The Authority of Jesus

Scripture presents the authority of Jesus Christ as original, not borrowed. “For by him were all things created” (Col. 1:16), and He is “upholding all things by the word of his power” (Heb. 1:3). Daniel beheld the Son of man, and “there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom” (Dan. 7:14), which the risen Christ claims: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18). The crowds perceived it, for “he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matt. 7:29). Unclean spirits obeyed, for “with authority and power he commandeth” them (Luke 4:36). Over His own life He says, “I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:18), and He was “declared to be the Son of God with power” by “the resurrection from the dead” (Rom. 1:4).

Matthew 21:23-32 shows that authority challenged. In the temple the chief priests and elders demand, “By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?” Christ answers with a question: “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” (v. 25). Fearing the people, they reply, “We cannot tell,” and He answers, “Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things” (v. 27). Their silence is not ignorance but unbelief. He then sets before them two sons; the first said, “I will not: but afterward he repented, and went” (v. 29). Asked, “Whether of them twain did the will of his father?” they themselves answer, “The first” (v. 31). The verdict falls on the rulers: “the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you,” for they “repented not afterward, that ye might believe him” (vv. 31-32).

The Father “hath given him authority to execute judgment also” (John 5:27), and “God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Phil. 2:9-10). Every knee will bow, either now in faith or then in judgment. His authority demands more than admiration. The rulers heard and would not believe; the publicans and harlots heard, repented, and went. The question, therefore, is never whether Christ has authority, but whether we, like the first son, will repent and do “the will of his father” (Matt. 21:31).