Luke - Questioning authority

  Luke 20:1  And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,
Luke 20:2  And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?  

The antichrist spirit in them asks the question, which was actually an accusation. Who made you worthy to speak, by what authority? They only saw themselves as holding power over the people. They did not see God's Son as he was.

Luke 20:3  And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
Luke 20:4  The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?  

If they knew the Spirit and authority in John, they would know the Spirit of God in Jesus

Luke 20:5  And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
Luke 20:6  But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.  

As politicians, they reasoned, seeking to bend words to their advantage. They wanted to say the politically correct thing, without agreeing with Jesus.

Luke 20:7  And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
Luke 20:8  And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.  

They could not acknowledge the source of authority that John had. Jesus caught them at their game. They would not receive truth, so he did not answer them.   So many come into our Christian Chats like these blind leaders. They seek to discredit and undermine those speaking the gospel. The truth of God is interrupted with foolish words. Like Jesus, we do not answer them and we continue to speak the word of life.