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Jesus and Authority
Even Jesus did not presume to act without authority.
How important is the subject of authority in the realm of religion? We can see its importance from the consequences associated with acting without God’s authority: “A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite not the Spirit of grace? For we know him that said, ‘Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense.’ And again, ‘The Lord shall judge his people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10.28-31).
The rulers among the Jews understood that one may not act without authority: “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?’ And Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?’ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, ‘If we shall say, “From heaven,” he will say unto us, “Why then did ye not believe him?” But if we shall say, “from men,” we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.’ And they answered Jesus and said, ‘We know not.’ He also said unto them, ‘Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things’” (Matthew 21.23-27)
Inasmuch as he was “born of a woman, born under the law” (Galatians 4.4), not even Jesus was exempt from the necessity of having authority for what he did. Jesus used three methods to establish authority for his teaching and practice:
First, he taught what his Father had commanded him to teach.
“And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?’ And Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men?’ And they reasoned with themselves, saying, ‘If we shall say, “From heaven,” he will say unto us, “Why then did ye not believe him?” But if we shall say, ‘From men,” we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.’ And they answered Jesus and said, ‘We know not.’ He also said unto them, ‘Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things’” (John 12.48-50).
Second, he did what he had seen his Father do.
“But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father worketh even until now, and I work.’ For this cause therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only brake the sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing; for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner’” (John 5.17-19).
Third, he taught what was implied, though not explicitly stated, in the Law.
“On that day there came to him Sadducees, they that say there is no resurrection. And they asked him, saying, ‘Teacher, Moses said, “If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.” Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife unto his brother; in like manner the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. And after them all, the woman died. In the resurrection therefore whose wife shall she be of the seven, for they all had her?’ But Jesus answered and said unto them,’Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as angels in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, “I am the God of Abraham, and 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 it, they were astonished at his teaching.” (Matthew 22.23-33).
Let us remember the words of he who possesses all authority: "Can the blind guide the blind? Shall they not both fall into a pit? The disciple is not above his teacher: But everyone when he is perfected shall be as his teacher” (Luke 6.39-40).
