The priests and elders asked Jesus about the authority for his actions, and Jesus replied by questioning them about the authority for John’s baptism indicating that there are only two sources of authority: heaven or man. This is vital in understanding that we too must have authority from heaven for all that we do if we wish to be pleasing to God.

1. Heaven
or
Man?
Matthew 21.23-27

3. “By what authority are
you doing these things,
and who gave you this
authority?”

4. “By what authority are
you doing these things,
and who gave you this
authority?”

5. “By what authority are
you doing these things,
and who gave you this
authority?”

6. “By what authority are
you doing these things,
and who gave absolute
“denotes the you this
possibility of action that is proper
authority?”
to God alone as the source of all
power and legality.”
(Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, p. 239)

7. “By what authority are
you doing these things,
and who gave absolute
“denotes the you this
possibility of action that is proper
authority?”
to God alone as the source of all
power and legality.”
(Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, p. 239)

8. “By what authority are
you doing these things,
and who gave absolute
“denotes the you this
possibility of action that is proper
authority?”
to God alone as the source of all
power and legality.”
(Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, p. 239)

9. “By what authority are
you doing these things,
and who gave you this
authority?”

10. “By what authority are
you doing these things,
and who gave you this
authority?”

11. “By what authority are
you doing these things,
and who gave you this
authority?”

12. John’s
Baptism

13. Heaven Man
John’s
Baptism

14. Heaven Man
John’s
Baptism

15. Heaven Man
John’s
Baptism
“Why did you not
believe him?”

16. Heaven Man
John’s
Baptism
“Why did you not
believe him?”

17. Heaven Man
John’s
Baptism
“Why did you not Afraid of the
believe him?” crowd

18. “We do
not know.”
Heaven Man
John’s
Baptism
“Why did you not Afraid of the
believe him?” crowd

19. “I do not speak on my own
authority.”
John 14.10
Heaven Man
Jesus’
Work & Teaching

20. Jesus’
Authority

21. “He was teaching them as one who
had authority”
Matthew 7.29
Heaven Man
Jesus’
Work & Teaching

22. “That you may know that the Son of
Man has authority on earth to
forgive sins”
Heaven Mark 2.10-11 Man
Jesus’
Work & Teaching

23. “For with authority and power He
commands the unclean spirits, and
they come out!’”
Heaven Luke 4.36 Man
Jesus’
Work & Teaching

24. “And He has given Him authority
to execute judgment”
John 5.27
Heaven Man
Jesus’
Work & Teaching

25. “All authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me.”
Matthew 28.18
Heaven Man
Jesus’
Work & Teaching

26. What is Your
Source of
Authority?

27. Yourself?
Jeremiah 10.23
Proverbs 14.12

28. Others?
Colossians 2.20-22
Matthew 15.8-9

29. The Word!
John 8.31-32
John 17.17
1 Thessalonians 2.13

30. We need authority
from Heaven!
Worship

31. We need authority
from Heaven!
Church

32. We need authority
from Heaven!
Morality

33. We need authority
from Heaven!
Salvation

34. We need authority
from Heaven!
Salvation
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given among men by which
we must be saved.”
Acts 4.12

35. We need authority
from Heaven!
Salvation
“’Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said,
‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you
and your household.’”
Acts 16.30-31

36. We need authority
from Heaven!
Salvation
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but
whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Mark 16.16

37. What is Your
Source of
Authority?

38. Lesson slideshows (with notes)
and audio can be found at:
www.churchofchristmiranda.com

39. Photo Credits:
From Istockphoto.com
Finger: iStock_000008065133
Blackboard: iStock_000005164183
Man: iStock_000005870937
Woman with Bible: iStock_000005249418
Checkers; Steve Snodgrass: http://www.flickr.com/photos/
stevensnodgrass/3990957354/sizes/l/

40. Compiled and Presented by:
Understanding Authority Dave Stewart
21 February, 2010
#01 Hatch, NM
www.churchofchristmiranda.com
Heaven or Man?
Matthew 21.23-27
Synopsis: The priests and elders asked Jesus about the authority for his
actions, and Jesus replied by questioning them about the authority for
John’s baptism indicating that there are only two sources of authority:
heaven or man. This is vital in understanding that we too must have
authority from heaven for all that we do if we wish to be pleasing to God.
“Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright
© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
“Let all that you do be done with love.”