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SearchLeaders Question Jesus‘ Authority
At the noon session of the Sanhedrin it was unanimously agreed that Jesus must be speedily
destroyed, inasmuch as no friend of the Master attended this meeting. But they could not agree as
to when and how he should be taken into custody. Finally they agreed upon appointing five
groups to go out among the people and seek to entangle him in his teaching or otherwise to
discredit him in the sight of those who listened to his instruction. Accordingly, about two
o'clock, when Jesus had just begun his discourse on "The Liberty of Sonship," a group of these
elders of Israel made their way up near Jesus and, interrupting him in the customary manner,
asked this question: "By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?"
It was altogether proper that the temple rulers and the officers of the Jewish Sanhedrin should
ask this question of anyone who presumed to teach and perform in the extraordinary manner
which had been characteristic of Jesus, especially as concerned his recent conduct in clearing the
temple of all commerce. These traders and money-changers all operated by direct license from
the highest rulers, and a percentage of their gains was supposed to go directly into the temple
treasury. Do not forget that authority was the watchword of all Jewry. The prophets were always
stirring up trouble because they so boldly presumed to teach without authority, without having
been duly instructed in the rabbinic academies and subsequently regularly ordained by the
Sanhedrin. Lack of this authority in pretentious public teaching was looked upon as indicating
either ignorant presumption or open rebellion. At this time only the Sanhedrin could ordain an
elder or teacher, and such a ceremony had to take place in the presence of at least three persons
who had previously been so ordained. Such an ordination conferred the title of "rabbi" upon the
teacher and also qualified him to act as a judge, "binding and loosing such matters as might be
brought to him for adjudication."