Who's Authority?

If we receive authority from God, then it would be backed by God's power. My question is who really owns or holds title to the claim of authority. I believe that we are looking at this in the wrong way. Even though I have received authority from God, it does not mean I hold ownership over it. Even Jesus said that the words He spoke were not on His own authority, but that of the Father's.

Let's look at a few passages where Jesus discusses by what authority he speaks and acts:

1. Matthew 21:23-24 - 23 Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” 24 But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:
2. Matthew 21:27 - So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
3. John 7:16-18 - 16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
4. John 12:49 - For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
5. John 14:10 - Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
6. John 16:13 - However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

It is interesting to note that the Scribes and Pharisees desired to know by who's authority Jesus spoke. They wanted to know if He spoke with lawful authority or unlawful authority. They even accused Him of speaking with unlawful authority, claiming that He cast out demons by the authority of Beelzebub.

Jesus responds by stating that he does not speak on His own authority. He says that the Holy Spirit will not speak on His own authority. Then by what authority did Jesus speak? And by what authority does the Holy Spirit now speak? It is the authority of the Father. The power that backs that authority is the Father's.

Look at John 7:18 where Jesus clearly defines the purpose of authority. He states that when someone speaks (with authority) it is abundantly clear by what authority they speak by judging who's glory they seek. If they seek their own glory, then the authority with which they speak is unlawful. But conversely, if they seek the glory of the Father, they speak with lawful authority.