Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as H

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Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as H

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Title: Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as H

1
"By what authority are You doing these things?
And who gave You this authority?" (Matt. 2123)
2
The word "authority" means, "the power of rule or
government, the power of one whose will and
commands must be obeyed by others." (Vines
Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,
page 91).
There are two kinds of authority general (or
generic) and special (or specific)
Perhaps that is why there is so much disagreement
among the various religious groups.

It is regrettable that many people do not even
think about "authority" in the realm of religion.

When Jesus told the apostles, "Go into all the
world and preach the gospel" (Mark 1615), He
authorized every mode of travel - walking,
sailing, riding in a chariot, riding on a beast,
etc. - because He did not stipulate (or specify)
as to method.

On the other hand, He stipulated what they were
to preach - "the gospel." Hence they were not
free to "preach" anything else.
This can be demonstrated by Matt. 2123-27.
4
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 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?' "But if we say,
'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count
John as a prophet."

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?"

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." (Matt.
2123-27)
5

Not only did the chief priests and elders
recognize that there is a need for authority but
they also recognized that authority must come
from the proper source.

6
If "from heaven" the scriptures will equip us for
it.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His
divine power has given to us all things that
pertain to life and godliness, through the
knowledge of Him who called us by glory and
virtue, by which have been given to us
exceedingly great and precious promises, that
through these you may be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in
the world through lust. (2 Peter 12-4)
Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively
transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes,
that you may learn in us not to think beyond what
is written, that none of you may be puffed up on
behalf of one against the other. (1 Corinthians
46)

Jesus asked them if the baptism of John was "from
heaven or from men."
They couldn't say "from heaven" because they
would look inconsistent, not having been baptized
by John.
But neither could they say "from men," because
they feared the people.
Thus, they answered, "We do not know."

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and
is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 316-17)
7

During the present New Testament age, Jesus has
all authority both in heaven and on earth.
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All
authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth." (Matt. 2818)

Thus, He is the only one "whose will and commands
must be obeyed by others."
8

Thus, in writing to the church at Colosse, Paul
commanded,
Whatever you do in word teaching or deed
practice, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
(Col. 317)

To do something "in the name of the Lord Jesus"
means to do it "in recognition of His authority."
9

Hence, we must recognize the authority of the
Lord Jesus in everything we teach and practice!
Otherwise, He is not really our Lord.

Authority cannot come from the Old Testament but
must come from the New Testament.
"But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not
do the things which I say?" (Luke 646)
10

And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new
covenant, by means of death, for the redemption
of the transgressions under the first covenant,
that those who are called may receive the promise
of the eternal

inheritance. For where there is a testament,
there must also of necessity be the death of the
testator. For a testament is in force after men
are dead, since it has no power at all while the
testator lives. (Heb. 915-17)

For the law, having a shadow of the good things
to come, and not the very image of the things,
can never with these same sacrifices, which they
offer continually year by year, make those who
approach perfect. For then

would they not have ceased to be offered? For the
worshipers, once purified, would have had no more
consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices
there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is
not possible that

the blood of bulls and goats could take away
sins. Therefore, when He came into the world, He
said "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt
offerings

and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then
I said, 'Behold, I have come-- In the volume of
the book it is written of Me-- To do Your will, O
God.' " Previously saying, "Sacrifice and
offering, burnt offerings, and

offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had
pleasure in them" (which are offered according to
the law), then He said, "Behold, I have come to
do Your will, O God." He takes away the first
that He may establish the second. (Heb. 101-9)

17
This is well illustrated in the account of seven
Jewish men to whom the miraculous ability to cast
out evil spirits had not been given.

One can not afford to take it upon himself to do
what the Lord has not authorized.

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of
Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were
brought from his body to the sick, and the
diseases left them and the evil spirits went out
of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish
exorcists took it upon themselves to call the
name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil
spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus
whom Paul preaches."

Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish
chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit
answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I
know but who are you?" Then the man in whom the
evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them,
and prevailed against them, so that they fled out
of that house naked and wounded. (Acts 1911-16)

They did not have the authority to demand the
demons to leave the one whom they had possessed
but decided they would try.
And the result was disastrous.

Jesus, Paul, the other apostles and some upon
whom the apostles had laid their hands, however,
had such authority and the results were never
disastrous with them.
21

The New Testament authorizes in three ways
(1) direct statements/commands
(2) approved examples
(3) implications

Jesus used these three methods to establish
authority for His teaching and practice.
22

"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. 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. And I know
that His command is everlasting life. Therefore,
whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me,
so I speak." (John 1248-50)

But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been
working until now, and I have been working."
Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill
Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but
also said that God was His Father, making Himself
equal with God. Then Jesus answered and said to
them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can
do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the
Father do for whatever He does, the Son also
does in like manner." (John 517-19)

The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no
resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, saying
"Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having
no children, his brother shall marry his wife and
raise up offspring for his brother. Now there
were with us seven brothers. The first died after
he had married, and having no offspring, left his
wife to his brother. Likewise the second also,

and the third, even to the seventh. Last of all
the woman died also. Therefore, in the
resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she
be? For they all had her." Jesus answered and
said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the
Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the
resurrection they neither marry nor are given in
marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.

But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have
you not read what was spoken to you by God,
saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of
Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God
of the dead, but of the living." And when the
multitudes heard this, they were astonished at
His teaching. (Matt. 2223-33)

When questioned by the Sadducees - who believed
in neither spirits nor angels - about the
resurrection, Jesus quoted from the first five
books of the Old Testament - the only part of the
Old Testament they accepted - to defend His
teaching.

His defense ran thus
(1) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had been dead for
hundreds of years, when God appeared to Moses.
(2) But God identified Himself to Moses saying,
"I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob."
(3) In saying this, God implied - and we infer
necessarily - that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were
alive in - some sense - at the time of Moses.
(4) To deny this is to implicitly affirm that God
is "the God of the dead."

This proved that there is a part of man that
survives physical death and can be resurrected.
If this is not true, why did Jesus bring it up?
This was such a forceful argument, that it
"silenced the Sadducees."

I know of no fourth method ever used by Jesus to
establish authority for either His teaching or
His practice, but will accept any method that is
self-evident or that can be established by one of
these three.

By their very nature, commands MUST BE
authoritative!
Notice the following explanation of commands
being usable for authority.

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion
came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my
servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully
tormented." And Jesus said to him, "I will come
and heal him." The centurion answered and said,
"Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under
my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant
will be healed. For I also am a man under
authority, having soldiers under me.

"And I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes and to
another, 'Come,' and he comes and to my servant,
'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard it,
He marveled, and said to those who followed,
"Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such
great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you
that many will come from east and west, and sit
down with Abraham, Isaac, and

"Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of
the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness.
There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way
and as you have believed, so let it be done for
you." And his servant was healed that same hour.
(Matt. 85-13)

35
Jesus told His apostles, "He who receives you
receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him
who sent Me." (Matt. 1040) Therefore, the
apostles commands MUST ALSO BE authoritative.

Since Jesus has all authority, His commands MUST
BE authoritative.

36
Christ), which in other ages was not made known
to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed
by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets
that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the
same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ
through the gospel, of which I became a minister
according to the gift of the grace of God given
to me by the effective working of His power.
(Eph. 31-7)

The New Testament prophets had "the mystery of
Christ" revealed to them.
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ
Jesus for you Gentiles-- if indeed you have heard
of the dispensation of the grace of God which was
given to me for you, how that by revelation He
made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly
written already, by which, when you read, you may
understand my knowledge in the mystery of

Therefore, their commands MUST BE authoritative,
as well.
The commands of Moses and the Old Testament
prophets, on the other hand, are no longer
authoritative.

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and
John his brother, led them up on a high mountain
by themselves and He was transfigured before
them. His face shone like the sun, and His
clothes became as white as the light. And behold,
Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with
Him.

Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it
is good for us to be here if You wish, let us
make here three tabernacles one for You, one for
Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still
speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed
them and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud,

saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased. Hear Him!" And when the disciples
heard it, they fell on their faces and were
greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them
and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." When
they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one
but Jesus only. (Matt. 171-8)

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and
John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by
themselves and He was transfigured before them.
His clothes became shining, exceedingly white,
like snow, such as no launderer on earth can
whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with
Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then
Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is
good for us to be here and let

us make three tabernacles one for You, one for
Moses, and one for Elijah"-- because he did not
know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
And a cloud came and overshadowed them and a
voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My
beloved Son. Hear Him!" Suddenly, when they had
looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only
Jesus with themselves. (Mark 92-8)

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these
sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and
went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed,
the appearance of His face was altered, and His
robe became white and glistening. And behold, two
men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease
which He was about to

accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and those with
him were heavy with sleep and when they were
fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men
who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they
were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus,
"Master, it is good for us to be here and let us
make three tabernacles one for You, one for
Moses, and one for Elijah"--not knowing

what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud
came and overshadowed them and they were fearful
as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out
of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son.
Hear Him!" When the voice had ceased, Jesus was
found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one
in those days any of the things they had seen.
(Luke 928-36)

God, who at various times and in various ways
spoke in time past to the fathers by the
prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by
His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all
things, through whom also He made the worlds who
being the brightness of His glory and the express
image of His

person, and upholding all things by the word of
His power, when He had by Himself purged our
sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty
on high, having become so much better than the
angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more
excellent name than they. (Heb. 11-4)

We are commanded by the apostles to recognize
approved examples as authoritative.
Therefore I urge you, imitate me. (1 Cor. 416)

We are commanded by the apostles to recognize
approved examples as authoritative.
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
(1 Cor. 111)

We are commanded by the apostles to recognize
approved examples as authoritative.
Brethren, join in following my example, and note
those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
(Phil. 317)

We are commanded by the apostles to recognize
approved examples as authoritative.
The things which you learned and received and
heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of
peace will be with you. (Phil. 49)

Of course, our ultimate example is Jesus.
For to this you were called, because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you
should follow His steps (1 Peter 221)
And He provided us with an example of using
implication to establish authority.

The apostles also used implication to establish
authority for their teaching and practice.

And certain men came down from Judea and taught
the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised
according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be
saved." Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no
small dissension and dispute with them, they
determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain
others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the
apostles and elders, about this question. So,
being sent on their way by the church, they
passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing
the conversion of the

Gentiles and they caused great joy to all the
brethren. And when they had come to Jerusalem,
they were received by the church and the apostles
and the elders and they reported all things that
God had done with them. But some of the sect of
the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It
is necessary to circumcise them, and to command
them to keep the law of Moses."
Now the apostles and elders came together to
consider this matter. (Acts 151-6)

And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose
up and said to them "Men and brethren, you know
that a good while ago God chose among us, that by
my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the
gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart,
acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit,
just as He did to us, and made no distinction
between

us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now
therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke
on the neck of the disciples which neither our
fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe
that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
we shall be saved in the same manner as they."
(Acts 157-11)

Peter necessarily inferred from his experience
with the household of Cornelius recorded in Acts
10 11 that binding circumcision on the
Gentiles would be tempting God and putting a yoke
on the neck of those disciples.

Then all the multitude kept silent and listened
to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles
and wonders God had worked through them among the
Gentiles. (Acts 1512)

Barnabas and Paul necessarily inferred from
their first missionary journey that Gentile
converts do not need physical circumcision.
They never demanded it, yet God endorsed their
preaching with "miracles and wonders."

And after they had become silent, James answered,
saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me Simon
has declared how God at the first visited the
Gentiles to take out of them a people for His
name. And with this the words of the prophets
agree, just as it is written

'After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David,
which has fallen down
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up

'So that the rest of mankind may seek the
Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My
name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.'
"Known to God from eternity are all His works.
Therefore I judge that we should not trouble
those

from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,
but that we write to them to abstain from things
polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from
things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has
had throughout many generations those who preach
him in every city, being read in the synagogues
every Sabbath." (Acts 1513-21)

James stated that Peter's inference was in
agreement with the prophets.
He then quoted from Amos 911-12, and concluded
that to bind circumcision would be to
"trouble...those from among the Gentiles who are
turning to God."

Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the
whole church, to send chosen men of their own
company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas,
namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and
Silas, leading men among the brethren. They wrote
this letter by them

The apostles, the elders, and the brethren,
To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in
Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia
Greetings.
Since we have heard that some who went out from
us have troubled you with words, unsettling your
souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep
the law"--to whom we gave no such commandment--
it seemed good to us, being assembled with one
accord, to send

chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and
Paul, men who have risked their lives for the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore
sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the
same things by word of mouth. For it seemed good
to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no
greater burden than these necessary things that
you abstain from things offered to idols, from
blood, from things strangled, and from sexual
immorality. If you keep yourselves from these,
you will do well.
Farewell.

So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch
and when they had gathered the multitude
together, they delivered the letter. When they
had read it, they rejoiced over its
encouragement. (Acts 1521-31)

"The apostles and elders, with the whole church"
implied in their letter that physical
circumcision was not essential to salvation by
stating that those who were binding circumcision
were "unsettlingsouls" in doing so.
Finally, the disciples at Antioch used necessary
inference when they read the letter and rejoiced
for the consolation.

I have shown that there are three biblically
authorized methods of establishing religious
authority.
(1) It is self-evident that commands and other
direct statements of one in authority are
authoritative.
(2) We are commanded to follow the approved
examples of the apostles.
(3) There are examples of Jesus and the apostles
using implication (or necessary inference) to
establish authority.

Is there a fourth method authorized by command,
approved example, or implication?
If so, what is that fourth method?

If there is no fourth method, then whatever is
not authorized either by command, example or
implication, in the New Testament, is simply not
authorized!

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