“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

Matt 21:2

Matthew 21:23–27 ESV

And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

What Authority?

What Authority?

Discuss “these things”

Triumphant entry into Jerusalem

Withered fig tree

Driving out the money lenders

Mark 1

Mark 1:27 ESV

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.”

Matthew 7:29 ESV

for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

matt 7:29

By What Authority?

Luke 9:1 ESV

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,

Luke 4:36 ESV

And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”

Matthew 28:18 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Luke 4:3

We’re In Charge Here!

Matthew 21:23 ESV

And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

The questioners represented temple authority and had not given Jesus any authority,

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Matthew 4. The Question of Authority, 21:23–27

The questioners doubtless thought of themselves as taking action from a position of strength. Jesus must, they would have reasoned, cite some source of authority, and since they represented temple authority, it could not be any authority that justified him in taking action in the way he did in the place he used. Any human authority he claimed must necessarily be inferior. And if he claimed to have God’s authority, they would be able to accuse him of blasphemy

The questioners doubtless thought of themselves as taking action from a position of strength.

Jesus must, they would have reasoned, cite some source of authority,

Any human authority he claimed must necessarily be inferior.

And if he claimed to have God’s authority, they would be able to accuse him of blasphemy

Jesus’ Answer

Matthew 21:24 ESV

Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.

Matt

Matthew 21:24–25 ESV

Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

Matthew 21:25 ESV

The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

Matt 21:

Matthew 21:26 ESV

But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

Morris, L. (1992). The Gospel according to Matthew (p. 534). Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter-Varsity Press.

Matt

Matthew 21:27 ESV

So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Matthew 4. The Question of Authority, 21:23–27

We ought not to think that he was evading the question, or that he was uncertain of the source of his authority. He knew very well, and in proper circumstances he would answer. But these were men who had been asked a question to which they knew the answer, but who refused to give it because they were afraid of the consequences. Why should a teacher like Jesus answer the loaded questions of men like these?

Matthew 21:27 ESV

So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to Matthew 4. The Question of Authority, 21:23–27

We ought not to think that he was evading the question, or that he was uncertain of the source of his authority. He knew very well, and in proper circumstances he would answer. But these were men who had been asked a question to which they knew the answer, but who refused to give it because they were afraid of the consequences. Why should a teacher like Jesus answer the loaded questions of men like these

Matthew 21:27 ESV

So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Matt 21:2

Jesus was not uncertain about the source of his authority

In the proper circumstances, he would answered the question

These men had be asked a question they knew the answer to but refused to answer for political correct reason

So there is no reason for Jesus to answer loaded questions from men like these

Matthew 28:18 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Matt 28