Luke 20:1-8
“One day as Jesus was teaching……and proclaiming the good news,…” (1a), religious leaders and
experts in Scripture, asked this question: “…’Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or
who is the one who gave You this authority?’” (2) Jesus knew they were not seeking information, but
seeking opportunity to make accusation. So, He asked a question that if they answered honestly would
expose their rejection of God’s word: “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” (4) If they
answered from heaven, they would have to explain their rejection of him. If they said from men, they
would lose the support of the public who saw him as a prophet. So they just said we don’t know [a
politically correct answer]. Jesus response: “…’Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.’”
(7b) We, the church must continue the ministry of Jesus and not be derailed by questions designed to
derail our focus from equipping God’s people in our teaching and proclaiming good news to this world.
Let’s not waste time addressing insincere questions.