By Whose Authority. . .

“On one of the days

while he was teaching the people
in the temple

and declaring the good news,

the chief priests and the scribes with the elders
came and said to him:

“Tell us,

by what authority do you do these things?
Or who gave you this authority?”

He replied to them:
“I will also ask you a question,
and you tell me:

Was the baptism of John
from heaven or from men?”

Then they drew conclusions among themselves, saying:
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’
he will say,

‘Why did you not believe him?’

But if we say, ‘From men,’
the people one and all will stone us,
for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

So they replied that
they did not know its source.

Jesus said to them:

“Neither am I telling you
by what authority I do these things.””
Luke 20:1-8.

***

Cunning and trickery.
Pretense and hypocrisy
To keep the people shackled.

Yet,
Christ came
and
lived a model
that those religious leaders
were unwilling
though able
to tackle:

“Keep this mental attitude in you
that was also in Christ Jesus,

who,
although he was existing
in
God’s form,
(spirit)

gave no consideration
to a seizure,

namely,

that he should be
equal to God.

No,
but he emptied himself and took a slave’s form
and became human.

More than that,

when he came as a man,
he humbled himself

and
became obedient
(To whom if God?)

to the point of death,

yes,
death
on a torture stake.“
Phil. 2:5-8.

***

Christ
told an illustration

of a
Vineyard Owner
who leased it to cultivators

as he would travel away
for a considerable time.

But they proved to be jealous haters.

When the Owner
sent to obtain

Fruitage
from his endeavors,

the cultivators
beat,
beat and humiliated,
then wounded
three of the Owners’
servants.

Sending them away
empty-handed.

So the Owner then finally stated:

“I will send my son,
the beloved.

They will likely respect this one.’”

But,

“When the cultivators caught sight of him,
they reasoned with one another, saying,

‘This is the heir.
Let us kill him so that the inheritance may become ours.’

So they threw him out of the vineyard
and killed him.

What, then,
will the owner of the vineyard
do to them?

He will come and kill these cultivators
and will give the vineyard
to others.”

On hearing this, they said:
“Never may that happen!”

But he looked straight at them and said:

“What, then, does this mean where it is written:
‘The stone that the builders rejected,
this has become

the chief cornerstone’?

Everyone falling on that stone
will be shattered.
As for anyone on whom it falls,
it will crush him.”
Luke 20:13-18.

The fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah 8:14, 15
became initiated:

“He will become as a sanctuary,

But as a stone to strike against
And as a rock

to stumble over

To both houses of Israel,

As a trap and a snare
To the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Many of them will stumble and fall and be broken;
They will be ensnared and caught.”

“The scribes and the chief priests
then sought to get their hands on him
in that very hour,

but they feared the people,
for they realized that he told this illustration
with them in mind.”
Luke 20:19.

Yes,

fed
their heads and hearts
hatred

for
God’s representative
here on earth

Divinely
stationed–

To
Preach and Teach
of
God’s Sovereignty

and providing a wonderful

Opportunity

For
Gaining
Eternal Salvation.

Given
to
Every tribe and nation.

***

“And after observing him closely,
they sent men whom they had secretly
hired to pretend
that they were righteous

in order to catch him in his speech,

so as to turn him over to the government
and to the authority of the governor.

And they questioned him, saying:

“Teacher,
we know you speak and teach correctly
and show no partiality,

but you teach the way of God
in line

with truth:

Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

But he detected their cunning and said to them:

“Show me a de·narʹi·us.
Whose image and inscription does it have?”

They said:
“Caesar’s.”

He said to them:
“By all means, then,

pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar
but God’s things to God.”

Well,
they were not able to trap him in his speech before the people,

but amazed at his answer,
they became silent.”
Luke 20:20.

Until later…

Then Jesus was again questioned
by those who pretended interest in his truthful statements.

Yet, when finished responding to inquisition
he related about a coming resurrection
furthering the people’s spiritual education mandated:

“But that the dead are raised up,
even Moses made known in the account about the thornbush,

when he calls Jehovah
‘the God of Abraham and God of Isaac and God of Jacob.’

He is a God,

not of the dead,
but of the living,

for they are all
living to him.”

In response some of the scribes said:
“Teacher, you spoke well.”

For they no longer had the courage to ask him a single question.”
Luke 20:37-40.

After posing to them another puzzle
which continued their humiliation,

Jesus said:

“Beware of the scribes
who like to walk around in robes
and who love greetings in the marketplaces
and front seats in the synagogues
and the most prominent places at evening meals,

and who devour the houses of the widows
and for show make long prayers.

These will receive
a more severe judgment.”
Luke 20:46, 47.

Thursday, March 25
[Christ] was favorably heard for his godly fear.​—Heb. 5:7.

On the yearly Day of Atonement, the high priest had to burn the incense before he could offer up the sacrifices. In that way, he made sure that he would have God’s approval when offering up the sacrifices. While on earth, Jesus had to do something important​—something more important than providing salvation for mankind—​before he could offer up his life in sacrifice. What was that? By living a life of integrity and loyalty, Jesus had to prepare the way for Jehovah to accept his sacrifice. In that way, Jesus would prove that doing things Jehovah’s way is the right way to live. Jesus would vindicate his Father’s sovereignty, or way of ruling. Throughout his earthly life, Jesus maintained perfect obedience to Jehovah’s righteous standards. No temptation or trial could weaken his desire to defend his Father’s way of ruling.​—Phil. 2:8. w19.11 21 ¶6-7

Memorial Bible reading: (Daytime events: Nisan 11) Luke 20:1-47

Examining the Scriptures Daily—2021

WPoet – On our judgment day
We will all truly learn
By whose authority.4 hours ago  x rate: , ,  skip

Lucretia McCloud – Yes, but for ‘religious leaders’ in opposition to Christ’s rulership, their judgment day will come sooner, before, soon…we can see it developing. The consensus about religion in general is not good. Jehovah God and Christ want ‘his people’ ‘out from among them’–his enemies, before the door of opportunity is closed. They hold misrepresentative of Jehovah and his Son and misleading people away from them in ‘heavier judgment’.

“Especially after the death of the apostles, men arose who spoke “twisted things” in order to “draw away the disciples after themselves.” Acts 20:30. Many of these men had responsible positions in the congregations, serving as overseers and later as “bishops.” A clergy class was taking shape, although Jesus had said to his followers: “All of you are brothers.” (Matt. 23:8) Prominent men who were enamored of the philosophies of Aristotle and Plato introduced false religious ideas, gradually replacing the pure teachings of God’s Word.

In 313 C.E., this apostate form of Christianity was granted legal recognition by the pagan Roman Emperor Constantine. From that time on, Church and State began working hand in hand. For example, after the Council of Nicaea, Constantine, who was present at the council, ordered Arius, a dissenting priest, into exile because Arius refused to acknowledge Jesus as God.” https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2016843#h=18:226-19:795

So every member of various religious entities today are not enemies of God as we see with this priest. But every honest-hearted one cannot be sitting among God’s enemies and still be safe.4 hours ago  x  edit

WPoet – Blessed be she
Who has learned well

For her eternal elixer
Is from the eternal well4 hours ago  x

Lucretia McCloud – Yes–‘We’ a growing group of ‘other sheep’ hope to be among a ‘great crowd’ crying ‘Victory’ over sin and death… on a paradise earth … eternally 🙂 … as well as … ‘he’?3 hours ago  x  edit

WPoet – Amen

Originally composed: https://allpoetry.com/story/15801341-By-What-Authority…–.-.-.-On-This-Day-in-History-by-Seah-Ray

Photo credits: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/505951339365849149/
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/527061962612283317/ © 34 minutes ago, Lucretia McCloud    hope • pain • sad • society • spiritual • teen