By What Authority Do You Speak?

Mr. M · Jan 9, 2021

What do you make of this exchange?

Matthew 21:
23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me,
I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:
25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”
And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Maria Billingsley · Jan 9, 2021

Minister Monardo said:
What do you make of this exchange?

Matthew 21:
23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”
24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me,
I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:
25 The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.”
And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

From my understanding...
One of several exchanges between Jesus Christ of Nazareth and the Pharisees in which Christ out witts them. He turns the question on them rather than answer the question resulting in a stalemate due to their hardened hearts.
Blessings.

Mr. M · Jan 9, 2021

Maria Billingsley said:
From my understanding...
One of several exchanges between Jesus Christ of Nazareth and the Pharisees in which Christ out witts them. He turns the question on them rather than answer the question resulting in a stalemate due to their hardened hearts.
Blessings.

Yes Maria, the hardness of their heart is the issue, and also points to the rejection of John's
message as the cause. Thanks for the response!
Luke 7:
28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

Continuing in Matthew 21...
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans
and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

1213 · Jan 10, 2021

Minister Monardo said:
What do you make of this exchange?

I think it was a way to show they really knew it, but didn’t want to admit. I think it was very clever answer.

Mr. M · Jan 10, 2021

1213 said:
I think it was a way to show they really knew it, but didn’t want to admit. I think it was very clever answer.

Many people responded to Jesus this way:

Mark 1:22. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority,
and not as the scribes.

Can we speak with this authority?

1213 · Jan 11, 2021

Minister Monardo said:
...
Mark 1:22. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority,
and not as the scribes.

Can we speak with this authority?

If we can, I think it will be obvious to others and we don’t and should not claim we are doing so. I think it is God who makes it clear, if it is so.

Mr. M · Jan 11, 2021

1213 said:
If we can, I think it will be obvious to others and we don’t and should not claim we are doing so. I think it is God who makes it clear, if it is so.

Here is something I wanted to bring out in this thread concerning the testimony of
John the baptist:
John 1:
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all
through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Compare this to this exchange:
John 6:
28 Then they said to Him, What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe in
Him whom He sent.

Most would assume that Jesus is referring to Himself. In fact, the translation leads you
to that conclusion by capitalizing him. And yet in the OP text, Jesus is clearly teaching
the consequences of disregarding the baptism of John, who was "sent from God".

John 10:
40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was baptizing at first,
and there He stayed.
41 Then many came to Him and said, John performed no sign, but all the things that John spoke
about this Man were true.
42 And many believed in Him there.

see also post#3

coronawatching · Jan 11, 2021

I disagree with your interpretation. I believe Jesus speaking about belief in Himself. Belief in Jesus replaced the works of the law. And, maintaining continuos faith/belief takes work because of the trials and tribulation of this world.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

John 1: 12

Mr. M · Jan 11, 2021

coronawatching said:
I disagree with your interpretation. I believe Jesus speaking about belief in Himself. Belief in Jesus replaced the works of the law. And, maintaining continuos faith/belief takes work because of the trials and tribulation of this world.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

John 1: 12

Without question, He is referring to Himself. The point from what is written clearly is that John
was "sent by God", and therefore his teaching was authoritative. [Topic of thread]
For them to reject John was to reject the Word of God, and therefore their
hearts were hardened. This is the point Jesus is making in Mt. 21 OP

Luke 7:
26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
27 This is he of whom it is written:
Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than
John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been
baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having
been baptized by him.

Were there no consequences for Israel to ignore the prophets of old?

2 Chronicles 24:19 Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord;
and they testified against them, but they would not listen.

coronawatching · Jan 11, 2021

Minister Monardo said:
Without question, He is referring to Himself. The point from what is written clearly is that John
was "sent by God", and therefore his teaching was authoritative. [Topic of thread]
For them to reject John was to reject the Word of God, and therefore their
hearts were hardened. This is the point Jesus is making in Mt. 21 OP

Luke 7:
26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
27 This is he of whom it is written:
Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’
28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than
John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been
baptized with the baptism of John.
30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having
been baptized by him.

Were there no consequences for Israel to ignore the prophets of old?

2 Chronicles 24:19 Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord;
and they testified against them, but they would not listen.

You wrote:

John 6
29 Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe in
Him whom He sent.

then

Most would assume that Jesus is referring to Himself. In fact, the translation leads you
to that conclusion by capitalizing him. And yet in the OP text, Jesus is clearly teaching
the consequences of disregarding the baptism of John, who was "sent from God".

Were you disputing the capitalization of Him?
That's what I disagreed with.
And, what are you trying to say about authority? It would be easier if you just say it instead of trying to get us to understand what you see in texts.

Mr. M · Jan 11, 2021

You first posted:

coronawatching said:
I disagree with your interpretation.

Now you are concerned with capitalization, which does not exist in the original, and is strictly
at the discretion of the translator.

coronawatching said:
Were you disputing the capitalization of Him?
That's what I disagreed with.

My point, as stated, was that the decision to capitalize re-enforces the idea that He was
speaking exclusively of Himself.

coronawatching said:
And, what are you trying to say about authority?

The point of authority is this, The Son acted with the complete authority granted to Him by
The Father, for example:
John 5:
26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.

And yet, we also see that the Son grants authority to His servants.
Luke 9:1. Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority
over all demons, and to cure diseases.

You would prefer to interpret John 6:29 as being exclusive to Himself, based on John 1:12. I agree
that, without dispute, those scriptures apply to Himself, but also to whomsoever the The Son
grants heavenly authority. John the baptist was sent by the Father as the forerunner to the Son.
Jesus is making clear in the OP in Matthew 21 exchange with the scribes and Pharisees that
rejecting the baptism of John was rejecting the Word of God, based on the authority that was
granted unto him.
Hear what Paul is saying here:
Ephesians 2:
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints
and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.

Christ is the Head of the church, His body, and He grants authority to those He elects to grant.
Even Pilate acted with granted authority, both from Rome, but also from heaven.

John 19:
10 Then Pilate said to Him, Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have authority
to crucify You, and authority to release You?
11 Jesus answered, You could have no authority at all against Me unless it had been given you
from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.

coronawatching · Jan 11, 2021

Well....livelier in Himself (exclusively) in John 6: 29.

The topic of authority is a good one. I need to familiarize myself with the topic again. In my personal experience, I have authority as long as I am led by the Spirit. When I get in the flesh (and sometimes zeal confuses things) I don't have the same authority. The authority that Jesus gave to us is spiritual, but the manifestations can be seen in the natural.

Mr. M · Jan 11, 2021

coronawatching said:
Well....livelier in Himself (exclusively) in John 6: 29.

The topic of authority is a good one. I need to familiarize myself with the topic again. In my personal experience, I have authority as long as I am led by the Spirit. When I get in the flesh (and sometimes zeal confuses things) I don't have the same authority. The authority that Jesus gave to us is spiritual, but the manifestations can be seen in the natural.

Luke 4:36. And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this!
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.

This is the word study to employ:
G1849 - exousia - Strong's Greek Lexicon (KJV)
[G1849]-means authority, but is also translated power very often, and can be misleading.

G1411 - dynamis - Strong's Greek Lexicon (KJV)
[G1411] Correctly translated power.

Mr. M · Jan 11, 2021

coronawatching said:
The topic of authority is a good one.

Here is another one for us all to consider.

Matthew 20:
25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it
over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.
26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you,
let him be your minister.
27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a
ransom for many.

For All Pastors, Elders and Overseers
1 Peter 5:
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings
of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

2 Corinthians 10:8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the
Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed—

coronawatching · Jan 11, 2021

Amen...I have noticed a lot of "lording it over" in charismatic/pentecostal circles. I looked further into the issue and found out that witchcraft can be a manifestation of the flesh. Galatians 5: 20

Mr. M · Jan 14, 2021

This is to walk in the Light>

John 12:
44 Then Jesus cried out and said, He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.
45 And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.
46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
48 He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
50 And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.

coronawatching · Jan 14, 2021

10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?
12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Exodus 4: 10-12

Mr. M · Jan 14, 2021

coronawatching said:
10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?
12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Exodus 4: 10-12

Luke 21:
14 Therefore settle in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;
15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to
contradict or resist.

By What Authority Do You Speak?

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