As we approach Luke 19 to consider how authority is displayed within the chapter, we do not want to forget that this passage’s central subject is Jesus. Therefore, before we investigate Luke 19-20, we will look back at an instance in Luke 4 when Jesus is tempted by Satan to usurp authority. The Greek word for authority here in Luke 4:6 is ἐξουσίαν. The noun form of exousia means authority, right, or power. It refers to the power of decision making. It can also refer to the unlimited possibility of action proper to God, the limited authority given to Satan, Jesus’ divinely given and unrestricted exercise of freedom to act, authority imparted to a community to act in ordering relationships within it, and those in whom authority to rule rests, both supernatural and human[i].
Jesus’ encounter with Satan is described in Luke 4:5-7.
"Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the
world. And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority;
for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will
worship me, it will all be yours." (NRSV)
In Luke 4:5-7, Satan tempts Jesus with a lie asking Jesus to submit to the belief that he, Satan, holds the glory and authority of all the kingdoms of the world that he is showing to Jesus. Satan wants Jesus to think that he can impart that glory and authority to Jesus but Jesus answers back with the truth of God’s word saying in verse 8, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”. He is paraphrasing Deuteronomy 6:13-15 which says,
"The Lord your God you shall fear; him you shall serve, and by his name alone you
shall swear. Do not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who are all
around you, because the Lord your God, who is present with you, is a jealous God.
The anger of the Lord your God would be kindled against you and he would
destroy you from the face of the earth." (NRSV)
Satan is the prince of this world (John 14:30) but Jesus will not turn his heart from His Father and give in to Satan’s temptation to make Himself great by His own desire or pleasure. Instead, He submits to walk in accordance with the plan that His Father has for His life. That plan will lead to the salvation of mankind through His death on a cross rather than through a different plan that involved a political earthly reign as Satan may be inferring and of which is contrary to God’s will. Jesus is stating His devotion to God in the face of Satan’s manipulative attack on the desire within to worship another and to be given something for it. By stating the intent of God for His life, to worship the Lord your God and serve Him only, Jesus was able to draw God-given healthy boundaries that guarded His heart against Satan’s manipulation to have Jesus worship him rather than God and Jesus was able to decisively turn away from sin and the destructive pattern that comes with sin leading to death (Deuteronomy 6:15).
As we turn back to Luke 19:1-20:20, we can already draw some conclusions about authority from Luke 4:5-8. The first conclusion we can draw is that 1) Jesus is the picture of authority. He is perfect in His rejection of Satan’s assertion of authority. He is perfect in His faithfulness to submit to God’s authority for His life. His is perfect in his example to us as believers to display for us a demonstration of saying no to the ungodly authorities who asks us to participate in the wrong plan and of saying yes to the godly authorities whose wise counsel is to participate in accordance with the measure and will of God. 2) Jesus handles ungodly authority, here Satan, by rebuking that authority through the higher authority of God rather than facing Satan and any other authority on His own. Jesus was in the temple regularly and knew Scripture and he taught Holy Scripture. While on the mountain facing Satan, he drew off of Deuteronomy 6:13-15 which contain a few of God’s commands to the Israelites after He delivered them from Egypt. These commands involved not worshipping other Gods and fearing and serving the Lord. In so doing, He was able to give a rebuke that truly nullify the validity of what Satan was saying and of which also defended God’s purpose, plan and mission for Himself as the Son of God (as seen in John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life). Worshiping the Lord your God and serving Him only cries out a position of service and of the heart in which one fears and serves God in a manner such that one will not give into idolatry. Jesus will not turn from that position to a new position that Satan offers. He perfectly handles unrighteous authority in a God-ordained manner.
Next, we shall turn to Luke 19 beginning in verses 1-10.
[i] Bible Works, ἐξουσίαν
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