Authority

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

AUTHORITY

Matt 28:16-20

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

NIV

These are the last words of Christ as recorded by Matthew. Other accounts have some additional encounters and exchanges between Jesus and his disciples. However without revisiting those accounts and making observations from them, we should remain focused on this account and these words Christ spoke. Matthew does make reference to some doubting. This could mean Thomas who has been given a bad reputation or name as doubting Thomas, but he was also the first disciple who proclaimed to Jesus, “My Lord and my God”. Some scholars are of the opinion this doubting Matthew records has nothing to do with Thomas, but as Jesus was approaching them from a distance some of them were not convinced it was Jesus until he was close enough for them to know for sure it was him. That is all conjecture on their part and it really does not matter much as all of them became great evangelists and spread the gospel and stood the test of their faith unto death, except John. We would believe John was spared death for his faith by the will of God so that he could receive and record the revelation given to him later in his life. What is the greatest point of discussion in the last words of Jesus are two points. First, that all authority has been given to him in heaven and on earth. The Father has given the Son all authority over all things, seen and unseen. This would be liken to an earthly father leaving all his estate to his son. Everything he owns now belongs to his son. This may usually be done upon the death of the father, but it need not be. This is the case with Jesus and the Father. God certainly is not dead, but at the same time he has given all authority over to Jesus. All throughout the Old Testament the Father dealt with his creation. He descended and walked in the garden with Adam. We see him speaking directly with Noah, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac as well as the prophets. We see God the Father working miracles in the lives of people and directing their paths. All this contact with his creation is now under the authority of Jesus, which means we now go through Jesus in order to have access to the Father. When Jesus told us that no one goes to the Father except through him this is what is meant by all authority.

John 14:6-7

 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." 

NIV

This is absolutely crucial to being able to attain eternal life. This is also absolutely the only way to every see the Father. Jesus is the only way. Those religions of the world which do not accept Jesus as the one and true Son of God and acknowledge him as the Savior are lost and without any hope of eternal life. This is not the opinion of men, but of God. Because Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, therefor we must acknowledge that Jesus has all authority in our lives. This would then mean we do not have the authority over our own lives. This takes us to the conclusion we should not, because we do not have the authority, to make our own decisions or choices regarding any aspect of our lives. Where we live, where we work, where we fellowship, where we do whatever comes under the authority of Jesus. This would imply we are not just living our lives as we determine and incorporating Christianity into our way of living. This would be like our children living in our home, but doing so without any oversight by us. They simply do whatever they please, whenever they please, but expect we will pay their way through life. They do not recognize our having any authority over their lives. This would never work in any normal family, nor should it work in the family of God. We are his children, his sheep, he is the Good Shepherd, he leads us to green pastures, he makes us to lie down beside calm waters, and he restores our soul. How can we expect to live a happy, content, fulfilled life if we do not yield all authority to Jesus? Sometimes we want to work out our own lives based on human understanding and logical methods which we think makes sense. That is not the way of God and it defies his word.

Prov 3:5-8

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.   7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

NIV

If we would like to live this happy, healthy, content life, then do as the word proclaims and give our lives over to the authority of Jesus.

 Of course we would be remiss if we did not include the fact that as we yield our lives to the authority of Jesus we must then follow through by sharing this truth with everyone we contact. Many believers see this going to all the nations as being fulfilled by sending missionaries supported by the church. But if we look at this within the context, the disciples were not told to send others, but to go themselves spreading the truth, teaching people about the truth of God and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Was this just for those disciples? Not hardly, it is a call to all believers. We not only have the authority to teach others about Jesus, but we have the authority, as commanded by Jesus, to baptize people in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is all about our living by the authority of Jesus. When we yield our lives to his authority we can be assured he will never leave us alone, he will be with us until the end of the age, or forever.