Luke 20:1-8

Be still: Lord, help me to slow down and become aware of your presence. As I read your Word today, give me a heart that is open and ready to listen. Amen

Read: Luke 20:1-8

Jesus said, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.' (v8)

Encounter: In the small group that my wife Bex and I host each week, we always start with a carefully crafted icebreaker question. You might inwardly groan at the thought (as some members of the group do), but there’s an art in picking a good question that helps us get to know each other better. 

But sometimes a conversation-starter is not just a question — it's a challenge. It isn’t asked to gain information, but to put someone on the spot.

That's what is happening in today’s passage. The chief priests, teachers of the law and elders come to Jesus and say, ‘Tell us by what authority you are doing these things.’ (v2). On the surface, it sounds reasonable. Jesus has entered Jerusalem, cleared the temple courts, and continued teaching publicly. It makes sense that the religious leaders would want to understand what authority he is claiming.

But Jesus sees through the challenge to the heart beneath it. They aren’t really trying to understand him; they are looking for a way to discredit him. Jesus, in his signature way, responds with a question that exposes their double-heartedness. They are less concerned with what is true, than with what answer will protect their position.

What’s striking is that Jesus chooses not to play their game. There’s a quiet confidence in Jesus. He is not evasive because he lacks an answer — he simply refuses to be dragged into a debate that is not in good faith. His authority is not borrowed from the temple leaders, the crowds, or any human institution; it comes from the Father, and from that place, Jesus speaks and acts.

Apply: What would it look like to walk with confidence in the authority of Christ, alive in you today? How would that change the way you respond to others, even when those might be critical voices?

Devote: Jesus, help me to trust your authority. When I feel criticised, questioned, or misunderstood, give me a quiet confidence that comes from you. Keep me from becoming defensive and help me respond with grace and courage.