Questioning Credentials

Questioning Credentials

Matthew 21:23-27, NIV

Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Setting the Scene

Jesus had entered the city of Jerusalem as a peaceful king, cleansed the Temple as the indignant Son of God, and generally created a buzz around the city about his identity. Each day he was teaching in the Temple, never in want of an audience. During one of these sessions, he was approached by the local authorities, who questioned his authority to be “doing these things” (Matthew 21:23).

Their question was really two questions: “by what authority?” and “who gave you this authority?” Their points were, “How are you doing this?” and “Who told you that you could do it?” If Jesus had declared that he was exercising God’s authority, they would have accused him of claiming to be God or God’s Messiah—and therefore committing blasphemy. Based on Leviticus 24:10-23, they would have brought him to trial and sentenced him to death. But if Jesus claimed authority in himself, they would have branded him as simply another self-appointed fanatic out to get a following.

Jesus made them the tantalizing offer that he would answer their question directly if they would answer his. He asked them about John the Baptist, who was still a popular figure. John’s murder at the hands of Herod remained a sore spot with the people. Jesus’ question was, “Let’s talk about John’s authority: Was it his own or did it come from God?”

Suddenly those who had tried to trick Jesus had a dilemma. Either answer got them in trouble, exactly what they had intended by their question to Jesus. If they accepted John’s legitimate authority, they would be admitting their own failure to believe him; if they questioned his authority, they would run afoul of the people’s high regard for John. They didn’t want to admit publicly that they had rejected John the Baptist as a God-endorsed prophet, because the crowds would not have taken kindly to that confession. So they took the cowardly way out, answering, “We don’t know.” They avoided giving the answer, but they also lost that opportunity to trap Jesus.

The religious leaders who confronted Jesus might have claimed to be pursuing the truth, but their real objective was to destroy Jesus. They instinctively saw him as a threat because he reminded them how far they were from faithfully discharging the responsibilities they had among God’s people. There were a few individual leaders (like Nicodemus) among Jewish religious leaders of the time who became authentic believers, but most of the establishment actively served to lead the people in rejecting Christ. As John put it, “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” (John 1:11, NIV).

Getting Personal

How do you often rationalize your way out of obedience to Christ rather than submit to his authority?

What makes arguing with God especially pointless?

We can become adept at playing the game of appearances, in which we claim to live in obedience to God but we merely live to pursue our desires. But what would happen if we won that game? “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36, NIV).

Talking to God

Don’t hold back in expressing yourself freely to God, who knows and understands you. At the same time, remember God’s authority over all he has created, including you. Respecting his power and authority is the beginning of wisdom. Ask him to help you participate gladly in his plans.