Articles
By What Authority - Luke 20
By What Authority - Luke 20
Who authorized you to do this? So the question was put to Jesus. First, the obvious: ‘these things’ refer to the miracles He performed as well as the cleansing of the temple. But Jesus’ answer is revealing! The ‘answer’ to this question depends largely upon the person’s attitude about ‘authority’ in the 1st place. What it proved HERE, was that these ‘authority police’ were more interested in reputation than character, popularity than correctness, position than truth. It was not that they could NOT answer the question, in fact, they had already answered by their response to John’s baptism demand! No, the problem was their whole underlying attitude towards God and God’s authority. They were just like ‘their fathers’, they rejected and killed God’s prophets! NOW, they reject God’s messengers of the New Covenant.
Yet, you know that the same question faces US! People, including us, do many things in the name of religion. The problem is as it has always been, who authorized you to do such things? Such a question is out of place in our society today, but it is NOT out of order in the scheme of God’s dealings. Does our authority ‘come from above’ or ‘from within’? Whatever you do, do all in the name of the LORD’ (Col. 3:15-16). Man shall live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4; Deut. 8:3). THIS is MY SON, HEAR YE HIM (Matt. 17:5). All authority in heaven and upon earth has been given unto HIM – THEREFORE make disciples OF HIM (Matt. 28:18-20). Examine yourself – WHY do you do what you do?
Hugh DeLong
