TEXT: MATTHEW 21:23-27
TITLE: I AM WALKING IN MY AUTHORITY
INTRODUCTION
A. Jesus never asked permission to do what He was sent to do
B. Jesus never sought to fit in
C. Jesus never bowed to the authority of the religious leaders
1. Jesus respected their position (Matthew 23:1-3)
2. Paul respected their position (Acts 23:1-5)
JESUS’ AUTHORITY
A. Two Questions
1. By what authority are You doing these things?
a. What things?
i. Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem
ii. Jesus’ cleaning up and clearing out the temple
iii. Jesus’ curing the blind and lame
iv. Jesus’ reception of praise from the children
v. Jesus’ teaching in the temple
b. What authority?
2. Who gave You this authority?”
a. It had not been conferred upon Jesus by them
b. They had the authority in the temple
B. One Answer
1. Jesus answered a question with a question
2. “Answer my question, and I will answer your question”
3. “Did the baptism of John come from heaven or human origin?”
C. A question that could not be answered
1. “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’”
2. “But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the people because everyone regards John as a prophet.”
3. “We do not know”
4. “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things”
MY AUTHORITY
A. What authority do I have?
B. From where did my authority come?
C. Know:
1. I do not have to prove my authority
2. I do not have to defend my authority
3. I do have to walk in my authority
