King Jesus | January 7, 2024

 

+ Read Scripture

Matthew 21:23-27

23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" 24 Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?" And they discussed it 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 man,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet." 27 So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Talk Sheet Questions

  1. How did the religious leaders seek to escape Jesus’ authority?

  2. What are some other answers Jesus could have given to the religious leaders’ question? How would those answers have turned out?

  3. Can you think of a question similar to Jesus’ question here that you would help someone recognize they are rejecting Jesus’ authority?

  4. Can you think of some times in your life when you struggled with authority? What was it about? Why did you struggle?

  5. When have you had to ask someone else “by what authority do you do this?” How do you assess their claim?

Prayer

Pray we will submit to Christ’s authority.

 
 
Scott Reavely