Mark 11:27-12:12; Responding to God’s Authority

Sermon in a sentence: We should obey God’s authority.

Questioning God’s Authority (vs. 27-33)

The religious leaders wanted to know what authority Jesus had to cleanse the temple.

Jesus had already demonstrated his authority. The Pharisees, scribes, and Sadducees were too spiritually dead to accept it. ( Mark 1:22; 27, 2:10, 3:15, 6:7)

Mark 1:22 ESV

22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 1:27 ESV

27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

Mark 2:10 ESV

10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic—

Mark 3:15 ESV

15 and have authority to cast out demons.

Mark 6:7 ESV

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

They also refused to answer Jesus’ question about not because they were unsure but because they didn’t want to confess their sin. (Matthew 3:5-12)

Matthew 3:5–12 ESV

5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

We must not reject legitimate authorities God has put in our own lives.

Government: Romans 13:1-2

Parents: Ephesians 6:1-4

Elders and deacons of the church:

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 ESV

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

1 Peter 5:1–5 ESV

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Replacing Old Authorities (vs. 1-12)

Jesus answered both questions with the parable of the vineyard.

Jesus had the authority because he is the Son of the Father who owns the vineyard.

John the Baptist had authority because he was a prophet sent from God, who they killed.

Since they didn’t listen to the prophets of old, God sent them into exile. Likewise, since this generation would kill the Son, they will bring judgement upon themselves.

As the rightful owner, God sent His Son to replace the temple and sacrificial system.

Mark The Reaction of the High Priests (11:18a, 27–33)

John came preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins that bypassed the temple cult (1:4). It was free; no sacrifice was required except that of a repentant heart. No money exchanged hands. Jesus implicitly aligns himself with the ministry of John, and if John’s ministry was from heaven, then the temple has become passé.

-David Garland

The religious system, the temple, and the leaders were going to be replaced with a new a better covenant.

There is a new covenant. The temple is the body of Christ and we are made into new temples of the Living God. We placed under the care of shepherds who serve under the Great Shepherd.

As the people of God, we are called to live together in peace with God and each other. Let us be a community that strives to encourage one another and seek out corporate holiness.

Response:

You must submit to the authority of Jesus Christ through repentance and faith!

Submit to the authority God has placed over you.

Live in fellowship and holiness with your brothers and sisters in Christ.