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Gospel Luke Bible Study #58
Luke 20:1-8 The Authority of Jesus Questioned

1. What authority is there between; children and parents
Students and their teacher
Military soldiers and their commander
Workers and their boss
What is authority?

2. What authority did Jesus display at the Temple courts? 19:45, 47
=Jesus began to drive out those who were selling
=business was set up by high priest, Jesus had higher authority

3. Who came to Jesus while He was preaching the Gospel at the Temple courts? 20:1
=The chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.
=the chief priests: once they were high priests
What did they ask Jesus? 20:2
a. “By what authority you are doing these things?”: cleaning the temple court, teaching
b. “Who gave you this authority?”
c. What authority did Jesus have when He cleansed the Temple courts? 19:46
=It is written, he said to them, “My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’
d. What authority does the word of Jesus have? 4:32, 36
=32 they were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority
=36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are/ with authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out”
=Let there be light, there was light.
e. How could one teach authoritatively in Jesus’ time?
=priest after ordination
f. What is a similar system we have in our time?
=Church pastor
g. Did they know that Jesus had authority in His word and in His life?
=yes
h. Why did they refuse to acknowledge it?
=he was not authorized by Sanhedrin
=God’s truth is above all.
=Law of organization is above
i. What answer did they want to hear from Jesus?
=I am not ordained

4. Did Jesus see a hidden danger of their questions?
=yes
In reply what question did Jesus ask them? 20:4
=John’s baptism was it from heaven, or of human origin?
=Jesus put them in dilemma
Why did this question put them in a dilemma? 20:5
a. If we say from heaven………………..what trouble will they face? 20:5
b. If we say from men…………………..what trouble will they face? 20:6
=
c. So what did they answer? 20:7
=We don’t know where it was from
d. What were they supposed to think and answer?
e. What is their attitude toward truth?
=no respect
f. What did Jesus answer them to their question to Jesus? 20:8
=Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
g. What is your answer; John’s baptism- was it from heaven or from men?
=from heaven
h. What authority did John have when he preached repentance and baptize?
=heavenly authority
i. What would have been like if John had baptized without authority?
=church lost authority to speak repent your sins
j. When did John receive this authority from God? 3:2
=the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness
=we receive authority from God

5. Why did Jesus bring up John in order to answer their question?
=both received authority from God
The Temple leaders didn’t see how God was working through John the Baptist, Jesus, and Jesus’ disciples. What else did they miss?
=salvation
=worship God with new form. No more temple, no more place.
=worship by our own heart, truth and spirit.
=they missed whole new salvation system