By What Authority Did Jesus Do These Things? - Matthew 21:23

Matthew the apostle wrote concerning Jesus, “in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on you henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If you have faith, and doubt not, you shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if you shall say unto this mountain, Be you removed, and be cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive” and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-three of his book, Matthew shares how the chief priests and elders of the people asked Jesus, “by what authority do you do these things?” where we read:

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 do you do these things? and who gave you this authority?

The verse reads, “And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “he was come” which means “Jesus arose, appeared and entered” “into the temple” or “the sacred place of worship at Jerusalem”, “the chief priests” which refers to “the high priests who were comprised in addition to one holding the high priestly office, both those who had previously discharged it and although disposed, continued to have great power in the State, as well as the members of the families from which high priest were created, provided that they had much influence in public affairs” “and the elders” or “those who were members of the great council or Sanhedrin” “of the people” which means “belonging to the men and women of Jerusalem” “came unto him” or “approached and came near to Jesus” “as he was teaching” or “while Jesus was holding discourse with others to instruct them, delivering didactic discourses or imparting instruction”. Matthew shared how Jesus was “approached” by the “religious leaders” in Jerusalem's “temple” while He was teaching the people there.

The verse goes on to say, “... and said, By what authority do you do these things? and who gave you this authority?” Matthew continued with the words, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared, proclaimed and questioned”, “by what authority” which means “through whose sort or nature of liberty, ability, strength or permission” “do you do these things” or “did Jesus perform, produce or prepare the works that He did”. “And who” or “what person” “gave you this authority” which means “the sort or nature or liberty, ability, strength and permission”? Matthew wrote how the religious leaders desired to know who gave Him “strength and permission” to do the works that He did.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how jealously inquisitive these “authorities” were concerning Jesus. They only operated under “power and authority” which was given to them by others, so when Jesus was able to do miracles and teach in ways they never could, they desired to know where He received His “permission” to act. God desires to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and He has full power and “authority” as God to do whatsoever He wishes. To think that anyone would question the “Creator of the Universe” as to where He received His “authority” is not only presumptive, but is also way out of touch with the truth of Almighty God. May all who read these words receive this mighty and powerful God and understand He is the “ultimate authority” in all things in which we have to do.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus tells the “chief priests and elders”, “I also will ask you one thing”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.