BY WHAT AUTHORITY?

Passage: Luke 20:1-8

Key verse: 4

NIV

The Authority of Jesus Questioned(A)

20 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts(B) and proclaiming the good news,(C) 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?”(D)

3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism(E)—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(F) will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”(G)

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.”

Read full chapter
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

20 (A)One day, (B)as Jesus[a] was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, (C)the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up 2 and said to him, “Tell us (D)by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” 3 He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, 4 was the baptism of John (E)from heaven or from man?” 5 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, (F)‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was (G)a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Luke 20:1 Greek he
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. Who gave you this authority? (1-2)

Jesus displayed God's love and power as he healed the sick and taught God's word. The religious leaders were jealous of his popularity. They questioned his authority: he was not ordained; he was not a priest; he did not have a seminary degree. God's hand of blessing was evident on Jesus' ministry, but they didn't believe because they didn't want to believe.

2. What do you say about John's baptism? (3-8)

In reply, Jesus asked them about John the Baptist. John had died a martyr's death at the hands of Herod. He had spoken God's word, and people repented of sin. He had witnessed to Jesus, the Son of God, the Christ (Jn 1:29-34). The religious leaders decided that they could neither answer Jesus' question about John nor repent. There are some today who see God's hand working in people, but who know that commitment is costly, so they reject God's word and blessing. Those who know, but avoid the cross of mission and commitment can become God's enemies.

Prayer: Lord, I see your hand working and I praise your name. Use me in your work.

One Word: By the authority of God