The Question About Jesus’ Authority
THE QUESTION ABOUT JESUS’ AUTHORITY
LUKE 20:1-18
Jesus’ opponents asked him in effect, “Who do you think you are—doing all these things?”
Verses 1-8. The imposing group from the Sanhedrin “came upon him.” It is the same verb as that which is used in 10:40 of Martha’s sudden and exasperated approach to the Lord. They came on him suddenly, they came and stood over him: both of these meanings are in the word. It is used again in 21:35 for the coming of judgment. The dilemma of the authorities is apparent. What authority had he to empty and to appropriate the temple court for his preaching? At this point they were fumbling for a charge against him. He countered with a devastating question, and the example is one to note.
Controversy is sometimes inevitable, although it should never be sought. If such strife of words is thrust upon the Christian, it is well for him not to stand on the defensive. Be ready, by all means, to give a reason for faith (1 Peter 3:15), but counter question with question.
The opponent of the gospel has many questions to answer. He also has a faith for which he must give a reason, for he too has staked his life upon a belief—a belief that chance ruled creation; that the world and all things visible are a great joke played by no one or everyone; that all the best of all the centuries was built upon a delusion or a fraud, that evil has chosen the better part.
20:9-18. This parable is closer to being a full allegory than most of the other parables in the New Testament. There was no doubt in the minds of the religious leaders at whom it was directed. The image of the vineyard was deep in Scripture (Deuteronomy 32:32-33; Psalm 80:8-16; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:16; 19:10-14; Hosea 10:1; Joel 1:7). History was woven bitingly into the story. Those who were entrusted with the guardianship of the vineyard looked upon it as their private preserve, and neither Israel nor Israel’s rulers, who were the twin objects of the parable’s two-fold significance, held a prerogative here. The parable passed from history to prophecy in 20:14-15. 20:17 is from Psalm 118:22, a song said to have been sung at the completion of the walls of Jerusalem in 444 BC. The Lord showed the true content of the words. The early church remembered this—see Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7-8; Romans 9:33.
Note Mark 11:12,20,27 suggest that this Day of Questions was Tuesday in Holy Week. Each of the main groups puts a question reflecting their dominant concern—the Pharisees (authority, 11:1-20); the Herodians (political responsibility, 11:21-26); the Sadducees (speculative theology, 11:27-38).