My sermon notes for Sunday morning, Oct 6th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon. They are provided as an outline each week for our Tabernacle Church family. We provide the preaching each week through YouTube by Sunday afternoon. You can find Sermon Notes, Family Devotional Guides, Prayer List, and other resources at our Church Website.
Luke 20:1-8
INTRO
- Tuesday of Passion Week… public ministry. Teaching & Opposition.
- After clearing the temple… now teaching in the temple.
- The questions
- What right do you have to do what you do?
- Why should we believe and listen to you?
- What authority do you have?
- SO TRUE THEN and SO TRUE NOW
Jesus is teaching and preaching the Gospel
- Not based on their tradition (so and so said)
- This would have highly offended the religious leaders
- This was the rub…(still is today)
- Based on God’s truth
- Thus, saith the Lord
- Truth
- Absolute truth. From God Himself
Religious leaders are questioning His authority
- Their answer spoke volumes
- Who are you?
- Who sent you?
- WHY ARE YOU RIGHT?
- Would not answer because they could not please everyone
- Playing the sides
- TRUTH DIVIDES
The Lord’s authority may be viewed from several perspectives.
First, He possesses authority in Himself. When He spoke, “the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes,” who usually quoted other rabbis as their source of authority (Matt. 7:28–29).
Second, He possesses the authority to forgive sin (Matt. 9:6–8). That direct evidence of His divine nature was not lost on His opponents: “The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, ‘Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?’ ” (Luke 5:21).
Third, He holds authority over the forces of hell. On one occasion when He demonstrated that authority by casting a demon out of a man, “amazement came upon [those who witnessed the miracle], and they began talking with one another saying, ‘What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out’ ” (Luke 4:36).
Fourth, He has authority to give eternal salvation. “But as many as received Him,” the apostle John wrote, “to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
Fifth, He has authority to judge, since the Father “has given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22; cf. v. 27).
Finally, He has authority over death and life. In John 10:18 Jesus said, “No one has taken [My life] away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father,” and in Revelation 1:18 He added, “[I am] the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”[1]
[1] John MacArthur, Luke 18–24, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2014), 112.
The What Now
How does our society question the authority of Jesus?
- Who He is
- What He came to do
- How it impacts us.
Let’s consider these questions:
What does it mean to be a Christian/Christ follower?
- Whose definition?
- Public opinion, within ourselves
- Initially… The Gospel. Conversion
- Progressively – Sanctification. Matthew 4:18-22 Put down your nets and follow me
What is the Bible?
- The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience. Abstract of Principles
What is our religious/spiritual purpose in life?
- Please man
- Glorify self
- Be faithful to God
- Glorify Him
- Not of the world but sent into the world
- Make Disciples
If these are answered biblically(correctly), then we have an understanding of Jesus and His authority over our life.