And when He was come into the temple, the chief priests and elders of the people came unto Him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest Thou these things? And Who gave Thee this authority? Matthew 21:23
A friend of mine who worked for a large national corporation was sent to company headquarters to build a new project. As he and several other experts were working on the project in a large studio, a short, balding man in casual dress and carrying a clipboard came into the studio and sat in a corner to watch. As the development team approached a crucial point in the project, each member seemed to have a different opinion as to how they were to proceed. At this point, the man observing from the corner spoke up and made a suggestion. All the team members immediately deferred to this man, except my friend, who asked him, ‘Why, what do you know about this?’ The man smiled, and replied, ‘I’m the company president’. How embarrassed my friend was! Just as embarrassed as the chief priests and elders should have been to question the right of the King of Kings to teach in the temple. Sadly, we all question His authority every day.
Who better to teach in the temple than the One who the temple was built to serve? Who better to lead the people and explain the Scriptures than the One of Whom all Scripture spoke? Who better to take charge of the temple activities than the One Who holds the entire universe in the hollow of His hand? Jesus had every right and all authority to be where He was and do what He was doing. Everyone there should have listened attentively to all He said and then have gone and followed His teaching. We have His Word today. The Bible gives us clear direction from the Saviour Himself. But do we follow all its teachings? Or do we challenge some of it? Do we pick-and-choose the Scriptures that we want to apply to us? Do we use the pen-knife approach and dispose of those portions of Scripture that cramp our lifestyle?
The Word of God is clear and plain. Jesus’ teaching is not complicated. Are we following His teaching today, or are we challenging the authority of the Son of God? -Jim MacIntosh