Luke 20:1-8
By What Authority
Read the passage
1One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him.
2“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”
3“I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me:
4John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?”
5They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
7So they answered that they did not know where it was from.
8And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
One day, while Jesus teaches the people in the temple and preaches the gospel, the chief priests, scribes, and elders approach Him. They ask by what authority He does these things and who gave Him that authority.
Jesus answers with a question. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from people? If they say from heaven, Jesus will ask why they did not believe John. They fear that if they say it came from people, the crowd will stone them, because the people are convinced John was a prophet.
The leaders reason among themselves. They do not ask what is true; they ask which answer will protect their reputation and position. They finally say they do not know where John's baptism came from.
Jesus says neither will He tell them by what authority He acts. His answer exposes their refusal to respond to the evidence and message already before them.
Questions
1 Who questions Jesus?
AnswerThe chief priests, scribes, and elders question Him while He teaches and preaches in the temple.
2 What do they ask?
AnswerThey ask by what authority Jesus does these things and who gave Him that authority.
3 What question does Jesus put to them?
AnswerHe asks whether John's baptism came from heaven or from people, forcing them to face their response to John's prophetic ministry.
4 Why do the leaders refuse to answer?
AnswerThey are calculating the consequences for their reputation and safety rather than seeking truth. Their silence reveals a settled resistance.
What This Means for Us
Questions about authority can be sincere, but these leaders use one to avoid accountability. A family can test its own questions by asking whether it wants truth or merely a defensible answer.
When an answer threatens our pride, it can be tempting to ask another question instead of acting on what we have heard. Jesus exposes that evasion here. Honest inquiry includes a willingness to change when the truth becomes clear.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, give us honest questions and hearts willing to obey the truth they discover. Keep our household from protecting reputation at the expense of faithfulness, humility, and repentance. Amen.