Who Died and Made You King of Anything?

Matthew 21:23-32

Who Died and Made You King of Anything?

Matthew 21:23-27

23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said,“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 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?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “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.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Three Principles

1. The leader’s QUESTION reveals the CORE of sin.

We want God to bless our lives, but we don’t want Him to run our lives.

2. The leader’s ANSWER is not neutral but a REJECTION.

The leader’s problem is not lack of evidence but lack of willingness.

3. Jesus’ AUTHORITY doesn’t come through force but SACRIFICE.

Who died and made him King of anything?

Jesus died and God made him King of everything!

“Being in human form, Jesus 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.” --Philippians 2

Matthew 21:28-32

“What do you think? (Jesus asks) A man had two sons. And he went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you

saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.”

Soul Exercise

Pick something you’d like to see change in.

Consider the paths of authority (influence) to bring change.

What side of power are you on?