Tell us by what authority you are doing these things
Luke 20:1-8(NIV) 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. “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?” He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
So, we read Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, proclaiming the good news to the people. As He was doing so the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders, approached Him with a question: “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?” Jesus responded with a question about John’s baptism, asking whether it was from heaven or of human origin.
The chief priests and scribes were put in a difficult position. If they acknowledged John’s baptism as divine, they would indirectly admit that Jesus was the Christ, as John had declared Jesus to be the Lamb of God, sent by God, to take away the sins of the world. However, denying John’s divine authority would put them at odds with the people, who largely regarded John as a prophet. They chose to evade the question, leading Jesus to withhold the answer to their original question.
Jesus’s authority as the Son of God is evident in His teachings and actions, which He performed by God’s authority. This is illustrated in Matthew where the crowds were amazed at His teaching, recognising His unique authority. Matthew 7:28-29(NLT) When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
Similarly, John reflects this recognition, as Jesus is acknowledged as a teacher who has come from God, evidenced by the signs He performed. John 3:2(NLT) After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
Jesus Himself clarified that His teachings were not His own but came from the Father. John 7:16-18(NLT) So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies.
This underlines that His doctrine was divine in origin, not seeking personal glory but the glory of God. The Apostle Paul echoed this sentiment when he wrote to the Galatians, emphasising that the gospel he preached was revealed to him by Jesus Christ, not of human origin.
Galatians 1:11-12(NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
The power of the Gospel, as stated in Romans, is in its divine authority to bring salvation. Romans 1:16(NLT) For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
This authority, as Jesus exemplified, is not just in teachings but also in actions, as seen in Acts where the name of Jesus is invoked with powerful consequences. Acts 19:13-17(NLT) A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored.
As Believers, we share in this divine authority. Ephesians 2:6(NLT) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:17(NLT) And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.
This is affirmed by Jesus in John where He promises that anything asked in His name will be granted to glorify the Father. John 14:13-14(NLT) You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
Therefore, the authority with which we teach and preach, comes from God and is rooted in His Word.
As 1 Peter concludes, whoever speaks, should do so as one s peaking God’s words; whoever serves, should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. 1 Peter 4:11(NLT) Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.