Rejecting the King’s Authority B

Many times can you hear the gospel reject the gospel before the Lord says I have no more to say.

Don't let that happen. Make sure that your knowledge of the Christ was crucified in his personal life transforming not just the start. There is always the golden bridge of tolerance will think about that in the context of your church. What should you do if your pastor starts introducing doctrinal error or begins embracing some dangerous theology.

How tolerant should you be what can you learn from how Jesus approached false teachers and the answer is you can learn a lot stay here for a lesson that's going to help you gauge the amount of tolerance. Jesus had four false teachers, and it will help you follow the Lord's example, when you encounter error. The title John study how to talk to a heretic and here's John MacArthur.

Luke chapter 20 verses one through eight. It came about on one of the days while he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel that the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted him.

They spoke saying to him, tell us by what authority are doing these things, for who is the one who gave you this authority and he answered and said to them, I shall also ask you a question and you tell me was the baptism of John, from heaven or from men and they reasoned among themselves, saying, if we say, from heaven, he will say why did you not believe him. But if we say from men all the people will stone us to death for their convinced that John was a prophet and then 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.

This is a sad conversation. This is a final declaration on the part of Jesus that he has nothing more to say to Israel to the leaders he is finished with them. Middle of verse one we come to the first point that I want you to notice in this event, the confrontation the confrontation, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted him if this to me is the Greek verb means to attack to come upon to pounce on its inevitable they can't contain their outrage and their trying to restrain themselves. They do it by forming a question that masks their real hostility in a sort of theological case, but they come after him with a vengeance. Please notice it is the chief priests and the scribes with the elders. It's really important. Chief priests would encompass the high priest, the one that was immediately under the high priest kind of a captain of the priests from which high priest were selected who had responsibility to oversee just about everything, then it would be ranking orders of priests.

Priests who were over. The priests who were doing their their two-week service.

There per year. There were all kinds of authorities and dignitaries there collectively represented in the chief priests and the scribes represent the theologians, many of them were Pharisees, not all of them were Pharisees. Many of them were in the elders would be the remaining ones, including the chief priest to be made up mostly of Sadducees, the elders would be some Sadducees, probably some from the Herodian's son from the Pharisees.

They would constitute the Sanhedrin, the group of 70 men who were the reigning group over the affairs of religion so a delegation comes to him of this collective body and what is so interesting about it is this.

These are divergent groups. The Sadducees had their own views. The Pharisees had very diverse views. The Herodian's had their own views very diverse again. They are all very diverse groups to agree on one thing we want this man dead the whole religious establishment is unified on this account. All divergent groups are commonly united in the desire to kill their Messiah that doesn't tell you how far from God. Judaism was that I don't know what would they couldn't agree on much they could agree on this. They wanted Jesus dead good lesson all false religions have their own diversities, but all false religions agree in taking a position opposite the gospel of Jesus Christ. What is a false religion of false religion is any religion by any name that is not consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether it's Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or some aberrant kind of Christianity all false religions agree on being anti-gospel. This is the greatest attack always on the truth so they all collectively come together to be anti-Christ and they will, by the way, the end of the age were religions will unite against Christ. There such cowards, though they really don't know how to handle a steel they don't want to reveal the truth of their own minds and hearts and their own convictions so they try to trap Jesus verse two they spoke saying to him, tell us by what authority you're doing these things who is the one who gave you this authority, not system capital footnote that they lived in a world where authority was a huge thing.

This was sort of like a Pentagon hierarchy very complex. There were people in charge of branches for festivals people in charge of music trumpets, bakeries, salt would drink offerings, casting lots, bird offerings, water signs, incense, curtains, robes, everything that was this pecking order from top to bottom all the way up to the high priest and under and the captain of the temple, who was next in rank and all the other ranking people and you just didn't move unless you had authority, and they all collectively come together because they've all basically been trashed and they can all agree that this is an outrageous man is doing outrageous things. Who pays no attention to them and they think the question that they need to ask his question about authority because think the people will understand this. Tell us by what authority are doing these things, what thing what things some of suggested teaching is fair. You couldn't teach in the temple, unless you had been ordained by the Sanhedrin. Some people think the miracles that he had to remember he did some miracles the blind and the lame remember coming to him and he healed them.

But that really isn't the issue here. What has caused them to asked this question, is the cleansing of the temple. That's these things. How dear you take over this place, these things, meaning the triumphal entry. The claim that you're willing to accept as the Messiah. You come in. You clean the place out and then you take it over.

By what authority I think that's with the referring to, because back in John John chapter 2 the beginning of his ministry. When he cleansed the temple first time when he first came the Jews therefore answered and said to him what signs you show us seeing that you do these things, what permission you have to do this. It's the same question again. They wanted to know where he got permission.

The first time they want to know where he got permission. This time by what authority and just who gave it to you.

Everybody understood that everybody understood that all the people understood that that there were there were rules and there were elements of authority that had to be consulted.

They also knew that Jesus always claimed his authority was from God. He always said that he said I do it. My father tells me to do I do it. My father chose me to do I do the will of my father. I think they would've hoped that he would say I have my authority from God to which they would've responded blasphemer blasphemer and stone him. So they asked the question. He was so indifferent to authority. You know, even if would not even the rabbis had the not just in ordination but it was pretty typical for Rabbi to wear a hat that signified who his mentor was so your hat identified whoever you linked up with. Maybe Jesus didn't even wear a hat. They were so concerned about authority and Jesus response exposes them for what they really are. We go from a confrontation to what we call a counter question verse three. The counter question answered and said to them, I shall also ask your question and you tell me this is traditional rabbinic style.

Good teachers all do this but this is pretty classic rabbinical style. You answer a question with a question to force the student deeper into the issue.

The dilemma it Jesus is not evading the answer he's unmasking their hypocrisy. They know where his authority has come from.

He has said it many many times they know that they're just trying to get him to say it so they can accuse him of blasphemy and killing. But instead of answering the question, he exposes their hypocrisy there supposed to be the great teachers of Israel are supposed to know all the answers to all the issues they're supposed to be the leaders of the people they're supposed to have a pervasive omniscience about all the spiritual theological issues. So he says let me ask you a question. By the way, Jesus did this a lot a lot did in chapter 5 chapter 6 chapter 11 will do it again in chapter 20 where he answers a question with a question. He says this verse for all. Ask your question. You tell me here's the question was the baptism of John, from heaven or from men. Everybody knew about Joan talking about John the Baptist right John the Baptist said the prophet who was out in the wilderness of the Jordan River baptizing people with the baptism of repentance, preparing them for the coming of Messiah remembered how the book of Luke begins Angel comes to Zacharias is going to have a child, even though your barren and your very old. Your wife Elizabeth Juergen have a child child can be the forerunner of the Messiah had the child child was John. John grows up announces the Messiah is coming. John prepares the people for the coming of Messiah by calling for baptism come out here. Confess your sin symbolically going to the water, symbolizing a cleansing from sin as you prepare your own heart for the coming of Messiah, all of Judea Phlox out there to John. These people are all being baptized because they want to be ready when the Messiah comes one day Jesus shows up. John says behold the Lamb of God, it takes away the sin of the world. John baptizes Jesus the voice of the father. This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. The baptism of John speaks of his whole prophetic ministry. The baptism of John is not just talking about the actual act of baptism. So when our Lord says was the baptism of John from heaven or from man he saying the ministry of John. His call for repentance and an appropriate baptism to outwardly demonstrate that repentance really was a proselyte baptism was asking a Jew to say you have to treat yourself as if you are a Gentile, as the sky. Baptism was used when Gentiles wanted to join the Jews in their worship. Since there were outsiders there was a right they went through he saying you have to treat yourself as a Jew was if you were an outcast, Gentile, and confess your sin, repent of your sin and go through a ceremonial demonstration of this was the baptism of John, or to be ready for Messiah.

John points to Jesus as the Messiah. You can read all that back in Luke three. It's all there in detail will take time to go through it. So the question is pretty simple.

Was this work of men, or was it of God to come from heaven or from men. This is an impossible dilemma impossible dilemma for them.

They want to say it came from men that's problematic. They do not want to say it came from God. They don't believe that they hate that idea back in Luke chapter 7. They are on record as taking a position on John the Baptist when all the people.

Verse 29.

When all the people and tax gatherers heard this, they acknowledge God's justice having been baptized with the baptism of John, so the populace all went out and went through this baptism saying yes we want to be ready. Yes, we want to confess our sins and repent. We want to be there when Messiah comes to set up the kingdom but verse 30, Luke seven, the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves. Not having been baptized by John. They rejected it they were going to do it.

That would've been an admission that they were outside the covenant that would've been an admission they were outside the kingdom. They were not wholly no way would they do that so their answer is, John is not of God. It is of men.

Jesus put some on the horns of the dilemma was the baptism of John from heaven or from men. By the way, Mark 1130 in the parallel accounts of Jesus then said answer me this, turn the screws a little so they're stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place. You either admit that Jesus is the Messiah or you deny that John the Baptist is a prophet of God you can't admit Jesus is the Messiah that's impossible, but you better not deny that John is a prophet because that has serious consequences. What are the verse five they reasoned among themselves. Interesting word in the Greek means to deliberate in the parallel passage in Matthew 2125 uses a different word which means to dialogue so they deliberated and they dialogued and they were saying if we say, from heaven, he will say why did you believe it if John is a prophet of God who had a ministry from heaven. Why did you believe what he knew believing what he said Jesus is the Messiah, but verse six if we say from men all the people will stone us to death for their convention was a prophet. Why were they stoning to death for what blasphemy they'd reach back into the Old Testament places like Exodus 17 for numbers 1410 then they would accuse them of blasphemy by calling a prophet of God, not a prophet of God say we got a real problem here. If we say it's from heaven, then we have no excuse for not believing in him. If we say it's from men. They're going to stone us to death that you can get from that the fever pitch of this crap can ship this let you know how volatile that crowd was in terms of their temporary excitement about Jesus so they can't tell the truth. So what are you were 70 answered that they did not know where it came from. They they give no answer. So much for their pretended omniscience. It was their duty to be observers of truth in matters of religion. They self indict by being unwilling to answer the question.

We don't know. There is no way they can escape the dilemma again. Jesus does this to them. As I said many times that leads to the final point the condemnation confrontation led to the counter question and finally the condemnation. This is one of those really sad sad statements Jesus said to them, neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. That is just tragic.

Jesus is saying essentially based on what you've done with the information you have not given you any more sober while teaching the people preaching the gospel to the people he has absolutely nothing to say to the leaders. They knew the ministry of John.

They knew Jesus claimed that he as well as John came from God.

John and Jesus were inseparable.

You take one you get them both. There was no point in casting pearls before pigs.

They rejected all the light willfully.

No reason to give them more. This is judgment on the religious leadership of Israel, judgment later in chapter 22 in verse 66 the council of elders of the people assembled chief priests and scribes.

There they are again same group later they led him away to their counsel chamber saying if you are the Christ, tell us what he said to them if I tell you, you will not believe, and if I ask a question, you will not answer but from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God. All that's left for use judgment and they all said are you the son of God, then. And finally, this is all he would say yes I am and what was the response would further need. Do we have a testimony we heard ourselves from his own mouth killing doesn't do any good to tell them anything there so fixed in their unbelief.

Chapter 23 verse eight Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus had wanted to see them for a long time because you'd been hearing about them. Was hoping to see some sign performed by him. Verse nine, Luke 23 question him at some length. He answered him, nothing. Herod thought it was a pretty important guy. Jesus never answered any question he asked nothing to say nothing to say.

This is judgment. This is Genesis 63 my spirit will not always strive with man. There is an end to God's patience. This is Nehemiah 930 thou didst bear with them for many years and admonish them by thy spirit through thy prophets.

Yet they would not give ear. Therefore, thou didst give them into the hand of the peoples of the land. There comes a time when God says I have no more to say to you. Isaiah reiterates that Isaiah 63. 10 they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. Therefore he turned himself to become their enemy, he fought against them. Jeremiah chapter 11 very similar couple of verses versus seven and 11 for I solemnly warned your fathers in the day that I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even to this day, warning persistently saying listen to my voice.

They didn't. Verse 11 therefore thus says the Lord.

I'm bringing disaster on them, which they will not be able to escape and though they will cry to me yet.

I will not listen to them. Remember chapter 19 of Luke verse 41, when he approached the city sought and wept and said if you'd known.

In this day even you, the things which make for peace, but now they have been hidden from your eyes to the people. There is still mercy extended gospel extended the message extended and on Pentecost. There will be 3000 who will believe in thousands more after but for the leaders it's over it's over, and even the resurrection when he rises from the dead, they will not believe, but will fabricate a lie to cover it up. There are those who are like the people the Lord is still reaching out there. Those who are like the leaders, the doors shutting for good. How many times can you hear the gospel and reject the gospel before the Lord says I have no more to say. Let that happen. Make sure that your knowledge of the Christ was crucified. His personal and intimate and life transforming and not just historical that's John MacArthur here on grace to you. His current series is showing you how to talk to a heretic and you know John Scripture says Satan disguises himself as an angel of light it so it's no wonder if his human servants do the same thing.

Heretics don't come with a badge that identifies them as heretics and so I can imagine some of our listeners wondering how my supposed to apply this study is one thing for Jesus to confront error but I'm just an average Christian.

Am I really going to be able to confront error. Yet, look, this is very basic.

The only way you can recognize errors is to know the truth so it is the understanding that you have of sound doctrine that allows you to know what error is errors is readily exposed to somebody who has sound doctrine and you know you feel you and I have for decades together fought the battles of sound doctrine right and the and applying that sound doctrine to what's going on. We've been with or without saying it.

We've been on the thing on the front edge of trying to be discerning and warn people about air that that most people don't recognize that. So maybe to settle, but it's completely relate our ability to do that is completely related to the fact that we understand sound doctrine right and one thing I learned from you is that doesn't happen by accident.

It's hard work to study Scripture to study to show yourself approved well and that but that's only way you can acquire sound doctrine so if you have trouble recognizing a heretic, it's because you don't really understand the truth.

Or maybe you think you understand. But you don't yet have a developed enough in your mind so that it's a conviction when you go from knowledge to conviction. That's a big step when you go from conviction to affection.

That's an even bigger step. It's when you know the truth and love the truth and then confront the heretic that you're coming with full force because you're coming with knowledge and with love of the love for the truth, and the love for that individual.

So this is a series that were doing on how to talk to a heretic's is undergirded and will be undergirded in your life with a copy of the new book brand-new book Jesus on leashed Jesus was not passive, polite, politically correct, he was confrontive he was challenging.

He made people angry, furious, in fact, to the degree that they executed him on the cross, but that was still an effort to bring the truth to them that would save them from their sins and from eternal judgment that kind of confrontation isn't designed to produce judgment. It's to produce salvation. So get a copy of the brand-new hardcover book, Jesus unleashed hundred 50 pages available from Grace to you, friend. It's not easy to confront error in a way that can lead to a person salvation, but you have the perfect model to follow in the Lord Jesus Christ pick up the new book Jesus unleashed when you contact us today to place your order by phone, you can dial toll-free 855 grace or use our website TTY.org Jesus unleashed would be a great book to go through with your Bible study. Most people probably know less about Christ's boldness towards false teachers, then they should but it's crucial to understand that aspect of his nature again the title to ask for Jesus unleashed call 855 grace to order or go to TTY.and let me suggest another foundational resource really the most foundational one. We have MacArthur study Bible.

It's signature feature 25,000 footnotes that explain virtually every passage, the MacArthur study Bible is available in several English and non-English translations as well as in hardcover, whether soft and premium goatskin, you're sure to find one that's right for you to order, call 855 grace will go to TTY.org now for John MacArthur. I'm Phil Johnson X for making grace to you part of your day. Join us tomorrow when John looks again at the oldness Jesus showed when he faced hypocritical false teachers being here for another 30 minutes of unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on grace to you