JESUS’ AUTHORITY
chapter 19
45. When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling.
46. "It is written," he said to them, "’My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ’a den of robbers.’"
47. Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.
48. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
chapter 20
1. One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.
2. "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"
3. He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me:
4. John’s baptism - was it from heaven, or of human origin?"
5. They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, ’From heaven,’ he will ask, ’Why didn’t you believe him?’
6. But if we say, ’Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
7. So they answered, "We don’t know where it was from."
8. Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
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Luke 19:45-20:8Luke Lesson 79 (2021)
DIVINE AUTHORITY VS. RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY
Luke 19:45-20:8
Key Verse: 20:3
Open it:
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How do you react to other people’s hypocrisy? When was a time you felt justified in being angry?
Explore it:
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Read verses 45-46. What did Jesus do in the temple are? What attitude did Jesus have toward the merchants in the temple area? (46) In what way can a church be made a “den of robbers”?
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Read verses 47-48. Why did the religious leaders want to kill Jesus? Why were the religious leaders unable to carry out their plot? What made people hang on to Jesus’ words?
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Read 20:1-2. What was Jesus doing in the temple courts? What motivated the religious leaders to ask about Jesus’ authority? By whose authority was Jesus doing what he did in the temple, including the cleansing of the temple and teaching?
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Read verses 3-6. Why was Jesus answer the religious leaders’ question with another question? What was it about Jesus’ question that stumped the religious leaders? (5-6)
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Read verses 7-8. How did the leaders respond to Jesus’ question? In what way did Jesus demonstrate his wisdom?
Apply it:
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How can you obey God’s authority and be completely honest and forthright in all your dealing with people with religious authority?