A Challenge to Authority

SOONER or later, almost all leaders have their authority questioned. Sometimes they are challenged directly, but more often indirectly by rumor and innuendo.

Jesus faced a direct challenge to His authority from the chief priests and elders, the top leadership in Israel (Matthew 21:23-27). In this instance He didn’t argue with them but simply tossed the ball back into their court. He showed that one effective way of responding to threatening questions is to ask questions in return.

Observe two aspects of the interaction between Jesus and the Jewish leaders:

1. The motives of the challengers. The scribes and Pharisees had no interest in an honest understanding of the nature or source of Jesus’ authority. They were only concerned with protecting their own interests and power. Their behavior is indicative of times when we question or resist people in authority because we are afraid or jealous of them.
2. The security of Jesus. Jesus was neither upset nor caught off guard by His attackers. For one thing, He had endured their criticism before, and no doubt expected it to increase. But He also knew with absolute certainty about the very thing that His challengers were attacking: He knew who He was and whose authority He wielded (Matthew 28:18). His response is a reminder that intimidation is something we allow to occur. People may threaten and confront us, but only we allow ourselves to feel fear. The real question is: are we certain who we are as followers of the King?

Courtesy of Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.