"I will ask you one question," Jesus replied, "and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. Sermons
I. THE ULTIMATE QUESTION BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS OF MEN IS ONE OF AUTHORITY. Only direct Divine sanction, or a higher truth vindicating itself at the bar of reason and conscience, or in the field of experience, can justify the attitude of Christ and his religion towards the religions and superstitions of men. Arbitrary assumption will soon belay itself, and the spiritual nature of man must be satisfied. This question of authority is sure to be raised sooner or later by the upholders of the systems and beliefs Christianity impugns. And Christians are counselled to "give a reason of the hope that is in" them. II. TO ALL GENUINE INQUIRERS CHRISTIANITY PRESENTS A SUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE, 1. The life and works of Christ are his justification. They prove him "sent from God." The evidence upon which our belief in these is based is as strong, at least, as for any other historic matter. 2. The experience of the operation of Christian doctrine and practice in the ages subsequent to the Cross. 3. The immediate witness of the conscience and the heart. With the first and the third of these the temple authorities were already conversant. III. HYPOCRITICAL AND ILLEGITIMATE INQUIRIES INTO ThE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST OR HIS SERVANTS MAY BE RESISTED AND EXPOSED. 1. Christ knew the motives of his inquisitors. 2. He placed them in a false position in order to expose these to themselves and others. 3. All Divine revelations have similar evidence, and stand or fall together. Had they believed John, they would have believed Jesus. As they believed neither, it must have been because they hated the truth. It was for the interests of true religion that this fact should be made evident. He proceeded to prove the traditional unrighteousness of the Jewish people and their leaders in a series of "parables" or similitudes, which were at the same time so many appeals to conscience. (It would be well for the preacher to remark upon the unbroken consecution of ch. 11 and 12 in the spoken discourse of Christ.) - M.
By what authority doest Thou these things? I. FROM THE SIDE OF THE QUESTIONERS AND THEIR QUESTION. "By what authority doest Thou these things," etc. Christ's power was a new power in the world at that time. It was different from the authority of the scribes, priests, elders, and Sanhedrim. They had a right to put this question, but were chargeable with negligence in not having settled it long before. They were Israel's shepherds, and had a responsibility for the people over whom they were set. Year by year, and we may almost say day by day, there is some power or another growing up in society which in process of time will make itself felt, and which will gradually weaken and uproot all authority which is held in a wrong spirit, and which is exercised in a wrong way. And it has often made great way before its progress is observed. Christianity began by appealing to the hearts of men, to what men felt to be true. It began in Christ's life and teaching. It pandered to no prejudice. It rested not till it brought every man, with his faults, into the presence of God. To these facts the priests and scribes were blind. There are men who will do nothing but by tradition and rule; they set form above substance. They slumbered whilst new forces were rising all around them. So like Christ there are men who strive to do good, striking, out a course for themselves, who look at what has to be done, if not in the old way, in one which will accomplish the object. These leave it to critics and cavillers to settle as best they can by what authority this work is done.II. LOOK AT THE PASSAGE FROM THE SIDE OF CHRIST. It was not His custom to be silent when men wished to learn. He received Nicodemus by night; reasoned with the Samaritan woman; Zaccheus. Christ says, "Neither will I tell you." These words are not mere resolution on His part to withhold information; but in their being unable to receive what He might tell them. On another occasion the Jews came to Christ and said, "If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." Christ's answer was, "I have told you before, and ye did not believe." In like manner the rulers had been virtually told before by what authority Christ had done these things. His words and works were His authority. This want of power to see the truth and to know it is the natural result of a spirit of unfaithfulness to former light and present convictions. Many people overlook this law of their spiritual being; they think that by neglect or carelessness they are at the most missing some advantage for a short season, and that when they please they can regain what has been lost. They forget that the loss is within, in the soul, character, and life, and that it is irreparable. When they wrong their inward convictions, they not merely defile their honour, but destroy the very powers of discerning right and wrong, truth and error. Each time that a man is unfaithful to the light within him he is laying a thicker film upon the spiritual eye. It is marvellous how men with an honest love of the truth are guided into it, and are led out of the labyrinth of darkness and perplexities which surround them. (A. Watson, D. D.) His works were His authority, His teaching was His authority. Just as the discovery of a principle in science is the authority for accepting it, as the discovery of a law of nature is the authority for following it, as the invention of a piece of mechanism is the authority for using it, as the healing power of a new medicine is the authority for applying it so, one would think, there was no need to ask for the authority by which the sorrowful were comforted, or the ignorant taught, or the wicked reformed, or the worldly made spiritual. These works themselves showed whose authority they had. If you cannot see authority in an act of mercy or kindness, how can any words show it? If you cannot see the authority of a wise act, or of a true word, or of a good life, how can any assertions prove it? If a man is righteous, you do not ask him his authority for being just; or benevolent, you do not question his authority for kindness of heart: and if a man, by reading the hearts and consciences of men, succeeds in producing in them a purer and better life, in calming the passionate, in changing the idle into the industrious, the intemperate into the sober, the unholy into the chaste and virtuous — these changes themselves are for you the assurance of an authority which no man may deny.(A. Watson, D. D.) There is something just in the words of Christ's enemies. The idea of Divine revelation is inseparable from the idea of authority. If God speaks He will speak with authority. That authority will have nothing violent or arbitrary in it; it will be persuasive, it will set free instead of enthralling. Individual illumination becomes a dream if it claims to raise itself above God's revelation. God, who has given revealed truth to men, has given them at the same time the institutions which preserve it. But we must make a fundamental distinction between the Divine truth and the institutions destined to preserve it. The authority of the first is direct; the authority of the second only derived. What is the aim of religious institutions? To preserve life. If the authority of the institution is put above that of the truth itself, if the form is put above the foundation, it is a perversion of the Divine order. Jesus to the Scribes is a person without authority. For them authority is wholly in the priestly institution. These men would have said to the sun, "By what right dost thou shine at an hour we have not chosen? Prove to us that thou hast permission to give us light." Therefore they shut their eyes to the light. Let us never put questions of hierarchy and of the church above the truth. I am not indifferent to these things, the form here touches very closely the reality. I distrust a soldier that turns up his nose at his flag. We must, love and defend the church to which we belong. But we must know how to recognize everything outside of it that God makes beautiful, and by means which are not at its direction. We must choose between the pharisaical spirit that says to Christ, "By what authority doest thou these things?" and the spirit of truth which, when it sees the light, comes to the light, and says, "God is here."(E. Bersier, D. D.) The method is always popular — plausible; it appeals to every commonplace instinct, and is flattering even to the lowest intelligence. "By what authority?" Who shall fathom the depth of Divine scorn in the Saviour's glance ere He replied? In truth, by what authority did Nathan stand in the presence of David, and, after arraigning before him in his tale a black criminal, cry, "Thou art the man"? By what authority did Elijah confront Ahab and denounce him as the "troubler of Israel"? By what authority did Paul, the prisoner at the bar, stand before Felix, and reason with him "concerning righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come"? By what authority in all ages and everywhere does the spiritual man judge the carnal man; the heavenly assert supremacy over the earthly, sensual, and devilish? Before we listen to the question which Jesus in His turn puts to His questioner by way of answer, read the situation between the lines; let us pause to take in the full meaning of His searching, indignant gaze. "You," it seems to say, "you who question My authority, then, are the religious teachers. It is your business to know about spiritual things; to judge between the things of God and the things of man; to judge spiritual and carnal conduct; to protect religion; to guard the temple; to be the ministers and stewards of the mysteries. Is that so? Well, let Me see if you are fit for such duties — if you in the least understand them. If you do, you will have a right to question My action, not otherwise. Prove to Me your authority, I will prove to you Mine. The baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men?" A silence — dead silence. The eyes of the crowd are on the Pharisees; they notice them whispering together. They are overheard muttering, "If we say, 'of heaven,' He will say, 'Why, then, did you not believe Him?' if, 'of men,' all the people will stone us, for they be persuaded that John was a prophet." Then at last these teachers, these judges of spiritual action, reply out loud, "We cannot tell." Cannot tell — great doctors of the law — whether John was a charlatan or not; cannot tell the difference between true and false teaching — real and sham religion! Well, if they cannot tell about John, what is the value of their opinion about Christ? They are not ashamed to dub themselves imbeciles — incapables. Had they expressed an adverse opinion, it would have still been respectable; had they proclaimed John and Christ, fanatics, enthusiasts, or impostors, they would have found supporters, as everyone does who has the courage of his opinions. But no — "We cannot tell." It was enough; they were answered out of their own mouths. There are some things it is quite useless to tell people who "cannot tell"; there are some things which, if not felt, can never be explained.(H. R. Haweis, M. A.) I.II. III. IV. (J. H. Godwin.). People David, Jesus, John, PeterPlaces Bethany, Bethphage, Jerusalem, Mount of OlivesTopics Answering, Authority, Question, RepliedOutline 1. Jesus rides with triumph into Jerusalem;12. curses the fruitless fig tree; 15. purges the temple; 20. exhorts his disciples to steadfastness of faith, and to forgive their enemies; 27. and defends his actions by the witness of John, who was a man sent of God. Dictionary of Bible Themes Mark 11:27-33 2012 Christ, authority 2363 Christ, preaching and teaching 7552 Pharisees, attitudes to Christ Library December 20 EveningIf the Lord would make windows in heaven might this thing be?--II KGS. 7:2. Have faith in God.--Without faith it is impossible to please God.--With God all things are possible. Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.--Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord … Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path July 24 Evening The Prayer of Faith. October 7. August 19. "Have Faith in God" (Mark xi. 22). March 31. "What Things Soever Ye Desire when Ye Pray, Believe that Ye Receive them and Ye Shall have Them" (Mark xi. 24). July 12. "When Ye Pray, Believe that Ye Receive" (Mark xi. 24). A Royal Progress Christ's Need of us and Ours Nothing but Leaves Nothing but Leaves True Prayer --True Power! The Secret of Effectual Prayer To his Praise! The Prayer of Faith. The Fourth Rule of Prayer Is, that Notwithstanding of Our Being Thus Abased and Truly... Praying Without Doubting Praying with Desire Prayer and Faith (Continued) May one Know that He is Filled? Eleventh Lesson. Believe that Ye have Received;' Fourteenth Lesson. 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