Passion Week: April 1, AD 33

April 1st, 2026
by Lance Waldie

Matthew 21:18, 23 Now in the morning, when He was returning to the city… 23 When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?”

It was on Wednesday morning April 1, AD 33 of Jesus’ passion week that the events of Matthew 21:23-27 unfolded, continuing through 26:5 (cf. Mark 14:2; Luke 21:48). The previous day Jesus had come to the temple and rebuked the merchants for turning God’s house of prayer into a den of robbers (21:13). After retiring to Bethany for the night, Jesus returned the next day, where the temple courtyard was apparently now calm. In this new setting, Jesus “was teaching” a crowd that had gathered around Him. Matthew does not say what Jesus was teaching, but Luke’s Gospel says, “All the people were hanging upon His words” (19:48).

As Jesus taught, the “chief priests and elders of the people” (v. 23) approached Him. This group included Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and was likely accompanied by the former high priest Annas and his son-in-law, the acting high priest, Caiaphas (cf. Luke 3:2). The temple police were probably with them as well. These groups were often at odds with each other, but one thing they shared in common was their hatred for Jesus. Having met together after Jesus cleared the temple of its merchants, Mark 11:18 says, they “began seeking how to destroy Him.”

Coming to Jesus, the chief priests and elders of the people asked Him, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” They wanted to know who Jesus thought He was coming into the temple, receiving praise from children and disrupting their business. Of course Jesus, the Son of God, had been given “authority to execute judgment” (5:27) by His Father as well as “authority over all mankind” to grant eternal life to those His Father gave to Him (17:2). Jesus even had authority over His own life, “to lay it down,” and over His own resurrection, “to take [His life] up again” (10:18). He even had authority to forgive sins (9:2-8), a trait reserved for God alone.

Whereas the religious leaders had, in their own minds, the authority to oversee Israel, its temple, and its doctrine, who was this lowly carpenter from Nazareth? They thus interrupted Him as He taught and asked Him a question so as to trap Him, hoping that He would claim His authority was from God. If He did, they planned to arrest Him. But Jesus was wise to their plan.

It is clear that the religious leaders were not questioning that Jesus had power and authority, for that was obvious to all, even them. He had healed the sick, made the lame walk and the blind see. He had even raised the dead, specifically Lazarus just a few days prior (John 11). What they wanted to know was where Jesus got such authority. Previously they had accused Him of acting with satanic authority and power after He cast out demons in their presence (12:24). If He would just admit to acting on God’s authority they could arrest Him, try Him, and put Him to death.

Food For Thought
Those given great authority are never arrogant with their power. They stand their ground, but they don’t talk down to anyone; they defend the truth mightily, but they never treat anyone cruelly. Though there will always be detractors who seek to trap us like they did Jesus, we still show respect to them as Jesus showed His detractors respect. In our day of tolerance for all things except Christianity, make certain you never compromise your faith, no matter who might be offended. The Christian faith is founded on truth, so it will offend. It’s designed to! We must therefore minister to others within the jurisdiction of God’s authority with true humility. If you know the truth, stand for it, even if it ends friendships—even if it costs you your very life.