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Luke 20:2

in Luke 20

“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

KJV

And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

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This verse in Luke 20

Commentary

14 notes on this verse

A commentator

Cyril of Alexandria

COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 132 · Written before 444.

For the Saviour Himself reproached them, saying, "And to you, lawyers, woe! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you enter not in yourselves, and those that are entering in you have hindered." They rise up therefore against Christ as He teaches, and wickedly and abominably call out and say, "Tell us, by what authority You do these things? Who gave You this authority?"

This site's exposition

teaching the people in the temple

on Luke 20:1-2

While Jesus taught, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him and asked by what authority He acted. The three groups acting as one body make the challenge official, the temple leadership closing ranks after He cleared the courts in 19:45-46.

This site's exposition

who gave You this authority

The rulers ask two questions: what authority, and whose. Bede reads the second as a denial of the Son of God, for they held that He worked signs by another's power. Theophylact notes that He had already given the prophet's words as His warrant for clearing the house.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers3 voices

A commentator

Eusebius of Caesarea

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 339.

proposed

But the rulers who should have been struck with wonder at one who taught such heavenly doctrines, and have been convinced by His words and deeds that this was the same Christ whom the Prophets had foretold, came to hinder Him, so helping onward the destruction of the people. For it follows, And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? &c. As if he said; By the law of Moses, those only who are sprung from the blood of Levi have authority to teach, and power over the sacred buildings. But Thou who art of the line of Judah usurpest the offices assigned to us. Whereas, O Pharisee, if thou hadst known the Scriptures, thou wouldest have called to mind that this is the Priest after the order of Melchisedec, who offers to God them that believe on Him by that worship which is above the law. Why then art thou troubled. He cast out of the sacred house things which seemed necessary for the sacrifices of the law, because He calls us by faith to the true righteousness.

A commentator

Ephrem the Syrian

COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 16.17 · Written before 373.

proposed

While he was teaching the crowds and evangelizing them, the chief priests and the scribes came and said to him, "By what power are you doing this?" If it were a question of his teaching, how could they have called it a work? It is …

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

SERMON 293.4 · Written before 430.

proposed

The Jews, accusing the Lord, said: "By what power do you do these things? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." They sought a cause, not faith; whence they might lay traps, not whence they might be freed. Indeed, he who saw their hearts, observe what he answered to confound them through the lamp. "I also will ask you one question," he says: "Tell me, the baptism of John, was it from heaven or from men?" They were immediately struck, and though the day shone faintly, they were compelled to grope, as they could not look upon that brightness, they fled to the darkness of their own hearts, and there began to be troubled among themselves, stumbling and falling. "If we say," they thought among themselves, where they reasoned, but which he saw: "If we say, from heaven, he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' For he had borne testimony to Christ the Lord. But if we say, from men, the people will stone us, for John was held as a great prophet." And they said, "We do not know." You do not know; you are in darkness, you lose the light. For how much better if perhaps there is darkness in the human heart, to admit the light, not to lose it. When they said, "We do not know," the Lord said, "Neither do I tell you by what power I do these things. For I know with what heart you said, 'We do not know,' not wanting to be taught, but fearing to confess."

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Bede

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 735.

Or when they say, By what authority doest thou these things? they doubt concerning the power of God, and wish it to be understood that of the devil He doeth this. Adding moreover, And who is he that gave thee this authority? Most plainly do they deny the Son of God when they think that not by His own power but another's He doeth miracles.

A commentator

Bede

On the Gospel of Luke · Written before 735.

proposed

"Or who is it that gave you this authority?" They most manifestly deny the Son of God, whom they think does signs not by his own power, but by that of others.
6 more voices on this verse

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Luke · Written before 1107.

proposed

But they foolishly ask Him: "By what authority do You do these things?" Yet it was possible for them to understand that since He brought forward the words of the prophet as testimony that the house of God is a house of prayer, and not …

A commentator

Bonaventure

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 20 · Written in the 13th century.

proposed

For which reason it is added: And they say, speaking to him: Tell us: By what authority do you do these things? Or who is it that gave you this authority? They ask this as though it were doubtful, when nevertheless it had been made …

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

And spoke unto him, saying, tell us by what authority doest thou these things?.... The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "this thing"; as if the sanhedrim only referred to his preaching the Gospel, which is mentioned in the preceding verse, and was what he was about when they came to him: but the Persic version reads, "all these things"; not only preaching, but working miracles; and particularly driving the buyers and sellers out of the temple, which especially affected them, they losing their rents thereby: or who is he that gave thee this authority? God or man?

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

The spirit which prompted this demand is too evident to be mistaken. These men hated and envied Christ. They saw His influence increasing. They saw their own power waning. They resolved, if possible, to stop the progress of this new teacher; and the point on which they made their assault was His authority . They ought to have examined His mighty works. His teaching they ought, in all fairness, to have compared with their own Scriptures. But they refused to take either one course or the other. They preferred to call His authority into question.
The spirit which prompted this demand is too evident to be mistaken. These men hated and envied Christ. They saw His influence increasing. They saw their own power waning. They resolved, if possible, to stop the progress of this new teacher; and the point on which they made their assault was His authority . They ought to have examined His mighty works. His teaching they ought, in all fairness, to have compared with their own Scriptures. But they refused to take either one course or the other. They preferred to call His authority into question. Every true-hearted Christian who tries to do good in the world, must make up his mind to be treated like his Master. He must never be surprised to find that the self-righteous and the worldly-minded dislike His ways. The lawfulness of his proceedings will be constantly called in question. He will be regarded as meddlesome, disorderly, self-conceited, a pestilent fellow, and a troubler of Israel. (Acts 24:5; 1 Kings 18:17.) Scripture-readers, district-visitors, lay-agents, and unordained missionaries — are specially liable to meet with such treatment. And worst of all, they will often meet with enemies, where they ought to find friends. Let all who are attacked by the world for trying to do good, take comfort in the thought that they are only drinking of the bitter cup which Christ drank. Their Master in Heaven sympathizes with them. Let them work on patiently, and believe that, if they are faithful, their work will speak for itself. The world's opposition is sure to attend every really good work. If the servants of Christ are to cease from every movement which the world calls in question — they will soon come to an entire stand-still. If we are to wait until the world approves our plans, and is satisfied with the propriety of our efforts — we shall never do anything on earth.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

By what authority, etc. - See the note on Mat 21:23-27 (note).

The words behind it

21 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

13 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Exodus 2:14But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.”3 worksMatthew 21:23–27When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”3 worksMark 11:28–33“By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You the authority to do them?”3 worksJohn 2:18On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?”3 worksActs 7:27But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?3 worksActs 7:35–39This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush.2 works
The other 7 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 4:7–10They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”2 worksActs 7:51You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did.2 worksJeremiah 32:3For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying: “Why are you prophesying like this? You claim that the LORD says, ‘Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.2 worksMatthew 21:10When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”2 worksJohn 5:22–27Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,1 worksLuke 19:45–46Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling there.1 worksLuke 19:35–40Then they led the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks over it, and put Jesus on it.1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Exodus 2:14

    But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done…

    it leads to

    • Luke 12:14

      But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Matthew 21:23

      When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And…

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Psalms 2:2–6

      The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:

    • Genesis 19:9

      “Get out of the way!” they replied. And they declared, “This one came here as a foreigner, and he is already acting like a judge! Now we will treat you worse than them.” And…

    • Genesis 37:19–20

      “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to one another.

  • Through

    John 2:18

    On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?”

    it leads to

    • Luke 11:29

      As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

    • Mark 11:27–28

      After their return to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in the temple courts, and the chief priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him.

  • Through

    Acts 7:27

    But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us?

    it leads to

    • Acts 7:35

      This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him…

Where this verse is studied

About Luke

The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, about 1668. Public domain.
The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, about 1668. Public domain.
Luke: the study guide →Read Luke 20 →
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Augustine of Hippo, SERMON 293.4; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 20; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 132; Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 16.17; Eusebius of Caesarea, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke.

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