Luke 20:1b-3 - By Whose Authority?

Luke 20:1b-3 (ESV)

The chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up [2] and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” [3] He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. . . .

Jesus had recently healed, cast out demons, called himself the lord of the Sabbath, rode into Jerusalem to the worship and celebration of the crowds, and chased vendors out of the temple. The leaders want to know where he thought he got the authority to do that. He replied with a question. “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?”

They couldn’t answer. If they answer that John’s baptism came from Heaven then he will respond, “Then why didn’t you believe him when he told you about me?” Truthfully, they were okay with John. He opposed Herod, as did they. He didn’t do anything to jeopardize their position. But they can’t say that John’s authority came from God. It was John who said that Jesus was greater than he.

On the other hand, they can’t say that his baptism was of man for fear of the crowds. People had crowded to hear John and receive his baptism. Since introducing Jesus the crowds had only grown. The truth of the matter is that they feared man more than they feared God. And they feared losing their position and influence more than they feared God. So they were stuck.

Without an answer for Jesus’ question, they received no answer from him. But the answer was plain. Jesus’ authority came from the same place that John’s did. It came from heaven and Jesus would follow with a story, a parable, that made that clear for any who would hear it.

As I reflect on this passage, I can’t help but put myself in the place of the Pharisees, scribes and elders. Do I fear man more than I fear God? Not fear God in the sense that I’m afraid of what he will do to me, but fear him in the sense of deep, reverential, worship that leads to submission and obedience. Do I fear man more than I fear God? Am I more concerned about what people will think than about living and speaking the truth of Christ? I fear that it is sometimes true. By God’s grace may it never be!