Power and Authority

When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things (vv. 23-27).

Ouline of Matthew 21

1. Palm Sunday and Jesus’ Triumphal Entry
2. Jesus Clears the Temple
3. The Chief Priests and Scribes Criticize Jesus’ Miracles
4. Next Day, Jesus Curses a Fig Tree
5. Jesus Tells Some Parables
6. The Chief Priests and Pharisees Get Ticked Off

Judas Makes a Deal

This daily pattern continued as they came closer to the holiday of Unleavened Bread, also known as the Passover.

Jesus teaches of judgment to come and the destruction of the temple. All things move toward a collision of ideas and faith at the most important feast of the year.

The chief priests and religious scholars continued looking for a way to kill Jesus; they hadn’t been able to act yet due to their fear of the people’s reaction. At this point, Satan entered into one of the twelve, Judas (also called Iscariot).Judas set up a private meeting with the chief priests and the captains of the temple police to discuss a plan for betraying Jesus and putting Him in their hands. This was just the kind of break they had been waiting for, so they were thrilled and agreed to a handsome payment. Everything was settled, and Judas simply waited for the right moment, when the crowds weren’t around, to betray Jesus into their custody (vv. 1-6, The Voice).

Jesus, Perfect High Priest

In verses 23-28, we read that Jesus is our perfect high priest forever.

Melchizedek the Great

Verses 1-4 describe Melchizedek’s greatness as king and priest of God.

Humble High Priests

High priests are humble, we read in verses 1-4, because they’ve faced the same temptations as the rest of us.