Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8
What authority figures do you still trust completely? Which do you distrust? Why?
As a teenager, what authority figure (parent, teacher, minister) upset you most? Why?
The Sanhedrin
Questions Jesus’ Authority
Matthew 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33; Luke
20:1–8
Mt 21:23When He entered the temple complex, the
chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching
and said, “By what authority are You
doing these things? Who gave You this authority?”
24Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you
answer it for Me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25aWhere did John’s baptism come from?
From heaven or from men?”
25bThey began to argue among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He
will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26But if we say,
‘From men,’ we’re afraid of the crowd [Lk 20:6aall the people will stone us], because everyone thought that John
was a prophet.” 27aSo they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
27bAnd He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do
these things.”[1]
[1]
Knight, G. W. (2001). A simplified harmony of the Gospels (pp.
189–190). Holman Bible Publishers.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- What "things" in Luke 20:2 has Jesus been doing? What about these things would worry the chief priests?
- Why were the leaders concerned about authority? Who had legitimate authority?
- What dilemma does this pose for Jesus?
- How could Jesus have answered the priests' question? (Directly) Why didn't he?
- How did Jesus' counter-question force the issue and how does he cause the leader's trickery to backfire?
- What interests are they trying to protect from Jesus' probing questions? Why does Jesus evade their question?
- How was Jesus' authority linked to John's?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- The religious leaders in Jerusalem considered Jesus a threat. Have you ever felt like Jesus was a threat to you? Why?
- When it comes right down to it, whose opinion do you care about more--God's, people's or yours? How does that show in your life?
- What people, things or events led you to recognize Jesus' authority? What authority does he have (or demand) now?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
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