Authority of Jesus

The triumphal entry, the riding of the donkey, the crowds cheering and praising God, the timing… All of these things point to Jesus Christ being recognized as King and Messiah!

They are cheering the praises of Psalm 118 a Messianic Psalm.

Luke has already clearly given the truth of His right to the throne of David and expressed the focus as the Son of David

His works and miracles recorded by Luke clearly show the prophecy fulfilled pointing to Him as the Messiah Luke 19:36-38

Luke 19:36–38 NASB95

As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road. As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen, shouting: “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Many of the people in the crowd had just witness Jesus bring Lazarus back to life

Riding of Donkeys was custom of Kings when they came in a procession and were coming in peace

The day had come for the rightful King of Israel to declare Himself… YET some were not so impressed or excited. Luke 19:39-44

Luke 19:39–44 NASB95

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. “For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

Why would they cry out??? Because today was the day! Daniel 9 recorded the prophecy that the Messiah would come and then be cut off…

The time had been given, the start date declared, and Nehemiah 2 gives us when the clock started!

If the people did not proclaim it the rocks would! There is NO STOPPING the plan of the Almighty!

AND they should have “known this day” verse 42 They did not recognize it.

As KING and MESSIAH He has the authority to tell us what to do and how! Does He rule your life?

Authority as God!

Don’t miss what happens in these two short verses… Luke 19:45-46

Luke 19:45–46 NASB95

Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, saying to them, “It is written, ‘And My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a robbers’ den.”

This is His house and He is cleaning house! And the religious leaders were not happy!

He has that right and authority as God!

A house of prayer… Talking to God

Over the next week Jesus will be speaking with and to the people, teaching them and He wanted His Temple clear of the filth that had been brought in.

THE WEEK AHEAD...

Look at several passages with me… Luke 19:47-48, Luke 21:37-22:6

Luke 19:47–48 NASB95

And He was teaching daily in the temple; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him, and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.

Luke 21:37–22:6 NASB95

Now during the day He was teaching in the temple, but at evening He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet. And all the people would get up early in the morning to come to Him in the temple to listen to Him. Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover, was approaching. The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. So he consented, and began seeking a good opportunity to betray Him to them apart from the crowd.

Jesus remains in full control of the time and His location…

His teaching is in the temple among the people who desired greatly to listen to Him!

Somewhere along the way during this week, Judas allows Satan to take control and betray Jesus

Why? What changed? What was taught? What disillusioned Judas?

The Authority of His Teaching

Luke addresses a situation from the start that frustrated the scribes and priest… They asked what authority He did what He was doing? Jesus response is priceless… Luke 20:1-8

Luke 20:1–8 NASB95

On one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted Him, and they spoke, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?” Jesus answered and said to them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me: “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” They reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ “But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Authority and Vineyard

Luke's readers, as well as us today, would recognize and attribute this authority was from God! Creator of the universe, the Heavenly Father!

Oh the blindness of men who do not want to see Jesus for who He is! The Son of God!

Jesus tells a parable to show this is nothing new...

Owner of a vineyard went away…

At harvest sent slaves but they were beaten and killed time and time again (Prophets)

Sent His only Son surely they would listen to Him!

Cast the Son out and killed Him!

God’s judgement is coming… destroy those running the vineyard and give it to others!

This did not please the scribes and priest!!! Tried to trap Him...

Taxes

Look at the question and response… Luke 20:21-26

Luke 20:21–26 NASB95

They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to any, but teach the way of God in truth. “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But He detected their trickery and said to them, “Show Me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.

He has every right to require us to give what belongs to Him… BUT notice, they became silent… those sent to spy and trick Him were amazed.

Resurrection

Another group, Sadducees… (Sad because they did not believe in the resurrection)

Seven brothers marry one woman after each one dies… Who will she be married to in the resurrection?

Jesus response Luke 20:34-44

Luke 20:34–44 NASB95

Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. “But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. “Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him.” Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” For they did not have courage to question Him any longer about anything. Then He said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is David’s son? “For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’ “Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and how is He his son?”

No need for marriage or procreation… we will be “LIKE” angels

The authority comes from one who has been there, who knows eternity, who set these things in place!

Jesus declares God is the God of the living not the dead… (Scribes actually compliment Jesus here)

He then challenges them stating two things that David states:

David recognizes the Son of David is also his Lord

David recognized that the Son or Messiah would be divine

Jesus’ Authority to Warn

In order to give a warning one has to know something others do not or see what others have not seen. Jesus has this authority!

Beware of External Glitter

This warning is to His disciples… people are listening but the message is to them.

This is passover season… scribes dressed for celebrations, taking prominent seats at the feast, the awe of the temple decor, gold, size and splendor...

We see pride and hypocrisy with these scribes, evil as they take advantage of widows

They may have been among the wealthy giving their gifts for all to be impressed with their gifts

The wealthy were giving gifts out of their wealth… YET Christ contrast for His disciples this widow...

Humble, of low means, poor, looked right past and Jesus praises her gift.

She gave all out of her poor state. when God looks at ones service to Himself, He looks at the heart, the motive , the cost!

Beware of End Times Judgement

The splendor of the things the eye saw would come to an end… no stone left on the other. No stone unturned...

Verses 5-34 Jesus gives some information concerning end times.

This is the third time Luke has recorded in detail for his readers these things...

The message through his writings has been clear:

The Kingdom is here and present with its king Jesus Christ

The Kingdom on earth will be postponed for a period

The King when He returns will bring judgement

Think of all those who would be listening to His Words as He spoke

Jesus gives a parallel prophecy that mirrors what is to come...

He predicts what is to come in 70 AD with the fall of Jerusalem

His prediction of this would validate everything else He predicted as well.

Israel would be trampled underfoot of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles was fulfilled! (See Daniel 9)

Jesus shares these things to come with confidence… declaring to His disciples, His listeners, you can rest easy, I have a plan and things are falling into place.

Consider the AUTHORITY that comes with knowing the future… If Jesus knows what tomorrow holds for you and I… I say that gives Him great authority to dictate how you and I should live today!

Luke has gone to great lengths to give us the exact truth:

Who Jesus is

How we should see Him

Why we should listen to Him

What His plan for salvation is

We can become disillusioned as Judas was and desire our own plans or we can see Him for who He is and accept the plan of salvation He gives through the only Son of God, who died, was buried, and is resurrected!!!

au·thor·i·ty noun 1. the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.