Jesus Teaches on Authority

What is Jesus teaching about authority? do you think he means that we have authority over people but we aren't supposed to use it?

Mark 10:42-45- 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

This is an awesome passage. Here's how I would answer my friend's question, and please feel free to disagree.

I think Jesus was referring to the purpose of authority. High officials exercise authority over people for who's benefit? Solely for their own benefit. But, in God's kingdom, this is not to be so for those in authority. The purpose of authority is primarily to bring glory to God, by following Jesus' example of laying down his life and serving. Jesus did not lord his authority over people.

Man uses authority to control and bind men for selfish gains. In the kingdom, authority is used to "Loose the bonds of wickedness, and set the captives free." "To open the prison doors." It has nothing to do with the person in authority. See the contrast - Bind vs. Loose. Control vs. Set Free.

I'm seeing a picture of 2 children:

1. A child who is trying to hoard all of the toys. He doesn't want any of the other children to get any of his toys. (selfish hoarding)
2. Conversely the other child gives no thought to keeping any of his toys to himself, but only to make sure that every child has something to play with. (selfless giving)

God gives us authority over people to set them free to be who God created them to be. To empower and equip them to bring much glory to God. Not to micro-manage their lives to make sure they don't screw-up. This was the message of the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Authority is primarily for God's glory, and secondarily for others. It is not a gift to you for you. It is a gift to you for them. This is why it is so dangerous how we wield this power and authority. Just look at some of the "WOES" Jesus handed out. A lot of them referred to those in authority and power, and how they were going to be judged for misusing and abusing that power and authority. Wouldn't these woes apply to pastors today?

Matthew 23:13-15 & 23-33 -
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as
yourselves.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous,
30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.
33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?

Wouldn't you agree, that this passage backs up what I've been saying, and how you feel? We need to change our definition, purpose and understanding of power and authority. Authority has been abused by those in power. Verses have been misquoted, and misunderstood. I would say that your view is correct in response to the popular misunderstanding of power and authority.

I would propose (to you) that what I'm dealing with in understanding Power and Authority is vital to soteriology? That's the main reason I'm pursuing Power and Authority. In Matthew 16:19, Jesus gives the disciples authority to bind and loose. The keys of the kingdom. Could Matthew 23 have something to do with Matthew 16:19?

Could pastors be in danger for making a convert, and making him twice as much a son of hell as themselves?" All because we don't know what Jesus taught about Power and Authority. That statement may be a far stretch, but I may have to develop the thought more completely later.