It’s time to question authority
A friend of mine grew up in a church where she was never allowed to ask questions or question those in charge about teachings or practices. She was told to just accept everything she was told. This was very frustrating to say the least.
Jesus consistently questioned the authority of the religious leaders of his day. It got him into trouble. But that didn’t stop him from taking a stand for what was right.
How can we follow Jesus’s example today?
There are so many issues that are coming to the fore. Old ways of thinking are being challenged on almost every front:
- political
- religious
- gender
- race
- sexuality
- and so much more
What once was standard behavior does not always continue as society progresses.
In this episode of The Bible Speaks to You Podcast, I take a look at some of the ways Jesus challenged the authority of the Pharisees. And how they challenged his authority.
Very quickly you will see that any time we create our own authority through asserting the human ego or will power, that power and influence is short-lived. Jesus gave us the supreme example to follow of depending on God’s authority instead of our own.
Is it ever okay to question Jesus’s authority?
The Pharisees tried to discredit Jesus by doing so. But Jesus doesn’t want us to follow him blindly. He wants us to question what he says, to take his ideas and put them into practice in our lives to see if they ring true.
It is so important to ask questions of those in authority. There are things that need to be corrected in all areas of society.
Will you take a stand to speak up for what’s right? If you don’t, who will.
But you have to start with yourself. What practices and ways of thinking have you bought into that need to be discarded?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject. You can leave a comment all the way at the bottom of this page.
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Thanks so much for listening.
Blessings,
James
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Bible quotes in this episode:
Matthew 7:28, 29 ESV
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 9:2-8 ESV
2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.”
3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.”
4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?
6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
7 And he rose and went home.
8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
John 7:15-18 ESV
15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?”
16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.
Luke 20:1-8 ESV
1 One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up
2 and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.”
3 He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me,
4 was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?”
5 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
6 But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from.
8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Matthew 12: 22-24 KJV
22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
John 7:15-18 ESV
15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning,[fn] when he has never studied?”
16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.
Matthew 15:1-3 ESV
1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,
2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.”
3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
John 8:31, 32 ESV
31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,
32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Matthew 10:1 ESV
1 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.
Luke 10:19, 20 ESV
19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
