Luk 20:1-8 | KingComments | STEP | Although the temple has become a robbers’ den, the Lord teaches the people there daily and tirelessly continues to proclaim the gospel. The people are a flock that lies down weary and over which He remains moved with compassion. It is a flock with ruthless shepherds. Those shepherds confront Him. In the last week of His life on earth before the cross, the temple becomes the area where enmity becomes stronger and stronger. This chapter describes the conflicts the Lord has with the leaders. He unmasks them and silences them, but the murderousness is not extinguished. The first issue the Lord teaches in the temple is that of authority. The teaching about this is of great importance to the church, that is the temple of God now ( ). The question is how to recognize Divine authority. The Lord responds to this question in response to a question of dispute with which the religious leaders come to Him. They do acknowledge His authority, but they ask Him in a critical spirit about its origin. People who eagerly claim authority, always question true authority. They are never able to recognize true authority because they do not want that. With their question they assert to be able to judge Him. They want to know whether He has personal authority, for example through education, or whether He exercises authority on behalf of someone else, a higher authority on behalf of whom He speaks. It is both true for Him. He is personally the highest authority. He is God the Son. He is also as Man the Son of God Who has taken the place of dependence and obedience to God. These are the questions of blind people who refuse to see.

‏ Luke 20:1-8

Question About the Authority of the Lord

Although the temple has become a robbers’ den, the Lord teaches the people there daily and tirelessly continues to proclaim the gospel. The people are a flock that lies down weary and over which He remains moved with compassion. It is a flock with ruthless shepherds. Those shepherds confront Him. In the last week of His life on earth before the cross, the temple becomes the area where enmity becomes stronger and stronger. This chapter describes the conflicts the Lord has with the leaders. He unmasks them and silences them, but the murderousness is not extinguished.

The first issue the Lord teaches in the temple is that of authority. The teaching about this is of great importance to the church, that is the temple of God now (1Cor 3:16). The question is how to recognize Divine authority. The Lord responds to this question in response to a question of dispute with which the religious leaders come to Him. They do acknowledge His authority, but they ask Him in a critical spirit about its origin.

People who eagerly claim authority, always question true authority. They are never able to recognize true authority because they do not want that. With their question they assert to be able to judge Him. They want to know whether He has personal authority, for example through education, or whether He exercises authority on behalf of someone else, a higher authority on behalf of whom He speaks. It is both true for Him. He is personally the highest authority. He is God the Son. He is also as Man the Son of God Who has taken the place of dependence and obedience to God. These are the questions of blind people who refuse to see.

The Answer of the Lord

The Lord wants to make it clear to them that they are blind, that they may acknowledge their blindness and then receive sight. Therefore He has as answer a question to them. With the words “tell Me” He commands them to answer Him. His counter-question must make it clear whether they are capable of forming a real judgment about His authority. Their answer will bring their mind to light.

His question concerns the baptism of John. John was His forerunner and herald. John announced Him and preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Lk 3:3). Many have come to his baptism (Lk 3:7) and have even wondered, as to whether he was the Christ (Lk 3:15). However, the reaction of John was clear that he was not himself, but that it was He Who came after him.

The answer to the question about John’s baptism therefore determines their view of the Lord. He presents them with two possibilities: the baptism of John was from heaven or from men. It is one of two. Let them say it.

In their falsehood and insincerity, the religious leaders consult with each other. They don’t discuss what the right answer is, but what He will answer to a particular answer. They are so corrupt that they only look at the result of their answer and not at its truth. They discuss what His answer will be when they say that John’s baptism was from heaven. They know His answer: He will say: “Why did you not believe him?” They cannot deny that John’s baptism was from heaven, but they do not want to admit it.

The other option is also being considered. They refrain from that because they know the great admiration of the people for John. Instead of joining the people and acknowledging that John was a prophet, they consider that an answer that John would bring down could cost them their life. They are afraid to lose the people’s favor and to get the people against them, even fearing for their life.

Both answers turn around themselves. Because they think they will suffer the least loss of sight if they say they don’t know where John’s baptism is from, they give that answer. With this answer they indicate that they do not deserve an answer to their question from the Lord. He has made it clear that they have reprehensible intentions. It is tragic that they do not want to repent, but rather, as His declared opponents, are becoming increasingly murderous. They can be stopped by nothing. The Lord shows in the following parable how they consciously want to kill Him.