Jesus' Authority Questioned

Matthew 21:23-27

23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things?{1} and who gave thee this authority?{2}

24  And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing {3} , which if ye tell me, I in like wise {4} will tell you by what authority I do these things{5} .

25  The baptism of John {6} , whence was it? from heaven{7} , or of men? And they reasoned with themselves {8} , saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

26  But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

27  And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell {9} . And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

The consummation of Jesus' authority will be revealed at his 2nd Coming by the baptism of fire. Thus, to understand Jesus' authority from the Father to baptize by fire (the antitype) you must first understand John's authority from the Father to baptize by water (the type). You can not be glorified by the baptism of fire (antitype) without receiving the baptism of water (type) unto repentance first. Read John 5:26-29 and you'll see that Jesus has been given authority to execute judgement at the Resurrection. This whole story is an object lesson where Jesus is trying to teach the chief priests and elders that in order to understand Jesus' antitypical authority they must understand John's typical authority first.

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Classification:

This is a Typical Word or Phrase What are Types and Antitypes?

Classification:

This is a Typical Word or Phrase What are Types and Antitypes?

Classification:

This is a Typical Word or Phrase What are Types and Antitypes?

Classification:

This is a Typical Word or Phrase What are Types and Antitypes?

Classification:

This is a Typical Word or Phrase What are Types and Antitypes?

Classification:

This is an Antitypical Word or Phrase What are Types and Antitypes?

Classification:

This is an Antitypical Word or Phrase What are Types and Antitypes?

Interpretation:

The "authority to do these things" was no doubt a reference to Jesus casting out the money changers from the temple of God.

Interpretation:

The Pharisee rejected God's purpose for themselves because they had not been baptized by John. They could not recognize Jesus' authority because they did not recognize John's authority.

Interpretation:

You will never understand the authority behind "these things" until you understand the authority behind the "one thing". In order to become "like wise" you must understand God's secret. The "one thing" represents a secret thing to the chief priests because they do not understand the secret that unlocks the authority behind "these things".

Interpretation:

Those who are foolish do not understand the secret of God: that God does not speak once but twice. Those who are wise understand the secret. This is why the the secret of wisdom is double to that which is.

Interpretation:

The key to understanding "these things" is understanding "one thing."

Interpretation:

John's water baptism is the type. The baptism by fire at the 2nd Coming is the antitype.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:7-12)
Jesus' Baptism: Type of the 2nd Coming (Mat 3:16-17)
The Burning Bush: Type of the Resurrection (Exodus 3:1-6)

Interpretation:

John's authority to baptize in water came from heaven. Jesus knew that the chief priests and elders would never understand his authority, which will be fully revealed when He comes to baptize us in fire at the 2nd Coming, until they understood the authority behind John's baptism by water first. Jesus' authority to baptize by fire comes from the Father just as John's did, but you will not understand the antitype until you understand the type first. Thus, Jesus knows the chief priests must submit to the baptism by water unto repentance and understand God's authority behind it, before they will understand Jesus authority to baptize by fire

Interpretation:

Hidden things or things done in secret are the type. Revealed things are the antitype.

Interpretation:

Hidden things or things done in secret are the type. Revealed things are the antitype.