By What Authority?
by Russ Bowman
From my Daily Bible Writing, for you to chew on…
“Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him and spoke to Him, saying, 'Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?'” (Luke 20:1-2).
Can I supply biblical authority for the things I do and believe?
It is obvious in the gospel narratives that opposition to Jesus grew in proportion to His popularity among the multitudes. The Lord is now in Jerusalem and will be crucified this very week. But early in the week, the throngs of people present for the Passover are fascinated by Jesus. There is a grand procession welcoming Him to town, and here, He is in the temple talking to the crowds about the good news of the kingdom. The day previous, He had driven out those who were making merchandise of the occasion, and Matthew tells us that He was healing the lame and blind (Matthew 20:14). There is a real sense of anticipation and excitement conveyed in the text, and that attention given to Jesus caught the attention of the establishment. Thus, the chief priests, scribes, and elders demand that the Lord offer His credentials. “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?” While they already had the answer (in the miracles and teaching of Jesus) and would show their unwillingness to deal honestly with that authority, their questions are good. They are very good questions.
Where is the authority behind my service?
I have been recently reminded of how quickly people can become defensive when their religious practices or preferences are questioned. Suggest that some particular teaching has been dismissed or twisted, and prepare yourself for the dismay and accusations that follow. People quickly march out the “your interpretation” charge and take offense that anyone might suggest they offer biblical authority for their activities. In such instances, it is common to hear such justifications as “the Bible doesn’t say it’s wrong or that I can’t do it.” The issue with such reasoning is that it does not provide authority for my actions -- there is no clear approval from God, but merely the absence of disapproval. Silence, if it authorizes anything, authorizes everything. In truth, silence authorizes nothing. As those who claim to be followers of Jesus, we should offer clear teaching on what we do and don’t do. The opponents of Jesus may have been dishonest with the truth, but they asked the right questions. And they are questions which are desperately needed in our day.
The only way I can know I am pleasing God is if I can show His will and my compliance from the scriptures. Period. Otherwise, discipleship is not really discipleship by proper definition but rather a self-centered and subjective substitute.
Can I supply biblical authority for the things I do and believe?
