A Question of Authority

Introduction

The religious world focuses on today as Easter, Resurrection Day. Jesus has entered Jerusalem. The triumphal entry has given way to more practical matters. During this final week of his life, Jesus is going to set things right. In Luke 19:45-48, Jesus clears the temple of those who are abusing the place of worship. Herod’s temple consisted of a small temple building surrounded by numerous courts. Only the priests could actually go into the temple itself. Jews were allowed in the court nearest the temple. Women were allowed in the court next. The area farther away from the temple than any other was known as “The Court of the Gentiles.” Those who were God believers but not Jews were allowed in this area.

It was in this area that Jewish leaders would have allowed tables to be set up so that all worshipers could buy sacrificial animals or exchange foreign money for acceptable temple currency. Travelers coming to Jerusalem from far away would not transport their animals. It would slow travel and then there was always the possibility that the animal could be damaged on the trip and thus unacceptable for sacrifice. It was easier to purchase the animal in Jerusalem. It was common practice for the price to be marked up on the animals and a fee was added for changing money from foreign currency to temple currency. For those who did bring their own animals, it was not uncommon for a priest to declare that the animal was unacceptable for sacrifice; thus, an animal must be bought from designated sellers who would give a cut of the profit to the priests.

Add to this difficulty that with all this commerce taking place in the temple area that Gentiles wanting to worship God could not even begin to concentrate on worship. Between being given an unfair deal for an animal, the loud talking of commerce, the noise of animals, and the fact that all worshipers went through this court, we can begin to imagine how difficult it would have been for a God believing Gentile to even draw near to God. It is in this setting that Jesus clears the temple area. With a homemade whip, Jesus went in throwing tables over, setting animals free, and forcing unethical fellow Jews to leave the area quickly. Undoubtedly, Jesus made his enemies even angrier while the people cheered wildly as they felt someone was fighting for their interest.

Luke tells us in 20:1 that everyday Jesus would come to the temple and teach. Those who had seen him act with such clarity forcing the illegal commerce to stop would gather everyday to hear him speak. They hung on every word and the religious leaders seethed with anger. Today we will see how the leaders try to discredit Jesus and how Jesus calls for a decision.

Confrontation

This is the first of three times in Luke 20 that religious leaders try to discredit Jesus. Religious leaders confront Jesus at the temple. Picture the scene. Jesus is a hero of sorts. He has been enthusiastically welcomed into Jerusalem. The people cheered and applauded as he temporarily did away with injustice and displays of greed in the temple area. The people cannot wait to be around him. They hang on every word. The religious leaders confront Jesus, the hero, in front of those who believe him to be a hero. Why? Why would religious leaders attack the hero in front of the home crowd? Several years ago I was privileged to attend a UT football game in Neyland Stadium. Tennessee was playing the University of Louisville. Heath Shuler was the quarterback. Tennessee made a bad play. The small contingent of Louisville fans taunted the UT players. In a stadium filled with 90,000 screaming fans of which 90% of them are UT fans, why would this small group taunt the home crowd?

This is a mistake for the religious leaders. They want to make Jesus look bad and so they taunt him in front of the home crowd. By the way, UT won that day 45—17. The Louisville fans should have never taunted. If the religious leaders can make Jesus look bad then they can turn the people away from Jesus and back to them. So they ask a question which is designed to trap Jesus. It is really a two-fold question although one answer will take care of both. “By what authority are you doing these things? and Who gave you this authority?” are essentially the same question. Perhaps it will be easier for us to understand the question if we understand that the religious leaders have a real desire to be in charge. They want to be seen as the only real religious leaders among the Jews.

Basically, they are asking Jesus to explain his religious training and who has told you to act this way. And we are to fill in the thought “we aren’t behind your actions.” The phrase “these things” probably refers to the temple incident and to teaching. In front of everyone, the religious leaders want all to hear. “This man has not received our permission to be doing this.” Scare tactics. Make everyone afraid to take on the religious authorities. Intimidate the people in order to keep them in line. Who gave you authority to act this way? If the leaders get Jesus to say “God” then they can accuse him of blasphemy. If he says “himself” then they can say he is nothing but a pretender with no real authority at all.

Jesus says he will answer their question if they will answer his first. “What was the origin of John’s baptism—God or men?” Verses 5 and 6 tells us the implication of this question. If they say God then the people will wonder why they didn’t obey John. If they say “men” which is what they believe, then the people will hate and despise them because they believe John to be God’s prophet. They are in a “no-win” situation. So in order to save face, they give the official word—“no comment.” Their refusal to answer means that Jesus is not obligated to answer. And this particular confrontation ends.

Decision

Is Jesus being evasive here? Is Jesus trying to avoid the inevitable? Hardly. He knows the religious leaders are confronting him for one reason only—they are trying to trap him. They are not interested in becoming followers. They really aren’t interested in his answer except as it will help them discredit him. Jesus aligns himself with John who the people already believe to be God’s prophet. In essence, he is calling for each group to make a decision. He wants the people to decide that he, too, is from God. He wants the religious leaders to accept the decision they have already made. The religious leaders should at least own up to their decision to not believe in Jesus or John. But instead all they are interested in is making Jesus look bad.

They are interested in who Jesus really is; they are interested in making sure they look good and he looks bad. Their motivation is to exalt themselves. They are interested in remaining the official heads of Jewish interpretation. Jesus comes to the temple and by his very actions calls into question their interpretation of worship and what was best for those who wanted to be near to God. But they insisted that what they had decided long ago didn’t need to change and they didn’t need to change the way they thought about God. But Jesus’s question forces them to admit that either Jesus came from God or he didn’t.

We have to make the same decision. Either Jesus came from God or he didn’t. Many pass by a treasure without ever realizing its value. Standing in the presence of Jesus, the religious leaders scoffed at Jesus. In America today many are turning to chocolate bunnies and colored eggs. Today the religious world turns to an empty tomb. Some today will see the empty tomb and live like the Devil tomorrow. If Jesus came from God either we follow him or deny him, but either way let’s have the courage to live up to our decision. The religious leaders were playing a game with Jesus. Trap him. Confuse him. Make him look bad. Try to turn the focus toward us and away from him. They decided they didn’t need to change and refused to give Jesus any consideration.

It’s up to you to let Jesus in. It’s up to you to decide about Jesus. Where does his authority come from? If from God then give your life to him and live like him.

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