Daily Reflection

Reflection for December 15, 2025

By What Authority?

In this tense passage from the Gospel of Matthew, we find ourselves in the Temple courtyard, the air thick with confrontation. Jesus has just triumphantly entered Jerusalem and cleansed the Temple. Now, the chief priests and elders—the established religious authorities—approach Him with a question meant to trap and discredit Him: “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?”

On the surface, it is a reasonable administrative question. But in their hearts, it is not a search for truth; it is a challenge born of insecurity, fear, and jealousy. They see their control, their system, their interpretation of God’s law being upended by this uncredentialed rabbi from Galilee.

Jesus’ response is a masterful and profound lesson for us. He does not dismiss their office, but He pierces through their bad faith. He poses a question in return about the authority of John the Baptist: “Was it of heavenly or of human origin?” This question puts them in a crisis of calculation, not of conscience. They debate not what is true, but what is expedient. Fear of the crowd wins over honesty, and they are forced to admit, “We do not know.”

In this exchange, we see two ways of approaching God’s authority:

The Authority of Position vs. the Authority of Truth: The elders hold authority by title and tradition, but Jesus embodies authority by His very being and His union with the Father. Theirs can become empty if not animated by fidelity and love; His is inherently authentic, demonstrated by His works of healing, mercy, and divine power.

The Heart Open to Grace vs. the Heart Closed by Calculation: John the Baptist came “in the way of righteousness.” His life was a clear sign pointing to Christ. To acknowledge John was to open the door to Jesus. The elders’ refusal to acknowledge the truth they recognized in John revealed a heart closed to God’s unexpected movements. They preferred the safety of their own control to the risk of God’s disruptive grace.

For Us Today:

This passage invites a deep, personal examination of conscience in our own lives.

In the Church: We rightly have a structure of authority—the Pope, bishops, priests—given by Christ. Do we respect this God-given authority? But also, do we, like the elders, sometimes use our positions, titles, or even our “orthodoxy” to build walls of control, rejecting the fresh, challenging, or surprising ways the Holy Spirit might be speaking through the humble, the simple, or the outsider?

In Our Hearts: When we encounter a challenging truth—in Scripture, in the Church’s teaching, in the words of a friend, or in the quiet of prayer—do we respond with an open heart seeking God’s will? Or do we calculate: “What will people think?” “How will this affect my comfort?” “Does this fit my preferred political or ideological framework?” The fear of the crowd—the fear of losing social standing, of being labeled, of change—can silence our confession of the truth we know interiorly.

Jesus does not answer their question directly because they have shown themselves incapable of receiving the truth. The answer to “By what authority?” is written in every healed leper, every forgiven sinner, every parable about the Father’s love, and will soon be sealed in the empty tomb. His authority is the authority of the Father’s love made manifest.

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus, you are the source of all authority and truth.
Forgive me for the times I have questioned your works and your ways not out of a sincere desire to know you, but out of fear, pride, or a need to control.
Silence in me the voice of calculation, and open in me a heart like John the Baptist’s—humble, focused on you, and courageous in bearing witness to the truth.
Help me to recognize your authority not only in the majesty of the Temple, but in the unsettling moments of grace that challenge me to grow.
May I always answer, “I believe,” and follow where you lead. Amen.