Testing Jesus (Message 2)

Two Lessons for This Series:

In seven consecutive stories we see Jesus being TESTED, and we see Him testing the DOUBTERS.

Jesus is the ONLY exception to the rule that “You can fool all of the people some of the time.”

The Scriptures

Luke 20:1 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”
Luke 20:3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
Luke 20:5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
Luke 20:7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.” 8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

The Backdrop

Jesus is in the LAST few days of His EARTHLY life.

He is TEACHING in the Temple courts and He is giving people a LAST chance to know and follow Him. (εὐαγγελίζω euaggelizō)

The perceived LEADERS of the Jewish people came to Jesus in FORCE to ask a question. The fact that all THREE groups came to Him shows that He was INTIMIDATING!
Luke 20:1 . . . the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.

— In a few days, the SAME three groups will come together to conduct Jesus’ TRIAL.
Luke 22:66    At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.

a. Chief Priests — a group of DESIGNATED priests including the high priest. This group was established just BEFORE the time of Christ and were VERY powerful.

b. Teachers of the Law — also called “SCRIBES,” these men wrote and TAUGHT the Scriptures and wanted absolute REVERENCE. They were also called “lawyers.”
Matt 7:29 he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

c. The Elders — OLDER men of the community who were revered. They were normally ENEMIES of Jesus.

The Back and Forth

The leaders asked a question to STOP Jesus from teaching.

a. Tell us by what authority . . . — who was your TEACHER or who has given you an “ORDINATION?”
John 7:15 The Jews there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having been taught?”
Luke 4:36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!”

b. You do these things? — What things? Jesus had just RIDDEN into Jerusalem proclaiming Himself the MESSIAH, and then CLEANSED the Temple of the money-changers.

c. Who gave you this authority? — If His enemies could get Jesus to say that GOD gave Him the authority, they could STONE Him, because in their eyes, THEY represented God.

Jesus’ Authority:

Luke 4:32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.

Matt. 9:6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”

John 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

John 14:10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.

Matt. 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Instead of ANSWERING them, Jesus asked them a question. (Remember WHO these people are!)

a. I will also ask you a question — In the Matthew account, Jesus says that He will ANSWER if THEY do.
Matt. 21:24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

b. John’s baptism . . . — “baptism” means MINISTRY here.

c. Was it from heaven, or of human origin? — In a moment, He has given a question that the leaders CANNOT answer without INCRIMINATING themselves.

The Backing Down

These religious leaders were not FOOLS. First, they took time to MEET before answering.
Luke 20:5 They discussed it among themselves . . .

Secondly, they worked through the POSSIBLE answers and came to the conclusion that they could NOT answer.
Luke 20:5 . . . “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”

Thirdly, they used a POLITICALLY CORRECT answer and said that “they didn’t KNOW.”

Finally, Jesus declared that He would NOT answer their question either, which prolonged His life by a FEW more days.
Luke 20:8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

The Takeaway

We learn that Jesus is WISER than the wise men of His generation, and that He has all AUTHORITY! Why wouldn’t we follow Him?

Traditional View of Holy Week

Sat
Palm Sun
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Good Friday
Sat
Sabbath
Easter Sun

Rides into Jerusalem as king
Teach
Teach
Teach
Teach
& Last Supper
Tried and Crucified
In the Tomb
Risen

Sabbath

Day of Preparation
Pass-over

Another View of Holy Week

Sat
Palm Sun
Mon
Tues
Wed
Thurs
Good Friday
Sat
Sabbath
Easter Sun

Rides into Jerusalem as king
Teach
Teach
Teach
& Last Supper
Tried and Crucified
In the Tomb
In the Tomb
In the Tomb
Appears to followers

Sabbath

Day of Preparation
Passover
Feast of Unleaved Bread
Rises after 6 p.m.

Walk The Talk

What was your favorite part of this story and why?

What did you learn about the groups that opposed Jesus?

How does Jesus show His wisdom?

What did you learn about authority in general and Jesus’ authority in particular?