Message Notes

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 22 SEPTEMBER 2024
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 21

Topic: The Authority of the Lord Jesus questioned

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.

Matthew 21:23-27

THE CHALLENGE OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE ELDERS

1. The Lord Jesus had done 3 major things

a) Riding into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey

b) Receiving the Hosannas sung by the multitudes and children

c) Rebuking the merchants and chasing them out of the Temple

2. The chief priests and the elders challenged the Lord Jesus to justify His actions

“By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?”

Matthew 21:23

a) Authority as the chief priests and elders know it

i) It lies with the Sanhedrin Council

ii) They were members of the Council

They certainly did not authorise any of the actions of the Lord Jesus

b) On whose authority did the Lord Jesus perform these things?

ANSWERING A QUESTION WITH A QUESTION

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?”

Matthew 21:24-25a

1. Was this approach allowed?

Yes!

2. To establish the meaning of the word “authority”

3. A question posed to the chief priests and elders

The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?”

Matthew 21:25a

a) John baptised thousands

b) On whose authority did John baptise people?

i) Was his authority from heaven?

ii) Was his authority from men?

THE REASONING OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND ELDERS

25b 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.”

Matthew 21:25b-27a

1. The chief priests and elders gathered among themselves

2. They were in a fix

a) They could not admit that John’s authority came from God

They did not listen to John

b) They also could not say that John’s authority came from men

This would anger the multitude who regarded John as a prophet

3. Their reply to the Lord Jesus was very lame

“We do not know.”

Matthew 21:27a

THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS

And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Matthew 21:27b

1. He refused to answer them

2. He knew they were just trying to entrap Him

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To admire the courage of the Lord

2. And also, His wisdom

3. Our challenge:

a) To grow in wisdom and discernment

b) To be courageous too