“By what authority?”

We have already learned that the Pharisees and the scribes were adversaries to Jesus. In today’s passage, new adversaries emerge. They are “the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.” Having witnessed Jesus cleansing the temple, they now view Him as a threat. They approach Jesus and question, “By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?” In the Jewish context of that time, it was commonly known that one needed the recognition and authorization of a respected Rabbi to qualify as a teacher. Jesus, however, was acting as the Messiah without the endorsement of any recognized authority. This exactly was problematic for them. Instead of directly answering their question, Jesus turns the tables and asks them, “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? Answer Me.” This question puts them in a dilemma. (1) If they say it was from heaven, they will be asked why they didn’t believe John. (2) If they say it was from men, they risk angering the crowds who supported John’s baptism, and risk being stoned my them. After careful consideration, they respond, “We do not know.” Recognizing their stubbornness, Jesus tells them, “Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things,” and He closes His mouth on the matter.

Lessons for us

Let’s learn from the mistakes of the leaders. (1) They approached Jesus with an attitude of command, seeking answers from the top down. As long as they keep this attitude, Jesus remains silent. We should pray with the attitude of Samuel, saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3:10). (2) They doubted Jesus’ authority. However, if you want to hear the voice of Jesus, you must have trust in His authority. Without faith, we cannot please God. Just as those without faith did not encounter the resurrected Jesus. Let us acknowledge that sovereignty belongs to God, the Almighty Lord, and place all our burdens before Him.