1. Our Need For Divine Authority Matt. 21:23: “And when He was come into the temple, the chief priests and the 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? V. 24. “And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise, will tell you by what authority I do these things.

2. Matt. 21:25: “The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? V. 26. “But if we shall say, Of men, we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. V. 27. “And they answered Jesus and said, We cannot tell. And He said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.”

3. Consider the Text: Jesus was teaching in the temple, v. 23. The Question posed by the chief priests and elders of the people. –“By what authority doest thou these things, and who gave thee this authority? -- “These things” included his cleansing the temple, healing the blind & lame. –The Question itself was a good question!

4. Text: The Reply of Jesus: V. 25: “The baptism of John, whence was it, from heaven, or of men?” –They were familiar with John’s baptism, Matt. 3:5-6, but for the most part they had rejected John’s baptism, Luke 7:30. John’s baptism was either: –“From heaven,” v. 25. –Or “of Men!”

5. The Reasoning and the Reply of the Chief Priests and Elders: Vs. 25-26: “If we shall say from heaven, He will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say of men, we fear the people…” V. 27: Their Answer: “We cannot tell.” Essentially, they lied! --But the necessary implication of the Lord’s question is clear: Every religious teaching and practice is either: –“From heaven,” of “of men.”

6. Authority Defined: Exousia (GK), “The power of Him Whose will and commands must be submitted to by others,” Thayer. “Power or right to act…,” The New Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language.

7. A Sad Fact: Modern Society often Shows Contempt for Authority! The Home: The divine order is often ignored, husbands and wives not respecting the covenant of marriage, children not being reared in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, etc. Society – both Corporations and Individuals often lie about their income taxes and show disregard for the laws of God in general!

8. Contempt for Divine Authority, Con’t. In Religion, Matt. 15:3; 15:9. In Government (all three levels), the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative. In Modern Education. Result: As a Society, with regards to divine authority, we have largely “sown to the wind,” and we shall “reap the whirlwind,” Hosea 8:7.

9. Our Need for Divine Authority is Established by Bible Examples! Cain, whose worship was not acceptable to God, Genesis 4:3-5; cf. Hebrews 11:4; Romans 10:17. Nadab and Abihu, who offered “strange fire” to the Lord, Leviticus 10:1-2. Uzziah, who attempted to burn incense to the Lord, 2 Chronicles 26:16-22.

10. Our Need for Divine Authority Established by Divine Revelation! Jeremiah 10:23: “…the way of man is not in himself…” Colossians 3:17: “…do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” I Peter 4:11: “…speak as the oracles of God” Deut. 4:2: “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you.”

11. Need for Divine Authority Established by Divine Revelation Deut 12:32: “What thing soever I command you, observe to do it; thou shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Prov. 30:6: “Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Rev. 22:18-19: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city…”

12. Need for Divine Authority Estab- lished by God’s Rule in the Universe Matt. 11:25, He is “Lord of heaven and earth,” cf. Ps. 97:5; Deut. 10:17; I Chron. 29:11-12. Acts 17:24: God made and God owns the universe! Acts 17:28. “In Him” we “move and have our being..” James 1:17, Every blessing we receive comes from God! Cf. Matt. 5:45.

13. The Need for Divine Authority is Established by the Superiority of Divine Wisdom over Human Wisdom! Psalm 147:5: “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa. 30:1: “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they add sin to sin.”

14. The Superiority of Divine Wisdom over Human Wisdom (continued): Jeremiah 10:23: “Or Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” Prov. 14:12: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov. 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

15. The Superiority of Divine Wisdom Inferred by Existence of the Bible! Hebrews 4:12. It is the word of God. John 17:17. It “is truth.” 2 Peter 1:21. It is inspired of God. 2 Tim. 3:16-17. It is a perfect and complete guide. John 12:48: By it we shall be judged in that last day.

16. Need for Divine Authority Inferred by faith of those who Ignore it! Matthew 7:21-23: “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name cast out devils? And i n thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew ye: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

17. Conclusion: There are many commands, statements, examples, and necessary inferences in the Bible which prove we need and must submit to divine authority in order to be saved. This may be illustrated by Saul of Tarsus, who asked “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” He recognized Jesus as “Lord,” and he sought his answer on what to do to be saved. So it is with us!