Matthew 21:23-27 #2

Matthew 21:23-27 #2
Notice the question of the chief priests and elders: “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” We rightly criticize the first century Jewish leaders for their refusal to accept Jesus as the Son of God in light of the evidence He provided them in the form of undeniable miracles. But these leaders understood something that most do not understand today. They understood the need for authority in religious matters. The discussion recorded in this text is about authority. Most today would not care where they received their authority. The religious world freely practices things that they create out of their own minds without regard to the revealed word of God.
Now notice the question of Jesus: “The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from men?” There are two significant points here. First, Jesus taught that there are only two sources of authority, either from heaven or from men. The chief priests did not disagree with this principle. In fact, they agreed with the principle so completely that the question put them in a dilemma. They knew that if John’s baptism was from heaven, they had been indicted as rebels to the authority of God. They understood that one could not disregard a command of God and go guiltless. Even these hard-hearted Jews believed what most reject today. Most would say that all that is important is “loving God;” “the specifics of obedience are insignificant.”
Second, if we will properly apply this principle, we will ask the same question of our religious practices. We will carefully examine our personal practices as well as the practices of the church we attend. Is this practice from heaven or from men? Can I find a passage in the New Testament that gives authority for what I am doing and/or for what this church is doing? If authority cannot be found, there is only one conclusion: the practice is not from God, it is from men. If the practice does not have the authority of heaven behind it, then it is a sinful practice and must be stopped. This should always be our standard. It was certainly the standard by which Jesus lived and by which He expected His disciples to live.
Berry Kercheville