Who's Authority?
Matthew 21:23-32
Authority- what a heavy word. We immediately think of people placed in charge, who have power and influence, who have backing to make decisions, to make changes, to execute justice. Those in authority are overseers and are responsible for others. There’re varying levels of authority- local city and county, state authorities, national authorities, all including authorities of law enforcement, government, commerce. There’re authority positions within the workforce- supervisors, managers, bosses, CEOs, and owners. There’s authority within families- parents are to have authority over their kids, men are to lead their families with Godly authority, sometimes there is an elder family leader that serves as an authority for the rest of the family clan.
Throughout the gospel books, there is a common thread woven that emphasizes the authority of Jesus. After presenting the sermon on the mount, Matt. 7:28-29 tells us “When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” When the paralytic was lowered by his friends through the roof where Jesus was teaching, and Jesus forgave his sins and then healed him, Matthew 9:8 records “But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.” The book of Mark (1:21-27) records, that early in Jesus’ ministry at the Capernaum Synagogue, after teaching and casting out an unclean spirit from a man, the people were amazed and said “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” John introduces his gospel account with these words “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12) The word “right” is actually the same Greek word for authority that we see used in these other passages I have referenced- to them He gave the authority to become children of God. In order to give authority you have to have it first. Jesus had the authority to authorize people becoming children of God. Also recorded in the book of John is Jesus Himself speaking of His own authority- He speaks of God giving Him the “authority to execute judgment” (John 5:27), and also the authority to lay down His own life, and then take it back up again. (John 10:18)
The scope of Jesus’ authority, presented through the gospels, is staggering. Through these verses alone we see Jesus’ authority in teaching, authority over physical health, authority over evil spirits, authority to pronounce others as children of God, authority in executing judgment, authority over life and death. Jesus’ authority is so widespread, that every being and created thing in the universe is affected by it. And note that Jesus carries authority AND power. These two words aren’t necessarily assumed in the one word “authority.” You might have the power to do something but not the authority to do something. An ordinary man might have the power to subdue another man, put him in handcuffs, and take him in to the Police Department, but the police are going to tell him he didn’t have the authority to do that, and probably would end up arresting him instead. And you might have the authority to do something, but not the power to do something. Police have full authority to arrest individuals who are breaking the law, but in certain cities there are parts of the city in which the police do not enter to make rightful arrests, because they simply don’t have the workforce power in comparison to the gangs and criminal’s power wielded through their weapons and manpower. But Jesus has both authority and power. He has the right and the means. He has the permission and the ability.
Paul describes the authority and power of Jesus like this in His letter to the Colossians (Colossians 1:16-20) “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” Here Paul describes the authority and power of Jesus displayed through Jesus being the conduit through which all things were created, and the being for which all things were created. He’s the ultimate one who is first, holding everything together, the One in whom God has put all fullness, the One whom God has given the authority and power to reconcile all forces to God- earthly and unearthly- we are talking serious authority and power to the highest degree possible. This is the Jesus to whom you were just singing.
The unequaled authority of Jesus was questioned in the passage that we’ll be reading today. It’s my hope today to remind us of just how unique, powerful, right, necessary, and wise the authority of Jesus is in our lives. I want to reminds us of who He is and who we are in light of His massive authority. And as we are reminded of His authority, and submit more fully to His authority, may we thus be transformed more to His likeness. Matthew 21:23-27…
Just within the past week or two Jesus had raised Lazarus back to life. Just two days ago He had been declared Messiah and King of Israel. Just the day before He had overturned tables and benches, and had run off those who were buying and selling items in the temple. Now having cleansed the temple courtyard, He was there teaching. The parallel account in Luke 20:1 says He was “teaching” and “preaching the gospel,” and the religious leaders wanted to know what right He had in doing these things? Where were His credentials? Where were His papers, what right did He have to be declared King, who authorized Him to kick out business from the Temple, who had He studied under, which Rabbi had commissioned Him, who amongst the religious leaders endorsed Him and had given Him permission to speak on matters concerning God?
Now, at this point, this probably wasn’t just one or two guys from the temple approaching Him and questioning His authority. It says the “chief priests and the elders of the people.” Again, this is in the middle of the weeklong Passover celebration, and everyone is around. The “chief priests and elders of the people” Matthew writes, could have included the high priests, the captain of the temple, 60 some priests functioning in various roles of preparing animals, preparing wood, door/gate/key keepers, treasurers, musicians, bakers, the rabbi teachers, the scribes- and each one had their role and functioned in the authority that they had been given according to their position.
Jesus bypassed the whole system and relied solely on His authority given Him by God. He didn’t need to go through any other means of authority. He is God Himself, commissioned by God to be the highest authority that ever was or ever would be. He answers to no one.
But he doesn’t ignore their question. In typical wise sage, rabbi-like manner, He answers their question with a question. And if they were honest, truthful in their answer, they would thus answer the question they themselves proposed. Jesus essentially asked them from what authority did John cry out “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”? (Matt. 3:2) Who gave John the permission to say that, and to introduce the new ceremonious right of passage of baptism? Under whose direction did John declare of Jesus “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29) Were these acts heavenly in nature (of God), or earthly in nature (of mankind’s thought and creation)? The obvious answer is “God” (of Heavenly origin)- here Jesus was giving opportunity for the perfect, simple, Sunday School answer- but if they answered “God” then they would be answering as well the question they had given to Jesus. God was the authority who authorized Jesus to do these things. But the thought that plagued them even worse in giving Jesus the answer “God” was knowing that the obvious conclusion would then be that they had gone against God by not listening to John- by not repenting, by not getting baptized, by not recognizing Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The truth would condemn them.
Equally as bad would be offering the answer that John had acted just according to what his own brain told him to do- that all his actions were devoid of God’s direction- and were guided merely by human reasoning alone. The crowd would have gone crazy, because they clearly could see that John was a prophet sent by God, who acted as God’s agent. So, they chose to avoid truthfully answering Jesus’ question. They said they didn’t know. They suddenly became agnostic.
I wonder if this is the equation that is going on in many hearts today towards things spiritual. The equation being: if there’s denial of Jesus’ authority, then there is denial of truth, which will equate to: I don’t know. The religious leaders weren’t willing to admit the God given authority of Jesus, thus they weren’t willing to admit the truth that John was an anointed Godly prophet, and in the end all that was left was: “We do not know.” If you don’t recognize His authority, then truth will become vague. If you don’t consider the scriptures as authoritative words from God, then truth becomes very vague. And once truth becomes vague, the result is a slippery slope of not knowing what is up/what is down, what is right/what is wrong, what is Godly/what is ungodly.
Inadvertently, there is another result of denying the authority of Jesus in your life. Look again in verse 27, at Jesus’ response to their answer of “We do not know.” He says “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” He closed them off. The dialogue they wanted to have take place was ended. If you deny the authority of Jesus in your life, then you will be very limited in what you hear from Him. Here in our passage, Jesus in His mercy, actually gave them more chances to be convicted by His authority and truth. Look at the story He immediately tells, starting in verse 28. (verses 28-32)
John Macarthur notes that it’s interesting there’s not a third son who says “Yes,” and then goes and does what His father requests. No, there’s just two sons who both mess it up. It’s as if Jesus is representing all of mankind through these two sons, who were both guilty of evil, who were both guilty of rebelling against the authority of their Father. The first rebelled against the father’s authority by saying “No,” the second rebelled against the father’s authority by not doing what his father asked. They both were guilty, just as we are all guilty of rebelling against our Father. The distinction between these 2 sinner sons, and the distinction between the sinners of the human race, is between those who rebel and those who rebel yet repent. We’re all rebels, but we all have the opportunity to repent and by action prove the authority of Jesus over our lives. There is hope for all of us. If you haven’t submitted to Jesus’ authority in your life, then there’s still hope- you can change! You can repent and affirm His authority, you can choose to now acknowledge His rightful place in your life and do the right things that you weren’t doing before.
Maybe today is the day for you to fully surrender to Jesus and accept His authority in your life. He already holds all power and every right to claim authority over you as His created being, but the unique thing about Jesus is that He doesn’t force Himself onto anyone. Through His far-reaching authority and power He could will you to do anything He wanted, but He has given us each a gift in being able to choose or reject Him, to be able to recognize for ourselves His worthiness of authority and power, or His unworthiness of authority and power. The choice is ours.
For those of us who have surrendered to Jesus and who have accepted His authority in our lives, may we never be compared to this second son, who received his father’s authoritative command, yet didn’t follow through with actions in living in a way that reflected the authority over him. You see, we can profess Jesus’ authority in teaching, authority over health, authority over evil spirits, authority to pronounce others as children of God, authority in executing judgment, authority
over life and death, but live in such a way that denies His authoritative rule in our lives.
We can profess His authority in teaching, yet choose not to read it nor allow it to transform our thinking or actions. We might wholeheartedly agree that the Bible is God’s authoritative word to us, but are we handling it as such? We can profess His authority over health, yet remember to call the doctor but forget to pray asking Him for His authority to be exercised over sickness. God’s not a genie in a bottle, but we can at least approach Him first knowing that all things are subject to His command. We can talk about His authority over evil spirits, yet fail to recognize doors we potentially open to the demonic world through what we view on screens. There is a massive amount of spiritual activity taking place all around us every moment of every day, and we have the opportunity to allow evil forces to be authoritative in our lives- evil authorities representing fear, lust, anger, dissention, negativity, greed, selfishness- or we can allow the supreme authority of Jesus to reign in our lives, casting out all fear, lust, anger, dissention, negativity, greed, and selfishness.
If we believe what Jesus says, then we agree that He has given us the authority to become children of God. Are we living in that truth or is it just head knowledge? Do we really realize that because of what Jesus has done, we are considered children of God? You are a unique image of your creator, there is no one like you- never has there been, nor will there ever be a creation like you. Your unique way of thinking, acting, doing, talking- all that you are, has been given to you by a Father who loves you and delights in seeing His DNA being expressed through you! Will you accept that, and live in that love?
We say Jesus is the ultimate judge, we agree with scripture that He has all authority to judge right from wrong and to reward and punish according to unequalled fairness and justice. Yet, it’s so easy to take that authority away from Him, and place ourselves in the judge’s seat. Instead of thinking the best of someone’s intentions, we think the worst. Instead of forgiving one another, we hold on to past mistakes. Instead of getting offended at how much we personally mess up, we get super offended at others when they mess up. Don’t just agree with your mouth, like this 2nd son, saying I will sir, I accept your authority, I submit to your authority- no, follow up with actions showing that you submit to the authority of Jesus as Judge.
This Jesus, who had the authority to lay down His life and raise it back up again, God Himself in flesh- is the supreme being of the universe. Having already expressed His unequalled authority in so many different ways throughout His ministry, and after proving His authority even further by raising Himself from the dead, before leaving the earth to return to the Father He said these words to His followers: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20) Jesus here is connecting His all-inclusive, unmatched, unhindered, all powerful authority over everything in the entire universe- to His followers making other disciples. He says “Remember my authority? Go! You can do it! I’m sending you out. And I am with you forever- my all-powerful authority will be with YOU!”
You see, although He desires that each of us fully submit to His authority, it’s not that He wants to crush us with His authoritative rule. He doesn’t abuse His authority and power. He’s not a ruthless dictator. Rather He wants to encourage us, to build us up, to equip us. He wants for us to join Him in His work, to share in His authority, to realize that when we submit to His authority- that He is on our side- promising never to leave us nor forsake us. We’ve heard this great commission verse over and over and know it’s our task to make disciples, baptize others, and teach them Christ’s commands, but maybe we’ve paid less attention to the precursor of “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” This is huge. It’s a reminder that the work to be done is not done in our own strength, nor is it work that we should shy away from. This great commission is a reminder of Jesus’ authority in teaching, authority over physical health, authority over evil spirits, authority to pronounce others as children of God, authority in executing judgment, authority over life and death, authority through which all things were created and were created for- that authority walks with you, if you let Him.