1. An archaic question A scorned question An unwelcome question An ignored question A legitimate question? “By what authority are you doing these things, And who gave you this authority?”

2. Matthew 21:23 When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, And who gave you this authority?"

3. Matthew 21:24 Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Jesus legitimized the question “By what authority are you doing these things?”

4. Legitimate questions What is “authority”? Must we have authority for what we do in work, worship and service to God? Where does this authority come from? How do we establish this authority?

5. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, "Go!” and he goes, and to another, "Come!” and he comes, and to my slave, "Do this!” and he does it. What is “authority”?— Matt. 8:9 Authority The right to command and expect obedience

6. Must we have authority?

7. Nadab and Abihu the sin Lev. 10:1-2 Now Nadab and Abihu, offered strange fire before the LORD,

8. Must we have authority? Nadab and Abihu why sin? Lev. 10:1-2 which He had not commanded them.

9. Must we have authority? Nadab and Abihu the punishment Lev. 10:1-2 And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

10. Must we have authority? King Saul the order 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.

11. Must we have authority? King Saul the disobedience 1 Samuel 15:9 But Saul…spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs,..all that was good, …not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

12. Must we have authority? King Saul the condemnation 1 Samuel 15:22-23 Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.

13. Must we have authority? King Saul the condemnation 1 Samuel 15:22-23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.

14. Must we have authority? King Uzziah the sin 1 Chron. 26:16 But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the LORD His God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

15. Must we have authority? King Uzziah why sin? 1 Chron. 26:18 It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense.

16. Must we have authority? This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men. Matthew 15:8-9

17. Must we have authority? Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 1 John 3:4 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9

18. Summation of OT & NT Evidence There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12; 16:25 I know, O LORD, that a man's way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. Jeremiah 10:23

19. By what authority are you doing these things? A legitimate question? A failure to be concerned with this question lies at the root of all religious differences and apostasies.