Explore the Bible: April 26

Authority • Matthew 21:23-32

By Joe McKeever

Before leaving Heaven, our Lord knew that He would have to deal with the religious powers-that-be in Judea. It would not be pretty, and He would pay the ultimate price. But He could not accomplish His mission without crossing these people. The Judean religious leaders were mistreating God’s people and abusing their positions as leaders. They would have to be dealt with.  

Most people feared crossing those leaders. Jesus did  not.    

As Jesus began His work — cleansing the temple, instructing the people, healing on the Sabbath, rebuking the hypocrites, and most of all, forgiving sins — the leadership asked to see His credentials. “Who gave you authority to preach and to represent God in this land? Who said you could forgive sins? What right do you have to tell people to ignore our rules?”  

They owned the franchise, in their opinion. No one could do business for God without their seal of approval. 

That actually was not a bad question: Jesus was doing some amazing things; who gave Him the authority to do that? 

You may recall at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, the last sentence reads, “The crowds were amazed at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29 NASB). 

The scribes taught by citing authorities. “Now, Rabbi Henry said this. And Prophet Rodriguez said that.” But when our Lord taught, it was different. He cited no other authorities. He said, “You have heard… but I say to you…” (Check out Matthew 5:22,28,32,34,39,44. And that’s just one chapter!) 

Now, in responding to His critics, our Lord used what we call the Socratic method: He answered a question with a question. “I will ask you a question,” Jesus said. “Answer me and then I will answer you.” Fair enough.

“The baptism John was doing: Was that from Heaven or from men?” Simple enough on the surface. The problem is if they said, “His baptism was from Heaven,” the people would want to know “Why, then, did you oppose him?” And if they answered, “It was from human origins,” all those who accepted John as “a man sent from God” (John 1:6) would rebel. So, they took the safe route and said, “We don’t know.”  

They refused to take a position.   

It wasn’t that they did not have an answer, only that they would not admit what they knew to be true.  These men were not interested in truth, only in their positions as the dominant leaders of the people.  

Courage is a rare and valuable commodity in leaders of all types, religious as well as political and business. Courage means doing the risky or hard thing simply because it is right.

Then our Lord told a story. (Let’s pause here and reflect on people like Abraham Lincoln who told stories to illustrate points. Once when someone said I tell too many stories, I said, “That reminds me of a story.”)

I’m a story-telling preacher. The right story at the perfect place in the sermon can make a world of difference. We read that “Jesus never taught without telling a parable” (Mark 4:34). Parables are stories. 

The point of the story in Matthew 21:28-32 is that even if we have been wrong previously, it’s perfectly fine to change our mind. Don’t miss verses 31-32, where Jesus speaks hard truth to these leaders willing to sacrifice anyone and everyone to save their positions: “Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of God ahead of you.” Wow. How strong was that! “For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him. However, many of the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him. And even when you saw that, you still did not change your minds and believe him” (my paraphrase).  

On another occasion the disciples said, “Master, are you aware that the Pharisees were offended by what you said?” We smile at their naivete. Of course He was!!  Jesus answered, “Leave them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind” (Matthew 15:12-14, my paraphrase). 

At the end of Matthew’s Gospel, before He issued what we call the Great Commission, our Lord gave them (and us!) His credentials: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18 NASB). He has the right to command. 

One more insight, one I hold dear. In Genesis 49, old Jacob is blessing his sons from his deathbed. In verse 10, talking to Judah he said, “The scepter shall not depart from Judah…until Shiloh comes” (NASB). We are told the Hebrew for “Shiloh” means “he whose right it is,” referring to “the individual who has the authority to rule.” It’s a Messianic prophecy. In time, Judah became Judea, and these verses were fulfilled in our Lord Jesus. He has a right to rule.  

The easiest answer to the question “What is Jesus’ authority?” is three words: “Jesus is Lord.” Scripture says the time is coming when every eye shall see, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess.  

Jesus Christ is Lord. 

McKeever is a member of First Baptist Church, Jackson.