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The Authority of Jesus - Part 1
- CEV - Matthew 21:23 Jesus had gone into the temple and was teaching when the chief priests and the leaders of the people came up to him. They asked, "What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?"
- CEV - Matthew 21:24 Jesus answered, "I have just one question to ask you. If you answer it, I will tell you where I got the right to do these things.
Jesus was right here showing them in what authority He was teaching. Already He has told the chief priests and the ones in authority by completely turning it to where He was questioning them, making a deal and taking control of the situation. I can't help but think that this was the Holy Spirit or God leading Him in what to say.
- CEV - Luke 12:12 At that time the Holy Spirit will tell you what to say.
This type of wisdom is available to all of us that are willing to accept it. Accepting it is alot more than words. You have to be faithful to God and He has to know that you are trying your best to strive for a continual closeness to Him. In this, He can bless you beyond measure. Jesus already had authority over all of these men but is right now fixing to show them in quite a loving way without talking about them specifically. This was an ingenius way of handling a situation like this.
What a simple question. It had to take those leaders off guard. But this simple question sure did confound the "wise" of the world.
- CEV - Matthew 21:25 Who gave John the right to baptize? Was it God in heaven or merely some human being?" They thought it over and said to each other, "We can't say that God gave John this right. Jesus will ask us why we didn't believe John.
- CEV - Matthew 21:26 On the other hand, these people think that John was a prophet, and we are afraid of what they might do to us. That's why we can't say that it was merely some human who gave John the right to baptize."
John the baptist came before Jesus preaching of the coming of Jesus, the Messiah. Many people followed John and John was never a threat. He was preaching about one to come and now the one he preached about is teaching in their midst. John even said that he wasn't fit to tie the sandals of Jesus.
Jesus had these scholars totally stumped. Do you think that these educated men, the smartest in their community didn't have a clue that Jesus was the Messiah? Was it more a power deal for them? or did they really think that they were dealing with an ex-carpenter gone astray?
These men were fighting the power of the two forces, that of which is of God and that which is of satan. Most of the big issues of current times, abortion, same sex marriages, prayer in school, all of these things take direct sides with God and satan.
- CEV - Matthew 21:27 So they told Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Then I won't tell you who gave me the right to do what I do."
Jesus, one man silencing the oppresive leadership and scholars of Israel.
- CEV - Mark 8:36 What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself?
- CEV - Mar8 8:37 What could you give to get back your soul?
. that appears to be the real question here.
- CEV - Mar8 8:37 What could you give to get back your soul?
What would you give for your life?
Not this earthly life but an eternal life in paradise.
How many of us do that in many little everyday things. A cuss word or 2 in front of those that you know cuss or just a little white lie so the "world" will not know the real you or your beliefs in Jesus?
- CEV - Mark 8:38 Don't be ashamed of me and my message among these unfaithful and sinful people! If you are, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
The leaders while talking amongst themselves were debating whether they should say from God or from the "world". These were supposed to be the ones that did nothing but supposedly studied the Bible and teach their countrymen. and their answer...
- CEV - Matthew 21:27 So they told Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Then I won't tell you who gave me the right to do what I do."
They didn't know.
It wasn't so much as they didn't know, they were crumbling to what the "world" would think.
I can just see those leaders standing there with their mouth open and scratching their heads. Jesus realizing that perhaps they still didn't understand, He went on to tell them the parable of the two sons.
At first glance it would appear that satan had won this battle with those men and to a degree he did but something else needs to be considered here. If the leadership of the church HAD accepted Jesus as the messiah, would he have ever been crucified for me and you?
We who know our God and His love know that in some way, He would have had His plan work but in order for it to work for us, we do have to be obedient and be willing to surrender whatever God asks from you. Be ready to stand up for Jesus. Anytime or anywhere, be ready through both words and actions. We bring praise and Glory to God through our words and our actions. Our words and actions can also bring shame.
- CEV - Luke 9:26 If you are ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when he comes in his glory and in the glory of his Father and the holy angels.
These were the leaders of the church that Jesus was talking to and the church was the government.
How many would think that this story is talking about some old men in the Bible?
People want to debate as to whether the Bible is true. They will refer to it as an old book, a book of old tales and the list continues to the Bible could in no way be true.
We as Christians KNOW without a doubt that God's Word is a living book. It is to speak to each of us individually. We should look at this as we are the "scholars of that day" and we are the ones that are listening to the words that pierced the ears of those men back then....use this scripture to better our own lives.
Jesus went on to try and explain Himself even further by telling a parable.
The Parable of The Two Sons
- CEV - Matthew 21:28 Jesus said: I will tell you a story about a man who had two sons. Then you can tell me what you think. The father went to the older son and said, "Go work in the vineyard today!"
- CEV - Matthew 21:29 His son told him that he would not do it, but later he changed his mind and went.
- CEV - Matthew 21:30 The man then told his younger son to go work in the vineyard. The boy said he would, but he didn't go.
- CEV - Matthew 21:31 Which one of the sons obeyed his father? "The older one," the chief priests and leaders answered. Then Jesus told them: You can be sure that tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you ever will!
- CEV - Matthew 21:32 When John the Baptist showed you how to do right, you would not believe him. But these evil people did believe. And even when you saw what they did, you still would not change your minds and believe.
Jesus silenced the leaders of that day with a simple question then drove His point home about their own spiritual well being with a simple parable.
We are all given chances by God to do things. It is by our own decisions that we make that will enable God to bless us or not. The blessings truly come from our obedience and willingness to surrender any little thing we harbor for the good of our own souls.
Is there anyone reading this that doesn't know Jesus. Jesus will wait on you until you die and none of us have any guarantees of tomorrow.
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