All Authority in Heaven and on Earth [6-21-26]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03nczioRLGA

June 21, 2026

Luke 19:47-20:8

“All Authority in Heaven and on Earth”

Let’s get to the first part, first.

Luke 19:47-48:

“And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.”

Here’s where we’ve come from to get to this point:

• Jesus heals a man possessed by an unclean spirit.

• Jesus heals a man paralyzed from birth.

• Jesus cleanses a leper.

• Jesus raises a widows son.

• Strong and faithful women begin following Jesus.

• Clear and relatable teachings from Jesus changes lives, leading to opportunities to be kind and helpful.

Through these moments, crowds build and followers increase.

And there’s more:

• Jesus feeds five thousand people by multiplying loaves and fishes.

• Jesus demonstrates healing love that knows no bounds.

• Jesus challenges arrogant bureaucrats and highfalutin religious leaders.

• Jesus models a steady-hand approach to problems, challenges, and difficulties.

• Jesus teaches about God finding lost things…sheep, coins, and people.

• Jesus offers loving acceptance that changes lives.

• Jesus heals a blind beggar.

• And then Jesus enters Jerusalem, the last stop on a journey that began back in chapter nine when he set his face toward Jerusalem. 

• We know what that means. Jesus moves ever closer to the cross.

People are listening to Jesus. He has engaged them with his wit, wisdom, and healing powers. And those who want nothing more than to hold on to their power and influence are paying attention.

So here we are, back on their home turf. The temple. Do you remember when Jesus was last in the temple?

“After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.”

• Luke 2:46-47

Before, Jesus was listening to and interacting with teachers. Now, Jesus is the teacher. It is here, when they are at their most vindictive and conspiratorial, that his opponents work out a way to trap Jesus. More than anything, they want him to discredit himself in front of the crowds. They are horrible people.

So here they are, trying to trap Jesus. Luke 20:1-8 puts it this way:

One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and 

preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

First of all, let’s get something out of the way. There are three groups out to get Jesus. Chief priests, scribes, and elders. These are three groups that don’t usually get along. There’s conflict and competition between them. But what is the common cliché? “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” They have joined forces to trap Jesus.

They are hoping for one of two results. If Jesus says he’s doing what he 

does by divine authority, they can attack him as a false prophet. If he says he’s operating by human authority, they can accuse him of challenging Roman law and order. Either way, they think they’ve got him.

Sometimes people are clever by half. Jesus doesn’t play their game. He feels no need to justify, explain, or defend himself. In other words, those who approach Jesus with hostility never get what they’re hoping for. Instead, Jesus deflects their question about authority with a question of his own. He asks about John the Baptist. John was popular with the people. He was a recognized authority. Remember, he was murdered by King Herod. Jesus has put them in a bit of a sticky wicket. So, as verse five puts it, they discuss how they should answer among themselves. The word translated, discuss, literally means “to calculate.”

They want to give a measured response. Jesus is on to them. They don’t want to engage in an open and honest exchange of the truth. They want to manipulate the crowd in order to discredit Jesus. Losers always act that way. If we can’t win in the arena of truth and common sense, we’ll find some other ways to attack you. What a sad conversation, from their side. 

The basic point of these first eight verses is about authority:

WHO CLAIMS DIVINE AUTHORITY?

Or, to ask it another way:

CAN JESUS CLAIM DIVINE AUTHORITY?

Matthew 7:28-29 gives us a wonderful perspective:

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

That helps us understand why the opponents of Jesus think they have to carefully tread through the issue of authority.

Later, Matthew 28:18 tells us:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

And there it is. Plain and simple. Jesus is the one who has authority. That is the whole, huge point. Luke wants us to understand the authority under which Jesus operates. Because when Jesus goes to the cross, and when he dies on the cross, his authority to lay down his life for us is crucial.

I love how John 10:17-18 puts it:

“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

And, again, there’s more:

• Matthew 9:6-8…”But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” - he then said to the paralytic - “Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

• John 1:12…”But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” {Only someone with authority from heaven can do that.}

• John 5:26-27…”For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of 

Man.”

• John 17:1-5…When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

Evidence of Jesus’ authority has been scattered throughout the three years of his earthly ministry. That’s what we get from Luke 20:8. The word translated, authority, is used here to express moral influence, dominion, right, privilege, and ability. It means Jesus has the right to do what he does. He has the power and the right to do everything and anything he wills to do.

With that in mind, here’s something you might want to write down:

JESUS NEVER IN HIS EARTHLY LIFE ASKED PERMISSION TO DO ANYTHING.

Which is why Paul, in Philippians 2:5-11, writes:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

More than anything, that is a statement of worship and praise. Jesus has 

both the right and the ability to do everything he wills to do. And 

everything Jesus wills to do, he does it in perfect harmony with the Father.

Which leads to our salvation as Jesus will lay down his life on the cross. Jesus’ authority is intricately related to our salvation.

Here’s the beautiful thing about today’s passage. We’re told Jesus is teaching the people in the temple. We’re told he’s preaching the gospel. From the moment Jesus turned his face toward Jerusalem, his teaching and preaching have been consistent and clear. It has been perfectly precise. Nothing has wavered or shifted or changed. He’s with people, like you and me, preaching the gospel. Teaching the Word of God. This is grace. This is mercy. This is compassion. This is tenderness. This is patience. This is perseverance. These are his last days. And what does he focus on? Does Jesus focus on social reform? Does he focus on political reform? No…he comes to teach the truth and preach the gospel. It’s all about making us right with God so we can join Jesus in heaven when we die.

I can think of nothing better or more important.

Finally, an affirmation and then a prayer.

First, the affirmation:

MAY GOD HEAL WHAT HURTS…FIX WHAT FEELS BROKEN…CALM WHAT KEEPS US AWAKE AT NIGHT…AND BLESS US WITH PEACE THAT MAKES NO SENSE TO A FALLEN WORLD. IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. AMEN.

Let’s pray:

HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU IN PRAYER WITH THANKFUL AND REPENTANT HEARTS. THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD NEWS THAT IN WHATEVER STATE OF SIN WE FIND OURSELVES, WE CAN BE FORGIVEN. JESUS WILLINGLY LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. THANK YOU THAT WE WILL BE IN HEAVEN WITH HIM ETERNALLY. AMEN.