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The Doctrine of Christ - The Debate of Authority

Scripture Passage: 
Matthew 21:23-46; Mark 11:27-Mark 12:12; Luke 20:1-19
  1. THE QUESTION OF CHRIST’S AUTHORITY (Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8)
    1. The Questions Set Forth to the Lord (Matthew 21:23; Mark 11:27-28; Luke 20:1-2)
      1. The place of questioning – the temple (Matthew 21:23; Mark 11:27; Luke 20:1)
      2. The time of questioning (Matthew 21:23; Luke 20:1)
        1. The Lord was teaching (Matthew 21:23; Luke 20:1)
        2. The Lord was preaching the gospel (Luke 20:1)
      3. The source of the questions (Matthew 21:23; Mark 11:27; Luke 20:1)
        1. Chief priests
        2. Scribes
        3. Elders
      4. The content of the questions (Matthew 21:23; Mark 11:28; Luke 20:2)
        1. By what authority doest thou these things? (see Job 9:12; Ecclesiastes 8:4; Daniel 4:35)
          1. Perhaps the Lord’s teaching
          2. Perhaps the Lord’s entrance into the temple and the praise received
        2. Who gave thee this authority?
    2. The Lord’s Stipulation for Answering (Matthew 21:24-27; Mark 11:29-33; Luke 20:3-8)
      1. The stipulation set forth (Matthew 21:24; Mark 11:29; Luke 20:3)
        1. The Lord will ask them one question.
        2. If they answer His question, He will answer their question.
      2. The Lord’s question for the religious leaders – the baptism of John was it from heaven or of men? (Matthew 21:25; Mark 11:30; Luke 20:4)
      3. The concern of the religious leaders (Matthew 11:25-26; Mark 11:31-32; Luke 20:5-6)
        1. If they say from heaven, the Lord will ask why they did not believe John (Matthew 11:25; Mark 11:31; Luke 20:5)
        2. If they say of men (Matthew 11:26; Mark 11:32; Luke 20:6)
          1. They feared the people (* Luke 20:6 *)
          2. The people held John as a prophet
      4. The choice of the religious leaders – they answered “we cannot tell” (Matthew 21:27; Mark 11:33; Luke 20:7)
      5. The choice of the Lord Jesus – He refused to answer their question (Matthew 21:27; Mark 11:33; Luke 20:7)
  2. THE QUESTION OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS’ AUTHORITY (Matthew 21:28-44; Mark 12:1-11; Luke 20:8-18)
    1. In Rejecting John’s Message (Matthew 21:28-32)
      1. The common people believed (Matthew 21:28-29, 32)
      2. The leaders refused (Matthew 21:30-32)
    2. In Rejecting the Prophets and the Son (Matthew 21:33-41; Mark 12:1-9; Luke 20:8-16)
      1. The rejection of the prophets (Matthew 21:34-36; Mark 12:1-5; Luke 20:8-12)
      2. The rejection of the Son (Matthew 21:37-41; Mark 12:6-9; Luke 20:13-16)
    3. In Rejecting the Scriptures (Matthew 21:42-44; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17-18)
  3. THE ANGER OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS (Matthew 21:45-46; Mark 12:12; Luke 20:19)
    1. They Perceived He Spoke Against Them (Matthew 21:45; Mark 12:12; Luke 20:19)
    2. They Sought to Lay Hands Upon Him (Matthew 21:46; Mark 12:12; Luke 20:19)
    3. They Feared the People (Matthew 21:46; Mark 12:12; Luke 20:19)
Andrew Ray

Daily Proverb

Proverbs 26:5

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.