May 17, 2026
One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Discussion Questions:
After Jesus symbolically cleansed the temple, he proceeds to confront the religious leaders in Jerusalem. In verses 1 to 8 Jesus responds to a question about his authority to teach. We would like to discuss the implications of Jesus’s response.
1) What would the religious leaders have considered proper authority for Jesus to teach and what was Jesus’s authority to teach and how was it manifested?
2) Why does Jesus use the example of John the Baptist?
Discussion Summary:
The religious leaders did have a God-given authority (Matthew 7:28). However, they had misused their position and so Jesus was given wisdom and knowledge outside of their system, by God himself. Still they only acknowledged authority with their sanction. They expected him to have learned under one of their teachers in order to be a teacher. (Example of Saul of Tarsus, Acts 22:3). Jesus’ authority was manifested to them and to the people by his works (John 10:37,28; 14:11).
Jesus used the example of John the Baptist to show their error. John was the witness to Jesus’ baptism by the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:1-6) in fulfilment of Isaiah 40:3-5. Jesus’ claim to be the fulfilment of Isaiah 61:1-3 in Luke 4:16-21 came directly after his baptism. John himself was born a prophet by the power of God (Luke 1:57-80). His holy life and preaching was well known throughout the nation.
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