WHO GAVE YOU THIS AUTHORITY?

Passage: Matthew 21:23-27

Key verse: 24

NIV

The Authority of Jesus Questioned(A)

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(B) 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.”(C)

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.

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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

23 (A)And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him (B)as he was teaching, and said, (C)“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, (D)from where did it come? (E)From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, (F)‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ (G)we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was (H)a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he 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? (23)

Jesus had driven the merchants from the temple; he rebuked the chief priests. When he taught in the temple, people listened. The chief priests were jealous of his power and popularity. He had no formal education; he had no license. He had never been to seminary; he was not ordained. So they asked him for proof of his authority. Their implication was that he had none.

2. Jesus asks one question (24-27)

Jesus answered by asking a question: Was John's baptism from heaven or from men? John the Baptist was a hero. When he had preached repentance, thousands had repented. He had died a martyr's death for rebuking the evil and immoral King Herod. This same John had proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah sent by God. So the religions leaders refused to answer Jesus' question. Men who do not follow truth, but follow expediency, are evil. Jesus is the Christ of God; we must obey him.

Prayer: Lord, you have all authority in heaven and on earth. Teach me to obey.

One Word: Jesus has authority