Religious Leaders Challenge Jesus Authority

Many people can simply force people to do what they want because they have the power to make them do it. However, few people like to be forced to do anything. Eventually such power driven leadership destroys relationships. On the other hand, some have the ability to lead through … More

Authority

The Jewish religious leaders wanted to know what authority Jesus had to cast money-changers out of the temple (vv. 1-2). This group of leaders wanted to get rid of Jesus so they tried to trap Him with their question. They wanted to catch Him in His words so that no matter how He answered, He would be in trouble. If Jesus would answer that His authority came from God (inferring that He was the Messiah and the Son of God) they would accuse Him of blasphemy and bring Him to trial. Instead of answering directly, Jesus asked them a question about whether John the Baptist’s ministry was of God or not (vv. 3-4). They knew that no matter what answer they gave, they were in trouble, so they decided not to answer at all (vv. 5-8).

This group of leaders wanted to get rid of Jesus, so thy tried to trap him with their question. If Jesus would answer that his authority came from God they would accuse Him of blasphemy and bring Him to trial. Jesus did not let Himself get caught. Instead, He turned the question on/ Then he exposed their motives and avoided the trap.

Since these Jewish religious leaders refused to acknowledge or disown Jesus (due to political expediency), they deserved no further revelation from Christ. In spite of their evasive and hypocritical reply, the leaders could not escape the past. They had rejected the ministry of John the Baptist and that led to their refusal to trust Jesus Christ. We may forget our commitments but they will not forget us. We may even try to bury them, but they will be resurrected to accuse us.

Application

It is a serious thing to reject the message of God and the messengers of God. My greatest need is not to know new truth but to obey the truth I already know.

Luke 20:1-8 (English Standard Version)


Warning: MagpieRSS: Failed to parse RSS file. (Space required at line 39, column 24) in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/magpie6-1/rss_fetch.inc on line 230

Warning: array_slice() expects parameter 1 to be array, null given in /var/www/html/familytimes/includes/rss/esvLookup.php on line 15

View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »

More Luke commentaries

Luke 17:1-10
Jesus Tells About Forgiveness and Faith

Luke 17:11-19
Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy

Luke 17:20-37
The Coming of the Kingdom of God

Luke 18:1-8
The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Luke 18:9-14
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

Luke 18:15-17
Jesus Blesses the Little Children

Luke 18:18-27
The Rich Young Ruler

Luke 18:28-34
Jesus Predicts His Death

Luke 18:35-43
Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar

Luke 19:1-10
Jesus Brings Salvation to Zaccheus’s Home

Luke 19:11-27
The Parable of the King’s Servants

Luke 19:28-40
Jesus Rides into Jerusalem on a Donkey

Luke 19:41-48
Jesus Cleansing of the Temple

Luke 20:1-8
Religious Leaders Challenge Jesus Authority

Luke 20:9-18
The Parable of the Wicked Farmers

Luke 20:19-26
Paying Taxes to Caesar

Luke 20:27-40
The Resurrection and Marriage

Luke 20:41-47
Leaders Didn’t Understand Who Jesus Was

Luke 21:1-4
The Widow’s Offering

Luke 21:5-19
Signs of the End of the Age

Luke 21:20-28
Jesus Tells About His Return

Luke 21:29-34
Jesus tells them to Remain watchful

Luke 21:35-38
Jesus Tells them to Remain Watchful

Luke 22:1-13
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Luke 22:14-30
The Last Supper

Luke 22:31-38
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

Luke 22:39-53
Jesus Arrested in the Garden

Luke 22:54-71
Peter Denies Knowing Jesus

Luke 23:1-12
Jesus Stands Trial Before Pilate and Herod

Luke 23:13-25
Pilate Hands Jesus Over to be Crucified

Luke 23:26-43
Jesus is Led Away to be Crucified

Luke 23:44-49
Jesus Dies on the Cross

Luke 23:50-56
Jesus is Buried in a Borrowed Tomb