September 11, Grandparents Day, Outdoor Worship and Church Picnic at Church

Lesson: Matthew 21.23-27

Sermon Title: Questions of Authority

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INTRODUCTION:

  1. Its Tuesday

    1. Jesus is teaching in the temple.

    2. He is also healing the lame and p0roviding sight for the blind.

MAIN BODY:

  1. He is confronted by a delegation of the Sanhedrin who challenge his authority.

By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?

    1. Who gave you permission to do these things.

      1. The entry into Jerusalem.

      2. The cleansing of the temple.

      3. The healing and the teaching of the people.

    2. We did not confer this authority on you.

    3. You have no authority.

  1. This is a serious challenge and one that has not been mounted until this time.

    1. Jesus has declared that the temple is his house.

    2. His house shall be called a house of prayer.

    3. They had made it into a den of thieves and robbers.

    4. Their house has been, at least temporarily, taken from them.

  2. How do you manage challenges to authority?

    1. You can become defensive.

"Constantly protecting oneself from criticism, exposure of one's shortcomings, or other real or perceived threats to the ego."

      1. Jesus does not refer to his miracles or teachings.

    1. You can rationalize.

"To devise self-satisfying but incorrect reasons for (one's behavior): 'Many shoppers still rationalize luxury purchases as investments' (Janice Castro)."

      1. Jesus does not refer to the people that he has helped.

    1. You can attempt to justify.

"To declare free of blame; absolve"

      1. Jesus does not appeal to his history or heritage.

    1. I have in my time attempted to use all three with little or no positive results.

    2. Jesus offers us an alternative if we have the ingenuity and intelligence to use it.

      1. Jesus asks a question.

      2. The question that is designed to help the attackers answer their own question.

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  1. John's baptism, was it of God or men?

    1. Baptism is a figure of speech that refers to the whole of John's work of teaching, baptizing and proclaiming the coming of the messiah.

    2. What does John have to say about Jesus.

      1. He is the Messiah.

      2. He is the lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world.

      3. Jesus authority is well-established.

    3. The religious had accepted the prophetic status of John.

      1. They could not go back on their word.

      2. They were afraid of the people.

      3. The people, as recorded in Luke, would have stoned them.

  2. So they confer among themselves and conspire to answer that they do not know.

    1. They know all right.

    2. They do not want to admit what they know.

    3. They refuse to accept the position and the purpose of the One who is standing before them.

    4. The only alternative they have is to seek to eliminate him.

    5. This they will unsuccessfully accomplish.

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CONCLUSION

  1. What do you do with authority figures.

    1. The boss is always right, even if he/she is wrong.

    2. When you work for someone you do what you are told in the manner you are shown.

    3. If you do not like it you find another position.

  2. Jesus is our authority figure.

    1. We an only trust and obey.

    2. There is no other way.

    3. To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

  3. He will teach us how to meet the challenges to our own authority.

    1. For we must give an answer for the faith that lie within us.

    2. If we do not answer than we are liars.

    3. How we answer is most important.

      1. You can be defensive.

      2. You can seek to justify.

      3. You may attempt to rationalize.

      4. None of these attempts will work.

    4. You may also ask questions.

(Evolutionist when the next evolutionary leap may take place?)

(What is the cause of the uncertain and destructive world-wide weather patterns?)

    1. And in asking questions, you may find answers that you did not seek and strength that you did not know you possessed.

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