And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them?” Comment: This is a double headed question about Jesus’ authority. ‘What is Your authority and who gave it to you?’, they asked. Surely that would have been easy for Jesus to answer. He is the Creator or He could have said that He was the Messiah etc, and God, the Father had given Him the authority. That would have been the absolute truth – and they would not have believed Him! Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” Comment: (A tricky question! and they understood the trap!) And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘From man’?”—they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet. So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Comment: Mankind are not just animals! We are but we are more than animals or so the Bible teaches. These questioners were highly intelligent individuals of high IQ and very capable. But purposefully blind so that they could say ‘We are right, you are wrong, and hold onto their status and power!’ They had to be honest with themselves , and as belief is not (as God desires faith to be) a blind leap into darkness, or ignorance etc they were called upon by Jesus to be honest with themselves and God! God expects the same from each of us. We are different one from another, but God calls to us and we have to consider and answer! Refusing to consider is a ‘no’ answer to God!
Micah 6: 7 – He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Prayer: Am I admitted into Your heaven by my works, Lord Jesus. Why did You have to go through the Cross? Please make it clear to me.
As I read it! 