By What Authority?
Ponder: The principle of authority.
Scripture: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18 NKJV).
Jesus respected the principle of authority. So should we. His critics demanded to know, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” (Matthew 21:23). Had Jesus received a license after graduating from a rabbinical school? Had the chief priests ordained Him to preach in the temple? If not, what gave this carpenter’s son the right to drive out the merchants and money-changers, and then to proclaim His controversial doctrine right there on sacred ground?
Since they presumed to be qualified to judge His credentials, Jesus put His critics to the test by asking, “The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” (Matthew 21:25a). Our Lord was concerned not with human authority, but divine! No human had anointed John as a prophet. Either he had divine authority, or he had none at all. Surely these self-appointed judges of Jesus’ credentials would have no problem judging John’s! (Or would they?)
Here was their dilemma: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet” (Matthew 21:25b). So, they chickened out, claiming, “We do not know” (Matthew 21:27). Thus they showed themselves unqualified to judge anyone’s credentials. Jesus was perfectly justified in refusing to answer their presumptuous question.
Of course John’s authority came from God, not men. So did Jesus’ authority. Our authority today must come from God through His inspired word, the Bible. Religious councils, conventions, synods, and the like are utterly without divine authority. God has spoken! “Let all the earth keep silence before Him” (Habakkuk 2:20).
Song: “Do all in the Name of the Lord”
Prayer: Gracious Father, we happily confess that Jesus is Lord, with all authority in heaven and on earth. Please help us never to act on our own authority, but always to seek Your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Joe Slater (Justin, TX)