BY WHAT AUTHORITY

Passage: Mark 11:27-33

Key verse: 29,30

NIV

The Authority of Jesus Questioned(A)

27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

29 Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

31 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)(B)

33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

27 (A)And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, 28 and they said to him, (B)“By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” 29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John (C)from heaven or from man? Answer me.” 31 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, (D)‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 32 But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—(E)they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was (F)a prophet. 33 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. By what authority? (27-28)

Jesus' authority came from God. His authority is confirmed by the witness of Scripture, by his life-giving work of healing, and, ultimately, by his resurrection from the dead. The chief priests and teachers of the law were jealous and fearful because of Jesus' power and popularity. They did not want to submit to his authority as the Christ. So they tried to undermine his authority. There are those today who want to receive Jesus' grace while denying his Lordship. This cannot be.

2. Jesus' answer (29-33)

John, martyred by Herod, was acknowledged to be a prophet. He had testified that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, sent by God to forgive sins and to baptize with the Holy Spirit. Jesus countered the question of the hypocritical religious leaders with a question of his own. He asked them the source of John's authority. They refused to answer. They had no regard for the truth.

Prayer: Lord, you are Savior and Lord. Help me to obey you in every area of my life.

One Word: Jesus has all authority