:1- 8

1 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?" 3 He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John's baptism--was it from heaven, or of human origin?" 5 They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?' 6 But if we say, 'Of human origin,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet." 7 So they answered, "We don't know where it was from." 8 Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Keywords: Good News, Priest, Teachers, and Authority

The gospel is the good news. The gospel explains the reason for Christ's birth, death, and resurrection.[1]

Priest: The book of Numbers explains the priests are from the bloodline of Aaron. Aaron is the older brother of Moses. The Priests were of the upper Jewish society.[2] The Priests were representatives of the people before God.[3]

The Pharisees are one of three groups of the Sanhedrin in place to uphold the law.[4] They were part of the oral traditions maintaining a belief in predestination, angels, and spirits.[5]

The Sadducees are a religious group who were named by David’s co-priest, Zadok. The name means righteous ones.[6]

Authority is characterized as intrinsic or delegated. God has intrinsic authority over all. Delegated authority is given to someone who holds intrinsic authority.[7]

Imagine arriving home to find individuals there doing many things that you have asked them not to do. You are upset and demand the individuals to exit your home. As they are walking out, one questions your right to demand them to leave. How would you respond? Would you show them the lease, deed, or property agreement?

Jesus arrived at the Temple to find individuals selling and exchanging currency in the area designated for prayer. The inner areas of the Temple were set aside for the priests and Levites. The next area was for the Jewish men without deformities or illnesses. The next section was for the Jewish women with a section for Gentiles in the rear. The Jewish women and the Gentiles were in the area shared by the merchants.

Can you imagine sitting in class trying to hear a lecture, but the sound of cows, sheep, and goats making so much noise that the instructor can barely be heard? What about individuals yelling the coinage exchange rate at their table? Are you able to learn during this noise?

Jesus answered the questions of the religious leaders with a question. Their refusal to answer the question posed by Jesus had the opposite effect that they were seeking. They were seeking to discredit Jesus in hopes of turning the people against him.

Bibliography

Constable, Thomas L. “2 Kings.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, 537-588. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 1984.

Lemke, Steve W. “Authority, Divine Authority.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 148-149. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament, edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, 199-265. Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 1984.

Mathis, Donny. “Gospel.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 662-664. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

Mitchell, Mike. “Sadducees.” In Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1401. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

“Pharisee,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1259. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015.

Scott, Jr., J. Julius. Jewish Background of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1995.

[1] Donny Mathis, “Gospel,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 662-664. [2] Thomas L. Constable, “2 Kings,” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Old Testament, edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck. (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 1984), 452-454. [3] J. Julius Scott, Jr. Jewish Background of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1995), 67. [4] “Pharisees”, in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 1259. [5] Scott, Jr. Jewish Background, 205. [6] Mike Mitchell, “Sadducees,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 1401. [7] Steve W. Lemke, “Authority, Divine Authority,” in Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2015), 148-149.