No Telling

1And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, 2And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? 3And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: 4The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? 5And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? 6But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. 7And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. 8And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Engage

It is in a time like this where we see our Lord baited that we can really see the example of his character. He had all authority

Pray

Tension

In a lot of ways social media has been very helpful. We put up pictures of our kids up for friends and family, stay in contact with people and use it for a tool to communicate. I have been really trying to get an understanding on social media lately as I have been focusing on the church plant in Ross, particularly Instagram which I never really used until recently. And while Facebook and and other platforms have become the new town square I th ink it is easy

Setting the Scene

In this mornings passage we find Jesus pressed by the whose who of Jewish Leadership. Before him were the Chief Priests; Sadducees who held the political power. The Scribes; lawyers of the Torah who scrutinized ever nuance of scripture and hung the law over the heads of men. And the elders; likely members of the Sanhedrin there to render judgment on the outcome of this questioning.

In a lot of ways social media has been very helpful. We put up pictures of our kids up for friends and family, stay in contact with people and use it for a tool to communicate. I have been really trying to get an understanding on social media lately as I have been focusing on the church plant in Ross, particularly Instagram which I never really used until recently. And while Facebook and and other platforms have become the new town square I think it is easy

True Authority

In a lot of ways social media has been very helpful. We put up pictures of our kids up for friends and family, stay in contact with people and use it for a tool to communicate. I have been really trying to get an understanding on social media lately as I have been focusing on the church plant in Ross, particularly Instagram which I never really used until recently. Facebook and and other platforms like it have become the new town square.

It is in a time like this where we see our Lord baited that we can really see the example of his character. Jesus had the Authority.

We read in Jesus says: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. There is no real challenge to his authority.

What is amazing is that through the passion week, when Jesus finally does declare his authority outright. It is to put at peace Pilate who was befuddled over all that was going on, not to defend himself. In the face of imminent crucifixion Jesus responds to Pilate in Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Demonstration of Meekness

Jesus says: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

But we don’t find Jesus commanding the privilege of this authority. We never see him coming before the people in the way we find God communicating in the Old Testament. There is no scene where Jesus stands before them and declares that he is God and that they would face wrath if his words weren’t heeded.

This is certainly a situation where human pride could get the best of you or I. To have our authority questioned in this type of public setting, it could rouse our anger into saying something that could be used against us. But that isn’t at all how Jesus handled things.

Avoid being set up

Jesus gives us an example of how we should carry ourselves. Lord willing we will not find ourselves in the predicament where an answer could cost us our lives. But certainly questions will be put before us where the questioner does not have our best interest at heart, where they will be trying to set us up for a fall. They think that they have the gotcha question. Jesus avoids getting baited, and if we are wise we will avoid being baited as well.

Pray

Social Bad

It became evident very early on that there is a drawback with social. When I am in front of people speaking with them I have a guard about making them upset, and so I am likely going to be more careful not to offend. On social however this guard about polite behavior and offensives seems to be non-existent.

Politics and lifestyle have become more divided than I can ever remember and people on both sides of the divide are frustrated and often chose to vent that frustration on social media.

I will be forthright, I personally wish I could go back in time and stop myself from posting, or commenting the way I had, and I wonder how much damage I have done for taking uncharitable positions and expressing them with venom.

I think one of these days we are going to look back and consider who that funny image we posted hurt, why that hard stance might have been unnecessary

Jesus’ Situation

Jesus has a decision to make. Essentially all of the religious leaders were gathered. Priests, Scribes & Elders. And they were questioning him on his Authority. How does he handle being baited?

Truth

Deconstructing the trap

This group that has confronted Jesus had ulterior motives. Jesus just got done cleansing the temple; remember where our Bible says on one of those days we could only be a few days later, that was on Sunday and he would die in just 5 days.

J. R. R. Token said:

They had been plotting against Jesus the entire time and had not found a solution to taking him out of the picture. All the way back in they began plotting against him, right after he healed on the Sabbath. The way that the parrallel passage in puts it give you a good understanding of where they stand: And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. You can read Sadducee here for Herodians, specifically these same priests we are dealing with. They have been plotting to have him destroyed for 2 years.

So the plan goes, if they ask by whose authority Jesus preaches as he preaches, on whose authority does he run people out of the temple there are only a couple of answers to be given. Either does these things under the authority of God or he does them under no authority.

Why must you speak your thoughts? Silence, if fair words stick in your throat, would serve all our ends better.

Jesus had always impressed with his authority. Earlier in Christs ministry we read reads And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. The word authority is the word ἐξουσίᾳ exousia in the Greek. It’s translated as power in other places and it implies that Jesus taught like a prophet not a bible teacher. We have an example of this earlier in Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. All a bible teacher can say is this first part It was said. That is how we teach today, I have no authority of my own in this regard. When I teach I have to look back to scripture, the same way that the scribes did. But Jesus was able to add this second part But I say unto you. He spoke the same way prophets did, with the authority of God in every word.

28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

So, if the Jewish leaders could get Jesus to say he had no authority to do the things he did, they win; You need some sort of authority after all to start running people out of the temple. You need some authority to teach the way he did. If he denied that he had that authority then he was no prophet and the people would stop following him.

Something I had to learn in business once I became a Christian is that:

while I won’t lie I also don’t have to tell everyone my life story.

What do I mean by this? Look back to

Look back to

If they could get him to say that he had authority from God, they had a couple of options. They could accuse him of sedition to the Roman government or they could be so bold as to accuse him of blaspheme to the people. Either way in this scenario they win.

Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

Why Jesus answers a question with a question

Jesus answers this question like a Jewish Rabbi

What Jesus could have done

At this point Jesus could have made the claim he makes directly just before the Gospel of Matthew closes

There is a joke, A man asks a rabbi: “Why do Jews always answer a question with a question?” The rabbi answers: “Do we?”

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

The Mishnah calls this practice as we have discussed before “Shoayl U’Mayshiv” and the idea behind this is to get the person asking the question to think about how the answer is derived, and then come up with the answer on his or her own.

It would have been the right answer and Jesus certainly had every right to say it. He could have said to them I am God and he could have picked an argument that he would have no doubt won. If we are to really consider it, if Christ weren’t of his meek character he could have blown them out of existence for daring to challenge him in the first place.

Jesus isn’t just dodging the question here, he is answering according to Jewish custom. He is asked a question and he is asking the analytical question back.

Jesus’ Response

Instead Jesus responds with a question of his own

And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: 4The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men

Why this question is a problem

and the Priests and Scribes give their response once we get to v7

The question Jesus gives trips these Jewish leaders up. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

Remember it was John in the Book of who said of Jesus This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. If they concede that John baptized under the authority of heaven they have a problem. Jesus was baptised under John and most importantly John said of Jesus This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. If John is of heaven then certainly Jesus is as well.

And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

That is the answer but the Jews here wanted to play chess. They figured that if they said John was of God then Jesus would respond as it is written in Why then believed ye him not? What kind of religious leader believes that a prophet is from God and still doesn’t believe him.

But on the flip side, John was a very popular Jewish figure, even at this point a few years after his death.

Josephus, who is a Jewish Historian wrote this of John:

Seems like and evasion

Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and was a very just punishment for what he did against John called the baptist [the dipper]. For Herod had him killed, although he was a good man and had urged the Jews to exert themselves to virtue, both as to justice toward one another and reverence towards God, and having done so join together in washing. For immersion in water, it was clear to him, could not be used for the forgiveness of sins, but as a sanctification of the body, and only if the soul was already thoroughly purified by right actions. And when others massed about him, for they were very greatly moved by his words, Herod, who feared that such strong influence over the people might carry to a revolt -- for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise -- believed it much better to move now than later have it raise a rebellion and engage him in actions he would regret. And so John, out of Herod's suspiciousness, was sent in chains to Machaerus, the fort previously mentioned, and there put to death; but it was the opinion of the Jews that out of retribution for John God willed the destruction of the army so as to afflict Herod.

This for me has always seemed like an evasion of the question by Jesus followed by an evasion of the question by these religious leaders. But it’s a little more complicated than that.

The question that Jesus asks is a very dangerous question, and we see from the Pharisee’s aren’t ignorant to that. But why is this so big of a deal?

The Jewish people loved John so much that they are, even after his death ascribing the military defeats of Herod to the martyrdom of John. Publicly deny John at your own peril.

The question Jesus asks here is a very dangerous question for this

Clarity

Josephus Comments Regarding John

Consider what Josephus had to say about John, Remembering that Josephus was not a Christian writer but a Jewish historian:

His authority was from the same authority that John the Baptist had.

Jesus’ answer was clear: His authority was from the same as that of John the Baptist.

Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and was a very just punishment for what he did against John called the baptist [the dipper]. For Herod had him killed, although he was a good man and had urged the Jews to exert themselves to virtue, both as to justice toward one another and reverence towards God, and having done so join together in washing. For immersion in water, it was clear to him, could not be used for the forgiveness of sins, but as a sanctification of the body, and only if the soul was already thoroughly purified by right actions. And when others massed about him, for they were very greatly moved by his words, Herod, who feared that such strong influence over the people might carry to a revolt -- for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise -- believed it much better to move now than later have it raise a rebellion and engage him in actions he would regret.

Reaction of the People towards John

The people reacted very strongly to John and even from Josephus’ writings we can see that the Jewish people blamed the treachery towards John for the destruction of Herod’s army. We read that the Priests and Scribes were concerned enough that if they answered in their honesty, that they did not believe John that the people would go as far as stoning them.

They aren’t playing dumb

These Jewish leaders aren’t just being dodgy. When they respond that “that they could not tell whence it was” I had always thought that this was a statement trying to play ignorant. But it wasn’t that at all, they could not tell. Telling was death. The aren’t saying that they don’t know, they are saying that they aren’t going to put their neck on the line to say that John’s baptism was a lie.

But then the flip side to that is true as well. This reminds of:

21And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

If Priests and Scribes lied and said that John’s authority was from heaven then they would be questioned then as to why they didn’t believe John, why weren’t they disciples of John. After all, if a prophet was sent from God for the first time in 400 years, and you believed that this was truly someone who was speaking directly for God....wouldn’t you follow him if you were a religious leader?

Jesus isn’t being dodgy either

Jesus isn’t being dodgy either. Jesus knew their heart. He understood the that the question he posed put them between a rock and a hard place. He knew that the religious leaders didn’t believe and he knew that the people would kill them if they answered honestly. And so when Jesus responds:

Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

He is giving them their same answer back to them. If he told them what he tells the disciples later

All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

But Jesus knew he was being set up.

Remember that this comes right on the heels of Jesus cleansing the temple. I think it is easy, at least it is for me to forget everything that happened in the previous chapter as if it isn’t part of the story in the passage we are reading. Jesus cleanses the temple and that is why he is being asked this question.

Application

Can’t Tell

I had a boss tell me years ago:

A pit bull can whip a skunk in a fight any day of the week. It just isn’t worth the stink.”

This fits well with what Jesus says:

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

We need to realize that we don’t need to engage in every argument that comes along and we don’t need to jump into every theological or ideological debate that presents itself. It is a very real option to listen, identify the point of difference from what we believe and move on without comment.

Now I appreciate that Jesus is God so he has the advantage of knowing his questioners hearts, but their motives weren’t just for a simple inquiry. There was no gain to be had with these people and he had a prescient for biblical wisdom to back him up

We run the risk of letting secondary issues derail us. Answer to yourself, what issues do I let drive conversations? I am concerned that we will have conversations about Bible versions, Alcohol, Music, Dress, Calvinism and on and on be what we are known for. But where do they rank next to this question “who is he that gives Jesus Authority”

Most of the time when we engage in arguments around these secondary issues we are being distracted from the point

Now, don’t get me wrong.

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Meaning that we as churches should except those who are week in the faith, but also that we should not start quarreling about disputable matters. When you and I spend our time on these disputable matters what we are doing is putting off those who need to hear the gospel which is far more important and we are taking away from putting an emphasis on personal sanctification.

I had a boss tell me years ago:

A pit bull can whip a skunk in a fight any day of the week. It just isn’t worth the stink.”

I sat down earlier this week for lunch with Pastor Wally Miller from Bible Baptist Church in Fairfield. He said something that he prefaced as a ‘Millerism’ before he continued: He said that he doesn’t like the idea of advertising as Independent and Fundamental and Premilineal out on the sign because it confuses people. You know I have made this point as well, I think it is past time that the term ‘Fundamentalist’ were dropped as an adjective for us. The only connotation that the world has of that is negative and it just isn’t something I want to stand blocking the way for non-Christians to come to our church.

Reading this in the past I have taken it the way you or I might answer with these words. I thought that the Jewish leaders were intentionally playing dumb. That they were trying to say that they couldn’t determine from where John was given his authority.

I would honestly take this statement as far as needed to go. I wouldn’t want to find out that someone walked out of the church after visiting the first time and that their big take-away was that we only use the KJV bible. Sure that being something that is mentioned are included is fine, but the big take-away always ought to be that we serve and awesome God who loves us and that there is a way for us to be right with him.

They just couldn’t tell because telling was going to get them killed. And likewise in Jesus response back to them ...Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. was along those same lines. Our Lord wasn’t ignorant to plans of the priests, scribes and elders.

Alpha

Wise Response

America used to be a place where we could focus on distinctions in communicating to the community what our churches were about.

I am looking into a community outreach program called the Alpha Course. The behind it is that you would have 10 non-confrontational meetings to hear teaching about Biblical basics and to have an open and honest conversation about those topics. Week 1 opens with “Is There more to Life than this”. We have to start today as basic as establishing that there is something for us after this life.

This is an example Jesus gives of what he says in Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Jesus was being wise with his interrogators, not to fall into the trap laid for him.

As Christians we need to exercise the same sort of restraint, and this is increasingly hard today with social media being such a big part of our lives. Social drops those face-to-face barriers that usually prevent us from saying something bluntly and with a poor spirit.

We are presented with antagonistic content on a daily basis. Our politics are informed by our religion so there is an additional assault to our sensibilities on that front.

Our knee-jerk…or at the very least my knee-jerk is to defend every opposing view I find presented on the internet. In the past I have been uncharitable in doing so and that was not wise.

Our Christian life ought to adopt something,

Abraham Lincoln was known for his Team of Rivals. He appointed to his cabinet William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase and Edward Bates to his cabinet. All three were fierce political rivals who opposed him. In doing so he was able to call upon the talents of men very different from him but also to make them his friend. Lincoln is famously quoted as saying:

I sat down earlier this week for lunch with Pastor Wally Miller from Bible Baptist Church in Fairfield. He said something that he prefaced as a ‘Millerism’ before he continued: He said that he doesn’t like the idea of advertising as Independent and Fundamental and Premilineal out on the sign because it confuses people. You know I have made this point as well, I think it is past time that the term ‘Fundamentalist’ were dropped as an adjective for us. The only connotation that the world has of that is negative and it just isn’t something I want to stand blocking the way for non-Christians to come to our church.

Take-Away’s

I would honestly take this statement as far as needed to go. I wouldn’t want to find out that someone walked out of the church after visiting the first time and that their big take-away was that we only use the KJV bible. Sure that being something that is mentioned are included is fine, but the big take-away always ought to be that we serve and awesome God who loves us and that there is a way for us to be right with him.

We can let secondary issues derail us

We run the risk of letting secondary issues derail us. Answer to yourself, what issues do I let drive conversations? I am concerned that we will have conversations about Bible versions, Alcohol, Music, Dress, Calvinism and on and on be what we are known for. But where do they rank next to this question “who is he that gives Jesus Authority”

Most of the time when we engage in arguments around these secondary issues we are being distracted from the point

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Meaning that we as churches should except those who are week in the faith, but also that we should not start quarreling about disputable matters. When you and I spend our time on these disputable matters what we are doing is putting off those who need to hear the gospel which is far more important and we are taking away from putting an emphasis on personal sanctification.

Alpha

I sat down earlier this week for lunch with Pastor Wally Miller from Bible Baptist Church in Fairfield. He said something that he prefaced as a ‘Millerism’ before he continued: He said that he doesn’t like the idea of advertising as Independent and Fundamental and Premilineal out on the sign because it confuses people. You know I have made this point as well, I think it is past time that the term ‘Fundamentalist’ were dropped as an adjective for us. The only connotation that the world has of that is negative and it just isn’t something I want to stand blocking the way for non-Christians to come to our church.

I destroy my enemies when I make them my friends

America used to be a place where we could focus on distinctions in communicating to the community what our churches were about.

Take-Away’s

From a church stand point we don’t really need to advertise every contention. I met with Wally Miller the Pastor of Bible Baptist Church in Fairfield this past Monday and we were discussing some of his insights on church planting. One of the things he called a ‘Millerism’ was that he doesn’t like to advertise that he is a ‘Fundamentalist’. Is it true, absolutely. But what the world sees as fundamentalist is a step far beyond what we are and it doesn’t do anything but confuse the community and create a barrier.

I am looking into a community outreach program called the Alpha Course. The idea behind it is that you would have 10 non-confrontational meetings to hear teaching about Biblical basics and to have an open and honest conversation about those topics. Week 1 opens with “Is There more to Life than this”. We have to start today as basic as establishing that there is something for us after this life.

I would honestly take this statement as far as needed to go. I wouldn’t want to find out that someone walked out of the church after visiting the first time and that their big take-away was that we only use the KJV bible. Sure that being something that is mentioned are included is fine, but the big take-away always ought to be that we serve and awesome God who loves us and that there is a way for us to be right with him.

I would go so far to say that a lot of things that we push that are secondary issues can be the same way. The version of bible we prefer and even the name of our denominiation. Let me ask, are those primary or secondary issues? Can you give me scripture references on either?

Atheists want to start with the hot button social issues. Today the argument tends to be on gender and sexuality but I wouldn’t go there. Because I believe if we keep the central focus on Christ, everything else will fall into place.

This is an extreme example, and don’t get me wrong, I think that there is value in being called baptist, but what if that name falls into be associated more with Westboro Baptist types? What if that name becomes a hindrance to the gospel?

Alpha

For me that is a soul-searching question. I have a lot of identity wrapped up in having Baptist be an adjective for myself. Are we able to take something that important to us and not defend it for the sake of gospel?

America used to be a place where these kinds of

This whole passage is about Jesus not defending his authority. Which is a bigger issue, the authority of Christ or that we are called Baptist?

Please understand that I say that, not at all to say we shouldn’t be called Baptist. We very much should! But to give some perspective, what hills are worth dying on?

Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Lest thou also be like unto him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

Do we apply this wisdom to our interactions?

I told you that I lately have been teamed up in scouting with some people that are very much different than me. I also told you that there is a woman in this team who is a Methodist pastor.

Lest he be wise in his own conceit.

It is hard for me to even let the phrase “she is a pastor” come out of my mouth, it is so contradictory to what I find in scripture to be true. Worst of all, knowing that I am ordained as a deacon and a preacher she keeps trying to relate.

I have options here. I can keep my mouth shut and try to be kind. And then I can start talking to her about truths. I have at least at this point been able to direct her towards some conservative Bible teachers. I recommended John MacArthur to her on something, if she does a little math she will figure out where I stand.

We need to focus on the foundational gospel truths when we are dealing with the world. Everytyhing else is as Jesus says in Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Those other things will come into play as people grow and mature in Christ.

No Telling

Not Taking the Bait

Social can be good

Understanding the Trap

Can’t Tell

Inspiration

Action

No Telling

​

Not Taking the Bait

Social can be good

Understanding the Trap

Can’t Tell

Inspiration

Action