Leaders Question Jesus but Refuse to Answer Him

Yesterday we were called to recognize the King; today Jerusalem’s leaders confront Him with a question about His authority.

Jesus returns to the temple, where chief priests, scribes, and elders ask, “By what authority are you doing these things?” The question follows His public actions in Jerusalem and places His authority at the center of the conflict.

A Question About John.

Jesus answers with a question about John’s baptism: was it from heaven or from man? The leaders deliberate, but their reasoning is governed by consequences rather than truth.

We Do Not Know.

They refuse to answer because either response will expose them. Jesus therefore refuses to submit His authority to judges who will not answer honestly about the evidence already before them.

The Vineyard and the Son.

Jesus tells a parable about tenants who reject servants sent by the vineyard owner and finally kill his beloved son. The story turns the authority dispute into an indictment of rejection.

The Rejected Stone.

Jesus cites the stone rejected by builders becoming the cornerstone. The leaders recognize that the parable is about them. Their response is not repentance but a desire to arrest Him.

Tomorrow, listen carefully to how Jesus answers a question designed to place Him on trial.