By What Authority?

By What Authority?

Luke 20:1-19

-Today’s passage tells us about one of several times that Jesus’ authority was questioned and what Jesus did and didn’t do to validate it.

-As we go through this passage and see Jesus’s response to his authority being questioned, let me encourage you to search your own heart for tendencies to doubt His authority in some area.

I. Authority Investigated (Luke 20:1-2)

–And 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, And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

-What was happening: their hold on religious authority was not aligned with the spiritual authority that Jesus had and something had to give.

-The same happens with the church today–so often we run into a crossroads where our will and actions do not align with God’s Word and we have to make a choice: choose our own will at the expense of His or submit to His will in a transformation of ours.

-Maybe you’ve been questioning God’s leading in your life and been wrongly investigating God’s authority when it’s His authority that deserves your full submission.

II. Absurdity Incriminated (Luke 20:3-8)

–And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

-Jesus was pointing them to recognize that as the Prophet, John the Baptist’s authority was from God…so also was His!

-An admission and submission to God’s authority at it’s most basic level brings God’s full blessing.

-Pride prevents us from submitting to God because we refuse to say no to self and it’s desires and conclusions.

-And that choice must be made in every area of life…will I follow God or my own self-reliant conclusions?

-Access to God is through Jesus alone, “I am the way, the Truth, and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”

-Life done God’s way receives God’s blessing.

III. Attitude Illustrated (Luke 20:9-18)

–Then began he to speak to the people this parable

-Jesus took this opportunity to point out the eternal ramifications of the hard-hearted rejection of Jesus by these guys…

-God was putting them in their place by replacing their own self-made authority w/ His true authority!

-Do you perhaps see some of the Sanhedrin’s attitude in yourself…maybe not a blatant rejection of Jesus, but certainly not a full reception of Him and His meekness either…Let God change that in you today…repent of that sinful attitude.

IV. Anger Intensified (Luke 20:19)

–And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

-The sad part: What God had intended to point their hearts to Him was actually allowed by them to harden their hearts toward Him.

-Just a simple point here: is there something hardening your heart toward the things of the Lord when a humble look at it might actually turn you in tenderness toward Him and the work He wants to do in your life?

-Don’t leave here more hardened than you came in…let God get break your heart in a real and tangible way!

-Maybe it’s time for you to stop resisting His beautifying work on your heart today!