Title: The question and the answer are Christ’s!
Text: Matthew 21:23-27
Text: Matthew 21:23-27
Facebook live: The question and the answer are Christ’s!
24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?”
Who gave you this authority? This is the questioned asked of Jesus.
By what authority are you doing these things?
Authority has to come from some place.
13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Rom. 13:1
God rules his church and has given the church the authority to call pastors to preach and teach his word and to administer his gifts. We cannot claim this authority by ourselves but it is given by God through the working of the Holy Spirit sent on the Day of Pentecost through the church.
Authority is given to the church by God in this Kingdom of grace. But God also works in the Kingdom of the world, through his authority, given to governments and elected officials, and in Luther’s day, through princes, emperors and magistrates to keep the peace and care for the people.
In 1981, 69 days into his presidency Ronald Reagan was shot.
In the aftermath and confusion there was a famous miscalculation by Alexander Haig, Reagan’s Secretary of State. He claimed, wrongly that – he was in charge of the government. Maybe it was just the inclination of a former general who had once been in charge, or as has been suggested, there was much jockeying for power between those in the cabinet. To this Defense Secretary, Casper Weinberger said: “He’s wrong! He doesn’t have such authority,” President Reagan eventually signed over authority to George Bush his vice President, because he had the authority to do so.
During the pandemic a few years ago, there was also quite a few times when authority has been questioned.
Who has the authority and power? The Governor or the Legislature; the States or the Federal Government; the courts that determine or the people that elect?
At times power is claimed.
And other times power is questioned.
When I first became Pastor of Peace, I was at a Red Wings game with my friend Pastor, Paul Monson and jokingly said, “I’m thankful that the Lord allows me to play the part of pastor at Peace.”
To which Pastor Monson quickly said,
“Russ, you are the pastor of Peace!”
Jesus replies to the question of his authority with a question of his own because He knows from where His authority comes.
24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come?
From heaven or from man?”
This gets to the chief priests and elders as they know …
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
A least Secretary Alexander Haig was man enough to take a stand in time of crisis even if he was wrong and misguided, while the chief priests and elders both show their fear of Jesus and the crowds.
Jesus has authority and Jesus gives authority.
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee … 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:16-20
In John’s gospel, Jesus gave authority to the disciples who would build the church through Christ’s means of word and sacrament, proclamation and gift.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:21-23
Article VII: Of the Augsburg Confession, concerning the Church says:
1] Also they teach that one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.
2] And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and 3] the administration of the Sacraments. It is not necessary that human traditions, such as, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike. 4] As Paul says: One faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. Eph. 4:5-6.
But where is the church?
Is it in a boat on a lake communing with nature and thinking about God and his majesty? No.
Is it in the better home and living provided for your family? No.
Is it where the children want to go because they have fun and feel welcome? No.
It is where Christ is and where his gifts are, and where forgiveness of sins is found in His name. Yes!
It is here … at Peace Lutheran Church and countless churches around the world where the gospel is preached and the sacraments are rightly administered according to Christ’s institution.
As both saint and sinner the devil is quick to point your reason and understanding to other things. It happens to me too.
Yes, the sporting events are back, and school has resumed, and many other activities like music and theatre that we enjoy can distract us from the one thing needful, and that is the hearing of God’s word of comfort and mercy and receiving of his gifts for the forgiveness of our sins.
Even the turmoil of Covid 19 and the political battles that rage on and on and on, which bringing joy or fear for us in one outcome or the other, cannot comfort us with the blessings the church gives in Christ’s forgiveness and gifts. Even when we lose in the world we win in Christ!
God works through these means of grace, to bring about his will.
It is he who has the authority to forgive and retain sins and it is given to His church on earth for your benefit.
The blessed absolution you hear from those who have been given the authority from God through the church’s call to stand in the stead and by the command of Christ, is the authority that pastor’s bear as under shepherds in Christ’s church.
It is not authority claimed but authority given for the wellbeing of God’s people.
Our epistle reading gives us this charge:
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Phil 2:1-2
Friends, just like Saint Paul, you too have received your forgiveness from the one who has authority to forgive, Jesus Christ our Lord. The comfort and peace of Christ and abide with you all!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?”
Who gave you this authority? This is the questioned asked of Jesus.
By what authority are you doing these things?
Authority has to come from some place.
13 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Rom. 13:1
God rules his church and has given the church the authority to call pastors to preach and teach his word and to administer his gifts. We cannot claim this authority by ourselves but it is given by God through the working of the Holy Spirit sent on the Day of Pentecost through the church.
Authority is given to the church by God in this Kingdom of grace. But God also works in the Kingdom of the world, through his authority, given to governments and elected officials, and in Luther’s day, through princes, emperors and magistrates to keep the peace and care for the people.
In 1981, 69 days into his presidency Ronald Reagan was shot.
In the aftermath and confusion there was a famous miscalculation by Alexander Haig, Reagan’s Secretary of State. He claimed, wrongly that – he was in charge of the government. Maybe it was just the inclination of a former general who had once been in charge, or as has been suggested, there was much jockeying for power between those in the cabinet. To this Defense Secretary, Casper Weinberger said: “He’s wrong! He doesn’t have such authority,” President Reagan eventually signed over authority to George Bush his vice President, because he had the authority to do so.
During the pandemic a few years ago, there was also quite a few times when authority has been questioned.
Who has the authority and power? The Governor or the Legislature; the States or the Federal Government; the courts that determine or the people that elect?
At times power is claimed.
And other times power is questioned.
When I first became Pastor of Peace, I was at a Red Wings game with my friend Pastor, Paul Monson and jokingly said, “I’m thankful that the Lord allows me to play the part of pastor at Peace.”
To which Pastor Monson quickly said,
“Russ, you are the pastor of Peace!”
Jesus replies to the question of his authority with a question of his own because He knows from where His authority comes.
24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come?
From heaven or from man?”
This gets to the chief priests and elders as they know …
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
A least Secretary Alexander Haig was man enough to take a stand in time of crisis even if he was wrong and misguided, while the chief priests and elders both show their fear of Jesus and the crowds.
Jesus has authority and Jesus gives authority.
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee … 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:16-20
In John’s gospel, Jesus gave authority to the disciples who would build the church through Christ’s means of word and sacrament, proclamation and gift.
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:21-23
Article VII: Of the Augsburg Confession, concerning the Church says:
1] Also they teach that one holy Church is to continue forever. The Church is the congregation of saints, in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered.
2] And to the true unity of the Church it is enough to agree concerning the doctrine of the Gospel and 3] the administration of the Sacraments. It is not necessary that human traditions, such as, rites or ceremonies, instituted by men, should be everywhere alike. 4] As Paul says: One faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, etc. Eph. 4:5-6.
But where is the church?
Is it in a boat on a lake communing with nature and thinking about God and his majesty? No.
Is it in the better home and living provided for your family? No.
Is it where the children want to go because they have fun and feel welcome? No.
It is where Christ is and where his gifts are, and where forgiveness of sins is found in His name. Yes!
It is here … at Peace Lutheran Church and countless churches around the world where the gospel is preached and the sacraments are rightly administered according to Christ’s institution.
As both saint and sinner the devil is quick to point your reason and understanding to other things. It happens to me too.
Yes, the sporting events are back, and school has resumed, and many other activities like music and theatre that we enjoy can distract us from the one thing needful, and that is the hearing of God’s word of comfort and mercy and receiving of his gifts for the forgiveness of our sins.
Even the turmoil of Covid 19 and the political battles that rage on and on and on, which bringing joy or fear for us in one outcome or the other, cannot comfort us with the blessings the church gives in Christ’s forgiveness and gifts. Even when we lose in the world we win in Christ!
God works through these means of grace, to bring about his will.
It is he who has the authority to forgive and retain sins and it is given to His church on earth for your benefit.
The blessed absolution you hear from those who have been given the authority from God through the church’s call to stand in the stead and by the command of Christ, is the authority that pastor’s bear as under shepherds in Christ’s church.
It is not authority claimed but authority given for the wellbeing of God’s people.
Our epistle reading gives us this charge:
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Phil 2:1-2
Friends, just like Saint Paul, you too have received your forgiveness from the one who has authority to forgive, Jesus Christ our Lord. The comfort and peace of Christ and abide with you all!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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