My Friend

In a conversation with a friend of mine the other day, he asked me some good questions regarding power and authority. He had some very interesting points, and had been taught that men are not to hold authority over other men. He stated that the only authority that Christ gave us was authority over sickness and disease and demons. That got me to thinking. Was he right?

Jesus said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18) Then look at some of the following passages dealing with Jesus and authority:

1. Luke 9:1 - Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
2. Luke 10:19 - Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

My friend may have a good point. The only time that we see Jesus give authority to His disciples was in the preceeding passages. He gave the authority over demons, diseases and snakes. That was it. He didn't give them authority over men.

He also appealed to the following Matthew 25 passage with this question: "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.”