Revealing answers on authority

Luke 20:1- 47
by Brian Knitter

On a particular day, Jesus was confronted by Chief Priests, scribes, elders, and later, Sadducees. All of them wanted to know by what authority Jesus was preaching. They felt they had the authority to do God’s work, since they were the religious authority of the day, but a carpenter’s son? Why was He given the title “teacher?” They did not feel He should be doing what He was doing.

The “authorities” tried to trick this troublemaker Jesus with leading questions in order to get him arrested or stoned to death. Jesus would not directly tell them by what authority He did these things, but he did tell them in a parable. In essence, Jesus said that the Israelites, including the religious authorities, had killed God’s prophets, and were about to kill God’s Son. Because of this, God would take His inheritance away from Israel, and give it to others. It’s no wonder that the authorities tried to “lay hands” on Jesus at that point. Jesus said that He was the cornerstone — the foundation of the new inheritance — Christianity. The authorities went away, but watched Jesus and sent spies in his midst to further trap him. The Sadducees also came. They asked Him if He recommended paying taxes (to say no would get him in trouble with Rome). Jesus said (in paraphrase) “Yes, pay your taxes to those who rule over you, but also give that which belongs to God to God.”

When the authorities were done questioning Him, Jesus said (again in paraphrase): “Watch out for these guys! They like the authority they have, but they do not use it for good.

To me, these passages point out the authority of Jesus as God’s son, but it also brings a warning or two to those who lead, or want to lead. Those who do lead, teach & preach should use that authority for good. God has granted that authority to them. Those with wealth, position or degree should not feel superior to those without. God may raise up that other person to lead in a special way because their heart is in the right place: centered on God. We need to understand that any authority we have is given to us by God, and He can just as easily take it away. We need to respect and revere God’s authority over all things.