What can we learn about authority from Luke 20:7 and Romans 13:1? Setting the scene The Lord never leaves us guessing about how He views authority. Luke 20 places us in the temple, where religious leaders challenge Jesus’ authority; Romans 13 finds Paul teaching believers in the capital of the empire. Together these passages give a full-orbed, practical picture of where authority comes from and how we are to respond. Key texts • “So they answered that they did not know where it was from.” (Luke 20:7) • “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.” (Romans 13:1) Insights from Luke 20:7 • Exposure of hearts: The religious leaders dodge Jesus’ question about John the Baptist—revealing a refusal to acknowledge any authority that threatens their control (Luke 20:4–8). • Authority is recognizable: The leaders implicitly admit John’s ministry carried heavenly weight; their evasion shows that genuine authority presses for a clear yes or no. • Neutrality is impossible: By claiming ignorance they reject God’s revelation. Failure to own up to rightful authority is, in practice, rebellion. • Jesus models true authority: He speaks and acts with confidence because His commission is directly from the Father (John 5:19, 27). Insights from Romans 13:1 • Source: “no authority except that which is from God.” Whether civil, familial, ecclesiastical, or vocational, all legitimate rule traces back to the Creator (Daniel 2:21). • Appointment: “The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.” Even pagan regimes fall under His sovereign placement (John 19:11). • Obligation: “Everyone must submit himself.” The command is universal and present-tense—an ongoing attitude of willing alignment. • Scope: Paul writes under Nero’s reign, proving the principle applies even when leaders are far from godly. • Balance: Submission is not blind. When human commands directly contradict God’s commands, “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Putting the verses together • Luke highlights the danger of rejecting divine authority; Romans grounds all authority in God’s sovereign will. • Spiritual leadership (Luke 20) and civil leadership (Romans 13) stand or fall on the same foundation: God delegates rule. • A heart unwilling to acknowledge where authority comes from (Luke 20) will struggle to submit to any authority God establishes (Romans 13). Living it out today • Cultivate a humble heart that asks, “Where has God vested authority here?” before reacting. • Obey governing laws—from taxes to traffic—unless they require disobedience to Scripture (Titus 3:1; Acts 4:19). • Pray for leaders at every level (1 Timothy 2:1-2), trusting God’s sovereignty even when policies disappoint. • Exercise any authority you hold—parental, vocational, church—knowing you serve as God’s steward (1 Peter 5:2-3). • Reject the temptation to stay “neutral” when God’s Word speaks clearly; silence may equal rebellion. • Remember the ultimate pattern: Christ, who submitted to the Father’s will and laid down His life, now possesses “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). |
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