Mark 11:27-33 marks the beginning of a series of confrontations between Jesus and Jerusalem’s religious leaders. Jesus had overturned tables and halted temple commerce in a bold act of divine judgment, and returning the next day, a delegation of chief priests, scribes, and elders (three groups that made up the Sanhedrin) confronted Him. Their loaded question—“By what authority do you do these things?”—isn’t curiosity. They are not seeking to be taught or informed. These men have already begun plotting His death (Mark 8:31). The religious leaders knew of His miracles, heard His teaching astonish crowds, and saw demons flee, yet refused to bow. Mark’s Gospel began focusing on Jesus’ authority. The One who has authority to forgive sins, calm storms, and feed thousands now stands in the holy courts, and His authority is challenged by those who should recognize it most. Yet, Jesus exposes the authority to which these religious men submit with a question of His own. Trapped between admitting John the Baptist was sent from God (and thereby admitting Jesus was the Messiah John pointed to) or facing the angry crowds who believed John was from God, they answer, “We don’t know.” The religious leaders, who claimed to represent God, reveal that their true authority is self-preservation, status, and control. Therefore, Jesus leaves them without any explanation. Having rejected the light, they are left in their darkness. This isn’t mere history; it’s a mirror for every heart. It is easy to claim Christ’s authority in theory. Yet, when He enters our “temple" and starts rearranging our priorities, purging idols, or commanding obedience in our lives, we can respond like these religious men: “Who are you to demand this?” All of us live under authority—either Christ’s or our own corrupted version—and Jesus’ word exposes which rules us. A day is coming when every knee will bow, either in saving faith or under wrath. This passage isn’t academic—it’s urgent. Will you submit to the King who cleanses temples and claims lives, or ride the fence like these priests, saying, "We don’t know."
I. Jesus’ Authority Is Challenged (v. 27-28)
II. Jesus Exposes Our Corrupt Authorities (v. 29-33a)
III. Jesus’ Judgment For Rejecting Authority (v. 33)
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Mark 11:27-33 marks the beginning of a series of confrontations between Jesus and Jerusalem’s religious leaders. Jesus had overturned tables and halted temple commerce in a bold act of divine judgment, and returning the next day, a delegation of chief priests, scribes, and elders (three groups that made up the Sanhedrin) confronted Him. Their loaded question—“By what authority do you do these things?”—isn’t curiosity. They are not seeking to be taught or informed. These men have already begun plotting His death (Mark 8:31). The religious leaders knew of His miracles, heard His teaching astonish crowds, and saw demons flee, yet refused to bow. Mark’s Gospel began focusing on Jesus’ authority. The One who has authority to forgive sins, calm storms, and feed thousands now stands in the holy courts, and His authority is challenged by those who should recognize it most. Yet, Jesus exposes the authority to which these religious men submit with a question of His own. Trapped between admitting John the Baptist was sent from God (and thereby admitting Jesus was the Messiah John pointed to) or facing the angry crowds who believed John was from God, they answer, “We don’t know.” The religious leaders, who claimed to represent God, reveal that their true authority is self-preservation, status, and control. Therefore, Jesus leaves them without any explanation. Having rejected the light, they are left in their darkness. This isn’t mere history; it’s a mirror for every heart. It is easy to claim Christ’s authority in theory. Yet, when He enters our “temple" and starts rearranging our priorities, purging idols, or commanding obedience in our lives, we can respond like these religious men: “Who are you to demand this?” All of us live under authority—either Christ’s or our own corrupted version—and Jesus’ word exposes which rules us. A day is coming when every knee will bow, either in saving faith or under wrath. This passage isn’t academic—it’s urgent. Will you submit to the King who cleanses temples and claims lives, or ride the fence like these priests, saying, "We don’t know."
I. Jesus’ Authority Is Challenged (v. 27-28)
II. Jesus Exposes Our Corrupt Authorities (v. 29-33a)
III. Jesus’ Judgment For Rejecting Authority (v. 33)
As we continue our study of Mark, this Sunday we’ll dive into Mark 10:1-12, a passage that addresses one of the most challenging and relevant topics in discipleship: marriage and divorce. Building on last week’s message from the end of chapter 9, where Jesus called for radical action against sin and stumbling blocks, chapter 10 explores what denying ourselves and taking up our cross looks like in everyday areas of life, the first of which is marraige.
As Jesus moves toward Jerusalem to die (He will enter the city in Chapter 11), He is confronted again by the Pharisees. As they have done before, they test Jesus with a controversial question. The question of what constitutes grounds for divorce was a broiling controversy among schools of Rabbi’s in the day, and as Jesus enters Judea, He is now in Herod’s territory (the same Herod that imprisoned and executed John the Baptist for denouncing His divorce and remarriage.) The Pharisees were seeking to trap Jesus and place Him at odds with the ongoing controversy. Jesus responds to the permissability of divorce by pointing back to God’s original design and purpose for marriage, emphasizing its sacred covenant nature. Jesus explains that Moses’ allowance for divorce was a concession due to human sin and hardness of heart, intended to limit abuse and protect the vulnerable, not to undermine God’s intent for marriage. Going back to creation in Genesis, Jesus highlights God’s plan for marriage as a lifelong covenant where a man and woman become one flesh, joined by God Himself. This union is instituted by God and reflects deeper gospel truths. In private, the disciples question Jesus further, and He applies the principle radically: Divorce and remarriage constitute adultery because the one-flesh union endures unless dissolved by God. We’ll touch on biblical exceptions (like sexual immorality and abandonment) and talk about why none are mentioned here in Mark. My prayer is that we affirm God’s grace, forgiveness, and the value of seeking help in difficult situations, without compromising Jesus’ words in Mark 10:1-12. While the teaching is direct and countercultural—both then and now—it’s rooted in God’s good design and offers hope through the gospel, which forgives, heals, and transforms.
The Controversial Question (vv. 1-2)
The Purpose of Moses’ Rule (vv. 3-5)
The Purpose of God’s Design (vv. 6-9
The Radical Application (vv. 10-12)
Sermon Audio
Mark 11:27-33 marks the beginning of a series of confrontations between Jesus and Jerusalem’s religious leaders. Jesus had overturned tables and halted temple commerce in a bold act of divine judgment, and returning the next day, a delegation of chief priests, scribes, and elders (three groups that made up the Sanhedrin) confronted Him. Their loaded question—“By what authority do you do these things?”—isn’t curiosity. They are not seeking to be taught or informed. These men have already begun plotting His death (Mark 8:31). The religious leaders knew of His miracles, heard His teaching astonish crowds, and saw demons flee, yet refused to bow. Mark’s Gospel began focusing on Jesus’ authority. The One who has authority to forgive sins, calm storms, and feed thousands now stands in the holy courts, and His authority is challenged by those who should recognize it most. Yet, Jesus exposes the authority to which these religious men submit with a question of His own. Trapped between admitting John the Baptist was sent from God (and thereby admitting Jesus was the Messiah John pointed to) or facing the angry crowds who believed John was from God, they answer, “We don’t know.” The religious leaders, who claimed to represent God, reveal that their true authority is self-preservation, status, and control. Therefore, Jesus leaves them without any explanation. Having rejected the light, they are left in their darkness. This isn’t mere history; it’s a mirror for every heart. It is easy to claim Christ’s authority in theory. Yet, when He enters our “temple" and starts rearranging our priorities, purging idols, or commanding obedience in our lives, we can respond like these religious men: “Who are you to demand this?” All of us live under authority—either Christ’s or our own corrupted version—and Jesus’ word exposes which rules us. A day is coming when every knee will bow, either in saving faith or under wrath. This passage isn’t academic—it’s urgent. Will you submit to the King who cleanses temples and claims lives, or ride the fence like these priests, saying, "We don’t know."
I. Jesus’ Authority Is Challenged (v. 27-28)
II. Jesus Exposes Our Corrupt Authorities (v. 29-33a)
III. Jesus’ Judgment For Rejecting Authority (v. 33)
