Waverly Church of Christ

Jesus was approached by “the chief priests and the scribes and the elders” who had two questions for Him:

"28 and began saying to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?" 29 And Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30 Was the baptism of John from heaven, or from men? Answer Me." 31 They began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'" Mark 11:28-31 NASB

They quickly realized the corner into which Jesus had backed them:

a. If they said, John’s baptism is “from heaven,” they knew Jesus would respond, “Then why did you not believe him?” (v. 31).

b. If they said, John’s baptism was “from men,” it would set them against the people who believed John to have been a prophet from God.

To avoid either situation they responded, “We do not know.” (v. 33).

Since they did not answer Jesus’ question definitively, He refused to tell them who gave Him authority to cleanse the temple and teach has He had been doing.

Instead, Jesus told a parable — one which outlined Israel’s past and present.

It was a parable which spoke directly to the attitudes and actions of the religious leaders who had just confronted Him.

As we look at this parable, I would like for each of us to consider what it is that
Jesus is also saying to us today.