Introduction

Welcome, dear family of faith, to this gathering where we seek to deepen our understanding of God's Word. We come together today, not as strangers, but as brothers and sisters united in Christ, bound by His love, and driven by a shared hunger for His truth.

We stand on the precipice of an enlightening discourse, one that will shine a light on a passage of Scripture that is often overlooked, yet brimming with profound wisdom and divine instruction. Our focus today is Luke 20:1-8, a passage that speaks to the very core of our faith and the authority of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

As we turn our hearts to the Word, let's take a moment to immerse ourselves in the sacred text:

"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. 'Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,' they said. 'Who gave you this authority?' He replied, 'I will also ask you a question. Tell me: John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?' They discussed it among themselves and said, 'If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.' So they answered, 'We don’t know where it was from.' Jesus said, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.'"

Probing the Pharisees' Question

In the heart of the temple courts, Jesus was teaching and proclaiming the good news. The chief priests and the teachers of the law, along with the elders, approached Him. They had a question on their lips, a question that reveals so much about their hearts and minds. They asked Jesus, 'Tell us by what authority you are doing these things. Who gave you this authority?'

This question, though simple in its structure, carries a weight of complexity. It is a question that seeks to challenge, to undermine, and to discredit. It is a question that is not born out of genuine curiosity or a desire to understand, but out of fear and insecurity. The Pharisees were threatened by Jesus, by His teachings, by His miracles, and by His growing influence among the people. They wanted to trap Him, to expose Him as a fraud, to strip Him of His credibility. But Jesus, in His divine wisdom, saw through their scheme.

Jesus, in His response, does not directly answer their question. Instead, He poses a question of His own, 'John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?' This counter-question serves multiple purposes. First, it exposes the Pharisees' lack of spiritual discernment. They were the religious leaders of the day, the ones who were supposed to guide the people in matters of faith and spirituality. Yet, they were unable to discern the divine origin of John's baptism.

Second, Jesus' question puts the Pharisees in a difficult position. If they acknowledged that John's baptism was from heaven, they would have to explain why they did not believe in him. If they claimed it was of human origin, they risked the wrath of the people who believed John was a prophet. In their hesitation and eventual response of 'We don’t know where it was from,' the Pharisees reveal their fear of man and their lack of conviction.

Third, Jesus' question highlights the Pharisees' hypocrisy. They demanded to know by what authority Jesus was doing His works, yet they themselves were unable to answer a simple question about John's baptism. They were quick to question others, but slow to examine their own beliefs and actions.

Finally, Jesus' question underscores the divine authority by which He operates. By linking His works to John's baptism, Jesus subtly implies that His authority, like John's, is from heaven. He does not need to explicitly state this, for His works speak for themselves. His miracles, His teachings, His love for the people, all point to a divine authority that far surpasses any human authority.

In this exchange, we see a stark contrast between Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees, in their self-righteousness and pride, sought to challenge Jesus. They wanted to maintain their power and control, to protect their status and reputation. But Jesus, in His humility and wisdom, used their question as an opportunity to reveal their spiritual blindness and to affirm His divine authority.

Perceiving Jesus' Response

As we continue our examination of this passage, we find ourselves drawn to the response of Jesus ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO