The End Time Church: From the Cathedrals to the Catacombs

By Dan L. White

Copyright ©2017 by Dan L. White, all rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB) which is in the public domain.

Chapter 26

How This King Rules

Ahasuerus kind of got carried away with that king thing.

Kings like to be kingly. Lords like to be lordly. But throwing a six month long party?

That’s what Ahasuerus, or Xerxes, did, just to show how great he was.

Est 1:1-11 Good News Bible
From his royal throne in Persia’s capital city of Susa, King Xerxes ruled 127 provinces, all the way from India to Ethiopia. In the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his officials and administrators. The armies of Persia and Media were present, as well as the governors and noblemen of the provinces. For six whole months he made a show of the riches of the imperial court with all its splendor and majesty.

He got carried away with himself, but what a kingdom he had!

127 provinces, from India to Ethiopia, a distance of 2700 miles if straight across the ocean, or over 3000 miles across the crescent of land involved. It would take a traveler at 30 miles a day over 100 days just to go from end to end of the empire. Day after day for over three months, the traveler would still be in Ahasureus’ kingdom.

From BibleStudy.org
The Medo-Persian empire is considered the most powerful of the ancient empires. At the height of its power, during the reign of Darius I the Great, the empire controlled more than 2.9 million square miles (7.5 million square kilometers) of land and spanned three continents (Asia, Africa and Europe)…

It is estimated that in 480 B.C. the Persian empire had 50 million people living until its control. This huge amount was roughly 44% of the world’s population at the time, making it the largest empire ever in terms by population percentage.

Courtesy of BibleStudy.org

As fitting for such a king, Ahasuerus/Xerxes staged a showoff celebration for 180 days, about half a year. That’s a long party, but he still wasn’t through.

Est 1:1-11 Good News Bible cont.
After that, the king gave a banquet for all the people in the capital city of Susa, rich and poor alike. It lasted a whole week and was held in the gardens of the royal palace. The courtyard there was decorated with blue and white cotton curtains, tied by cords of fine purple linen to silver rings on marble columns. Couches made of gold and silver had been placed in the courtyard, which was paved with white marble, red feldspar, shining mother-of-pearl, and blue turquoise. Drinks were served in gold cups, no two of them alike, and the king was generous with the royal wine. There were no limits on the drinks; the king had given orders to the palace servants that everyone could have as much as they wanted.

I heard of a religious leader who bragged about having solid gold tableware. I don’t suppose Ahasureus had gold forks, or maybe any forks at all, but he did have gold cups, all unique works of art, and the people who drank from them sat on golden couches. No preacher can ever match that!

Meanwhile, Queen Vashti was also showing off.

Est 1:1-11 Good News Bible cont.
Meanwhile, inside the royal palace Queen Vashti was giving a banquet for the women. On the seventh day of his banquet the king was drinking and feeling happy, so he called in the seven eunuchs who were his personal servants, Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas. He ordered them to bring in Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown. The queen was a beautiful woman, and the king wanted to show off her beauty to the officials and all his guests.

Two showoffs ran headlong into each other. The king wanted to show off his queen, like a golden cup with curves. That was humiliating for her, because she was right in the middle of her own showoff session. So, probably just to show off how big she was before all the highfalutin women, she refused Ahasuerus’ showoff command.

Then Vashti didn’t have to worry about any more showoff sessions herself, because she didn’t have any more. Vashti vanished from history.

Ahasuerus threw that six month party just to glorify himself. He got a bit carried away, but that’s what kings usually do. They try to glorify themselves.

Unlike him, Yeshua, born to be King of the Jews, did not seek his own glory.

Joh 8
48)  Then the Jews answered him, Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?
49)  Yeshua answered, I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.
50)  But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.

Ahab built a house of ivory and Solomon took nearly twice as long building his own palace as he did the temple. All kings have sought their own glory, usually a lot, some perhaps just a little, but this King of the Jews did not seek his own glory at all.

And he could have had a heap of glory — all the kingdoms of this world!

Mat 4
8)  Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.
9)  He said to him, I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.
10)  Then Yeshua said to him, Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.
11)  Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.

Think about that. Ahasureus ruled from India to Ethiopia but Christ could have ruled from Antarctica to the Arctic. He turned that down flat. Get behind me, Satan!

This king came as a servant.

Php 2
5)  Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Yeshua,
6)  who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7)  but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

Unlike the rabbis who took the chief seats, Christ taught his followers to take the low seats, as he had done.

Luk 14
8)  When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him,
9)  and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, Make room for this person. Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place.
10)  But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, Friend, move up higher. Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.
11)  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Yeshua did not try to lord it over the kings who were lords of the land. In fact, he paid the taxes they levied on him.

Mat 17
24)  When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, Doesn’t your teacher pay the didrachma?
25)  He said, Yes. When he came into the house, Yeshua anticipated him, saying, What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?
26)  Peter said to him, From strangers. Yeshua said to him, Therefore the children are exempt.
27)  But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you.

What is a stater? The Word Bible program note on Matthew 17:27 says:
A stater is a silver coin equivalent to four Attic or two Alexandrian drachmas, or a Jewish shekel: just exactly enough to cover the half-shekel temple tax for two people.

The Pharisees thought they could catch Yeshua in a tax trap.

Mat 22
15)  Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.
16)  They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.
17)  Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18)  But Yeshua perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?
19)  Show me the tax money.” They brought to him a denarius.
20)  He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”
21)  They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
22)  When they heard it, they marveled, and left him, and went away.

Christ paid the stater and the denarius. He did not physically try to overthrow Rome or Herod. Instead, he taught about a new kingdom, beyond the old kingdoms of Israel and Judah and beyond the empire of Rome, and that was the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God.

In a worldly kingdom, people strive mightily with each other to be the greatest. Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? The disciples asked, perhaps because they wanted to be.

Mat 18
1)  In that hour the disciples came to Yeshua, saying, Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
2)  Yeshua called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them,
3)  and said, Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn, and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
4)  Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mar 10
13)  They were bringing to him little children, that he should touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who were bringing them.
14)  But when Yeshua saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said to them, Allow the little children to come to me! Don’t forbid them, for God’s Kingdom belongs to such as these.
15)  Most certainly I tell you, whoever will not receive God’s Kingdom like a little child, he will in no way enter into it.
16)  He took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Repeatedly the disciples heard the Messiah teach about having the humility of little children and not taking the chief seats. So guess what they wanted to do?

Mar 9
33)  He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?”
34)  But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.
35)  He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, “If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all.”
36)  He took a little child, and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,
37)  “Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”

The selfish ambitions of the disciples seemed to grow as they neared the end of Christ’s 3 1/2 years of teaching, and as they came to the time of the penultimate Passover.

Mat 20
17)  As Yeshua was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
18)  Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death,
19)  and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised up.

Yeshua told the twelve, as he had several times, that he was going to be killed. Did they then think that they had to enhance their individual positions before he passed on, while they still had a chance?

Mat 20
20)  Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
21)  He said to her, What do you want? She said to him, Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.
22)  But Yeshua answered, You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They said to him, We are able.
23)  He said to them, You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father.

Dear old Mom was looking out for her boys, with a strategic political endorsement. And her boys joined with her in that, because when Christ asked if they were able to endure what he had to go through, they said, “We are able.” Those fellows were right with Mom in this scheme!

Amazingly, this is the same John who leaned on Christ at the last Passover meal.

Joh 21
(20)  Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Yeshua loved, the one who had also leaned on Yeshua’s breast at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray You?”

This disciple was as close to Christ as any of them, yet he and his brother James and their momma were concerned about getting a high position for themselves, right next to the King of Kings.

When the other ten disciples heard about that little incident, they did not shake their heads in sympathy because James and John Zebedee had not humbled themselves like little children. Nope. Instead they got really, really mad at the two brothers because —

The ten wanted those high positions for themselves!

Mat 20
24)  When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.
25)  But Yeshua summoned them, and said, You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
26)  It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
27)  Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,
28)  even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Kings like to be served. But this King of the Jews and King of Kings did not come to be served. He came only to serve, even at the cost of his life.

Christ and his twelve ambitious disciples went on into Jerusalem, for his final Passover meal.

Luk 22
7)  The day of unleavened bread came, on which the Passover must be sacrificed.
8)  Yeshua sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
9)  They said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare?”
10)  He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered into the city, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house which he enters.
11)  Tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’
12)  He will show you a large, furnished upper room. Make preparations there.”
13)  They went, found things as Yeshua had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

That was Christ’s last Passover in his earthly life; the Bible never calls it ‘The Last Supper,’ a title that came along later from people who forsook the Passover. And at that Passover, the Creator of everything got down on his knees, lowered his head and washed the feet of those he came to serve.

P.S. — Without socks or shoes, those were really dirty feet.

Joh 13
2)  During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,
3)  Yeshua, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to God,
4)  arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
5)  Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6)  Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?”
7)  Yeshua answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.”
8)  Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Yeshua answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”
9)  Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”
10)  Yeshua said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.”
11)  For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.”
12)  So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?
13)  You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am.
14)  If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15)  For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
16)  Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him.

Christ knew that Peter would deny him three times, but he still washed all ten toes.

And the King of the Jews also washed the feet of Judas.

Such a scene has never been seen in all of human history. That is how this King rules.

Soon after the Creator of the universe stooped down and washed the dusty feet of his disciples, like a menial servant, he told them this.

Luk 22
21)  But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.
22)  The Son of Man indeed goes, as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!
23)  They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

When he announced that one of those twelve would betray him, they naturally buzzed back and forth, Is it you, Is it me, Is it him?

Then they morphed from defending themselves — ‘It’s not me, I know that!’ — to proclaiming how great they were. ‘Why, I’m the best dude here!’ ‘No, you’re not. I am!’

They instantly went from wondering which one was the bad guy to arguing which one was the best guy! RIGHT AFTER THE FOOTWASHING!

Luk 22
24)  There arose also a contention among them, which of them was considered to be greatest.

Did Yeshua then sigh before he went on to tell them — again?

Luk 22
25)  He said to them, The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called benefactors.
26)  But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves.
27)  For who is greater, one who sits at the table, or one who serves? Isn’t it he who sits at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

When Satan offered Christ the kingdoms of this world if Christ would bow down to him, Satan sought to be served and exalted. On the other hand, Christ washed the dirty feet of those he taught, and he sacrificed himself for those he had created. He sought to serve and be humble.

That is the difference between the two great spiritual kingdoms. One seeks to be served. The other seeks to serve. One seeks to be exalted. The other seeks to be humbled. One is Satan. The other is Christ.

This is always the basic difference between the two kingdoms, to serve or to be served. This applies to all people and all leaders, political and religious, in whatever position. Are they seeking to be served and exalted? Or are they humbly seeking to serve? To get or to give?

Many religious leaders who say they are serving Christ act more like they are following Satan’s example. Wealthy, puffed up religious potentates are always following the wrong example. There are no exceptions to this, no extenuating circumstances, never a need for a preacher to be puffed up. If he is, and many are, then he is wrong.

As Christ told the sons of Zebedee, You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

Servants do not desire exalting titles, distinctive attire, or elite estates. A servant’s satisfaction is in the serving. That is the way this King rules.

The End Time Church: From the Cathedrals to the Catacombs

By Dan L. White

Copyright ©2016 by Dan L. White, all rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (WEB) which is in the public domain.

Chapter 25

Who Has Authority Straight from God

Is a religious authority right because it’s the religious authority, or is the religious authority right because it’s actually teaching what’s right?

One man ruled a small Christian denomination in a papalistic manner. That group observed the Christian festival of Pentecost on a Monday. That was not the day observed at the temple, or by the Karaite Jews, or by the later Jewish Pharisee calendar or by Christians, so that church came to believe they were observing Pentecost on the wrong day. They then changed their Pentecost observance to Sunday.

This one man, the religious authority for that church, explained that even when they had observed the wrong day, they were right. He, as the head of the church, sat in the position of Peter, which was not a name but a title of authority. Since he was in the Peter position, even when he was wrong, he was right. Even when they had observed what they came to believe was the wrong day, while they observed it, Monday was still right, because the Peter had proclaimed it right, and in the position of Peter, he could not be wrong.

If he could change the day of Pentecost from Sunday to Monday, that gave him the power to change God’s law. Peter Power!

What a great position to be in. Even when you’re wrong, you’re right. Can we husbands try that line on our wives? Since I am in the position of husband, obviously created by God — the ‘Peter position’ of the family — if I say that committing adultery with that slinky, winky, stinky young blonde is good, does that make it right?

My wife just said “No.”

Of course, if what that church was doing was right when it was wrong, then why did they change?

Again —

Is a religious authority right because it’s the religious authority, or is it the religious authority because it is right, actually teaching what’s right? Was that church right when it was wrong, simply because the religious authority said it was right?

Over and over this is the issue.

The Jewish rulers did not consider themselves papalistic, of course. They were long before the popes and would have taken great umbrage at the thought that they were like Christian ecclesiastical monarchs, sitting in the position of Peter. In reality though, like the church leader just mentioned, they considered themselves right, simply because they were the religious authority.

All theological religions claim to get their authority from God. And in that position, they often act like they are God. In fact, the Talmud, rabbinical commentary on God’s law, is accepted as being equal to God’s law.

Rabbinical tradition holds that the Talmud expresses a sacred Oral Torah, equally authoritative to the Written Law given to Moses at Sinai, http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Talmud. 4/10/17.

The religious authority is considered right just because it is the religious authority. Rabbis rule!

Well, maybe not.

When the baby boy who was born King of the Jews was about thirty years old, he began to teach. This real Rabbi didn’t teach like the counterfeit rabbis. He taught as if he really had the authority of the one and only Rabbi, the King of the Jews.

Mark 1
21)They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
22) They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.

Christ taught as one having authority, because he did have authority.

Rabbis thought they had authority, too, even if they didn’t teach like it.

Rabbis were extensively taught. Unfortunately, they were only taught by other rabbis.

Being taught by men who study about God is never the same as being taught by God. It is assumed that people in religious positions have been taught by God. Often they’ve only been taught by other men in religious positions.

The learned rabbis were egocentrically surprised when anyone who wasn’t taught by them knew the scriptures.

Luk 2
46) After three days they found him [Yeshua] in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.
47) All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

The rabbis were amazed at the understanding of that twelve year old boy — and Yeshua had not even been taught by them! Wow!

Why should God allow his son to be taught by rabbis? That twelve year old boy understood more than any of those rabbis ever would!

Their amazement was compounded when that boy had matured into a thirty year old man.

John 7
14) But when it was now the midst of the feast, Yeshua went up into the temple and taught.
15) The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?”

Which is to say, ‘How can he know anything, since we didn’t teach him?’

The rabbis based their position on what they knew, their knowledge. “This multitude that doesn’t know the law is accursed,” they scoffed in John 7:49. Obviously the Pharisees thought they knew the law better than anyone. They were rabbis. They knew some stuff.

Christ based his position — his authority — on Who he knew. He was educated, but not by the rabbis. The rabbis had been to Bible college to study about God. Yeshua was taught by God. His authority did not come from any human institution but came straight from the Father in heaven. No one else can claim that authority —

Although many have. In religion somebody is always getting between people and God.

When Christ and his disciples ate lunch on the Sabbath while traveling, the rabbis accused them of breaking the Sabbath. This was a question of authority. Yahweh has his Sabbath commandment. The Jews had their Oral Law. Who had the authority here?

Mat 12
1)  At that time, Yeshua went on the Sabbath day through the grain fields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat.
2)  But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.

Which law will be followed, God’s Sabbath law or the Pharisees’ Sabbath laws? Eating lunch broke their laws but did not break God’s law.

Mat 12 (cont.)
3)  But he said to them, Haven’t you read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him;
4)  how he entered into God’s house, and ate the show bread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for those who were with him, but only for the priests?
5)  Or have you not read in the law, that on the Sabbath day, the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless?
6)  But I tell you that one greater than the temple is here.

What an incredible statement that is — “one greater than the temple is here.” Nothing about Christ depended on anything that man built. The first temple, filled with the shekinah glory of Yahweh, was built by Solomon, yet “someone greater than Solomon is here,” Matthew 12:42.

Mat 12 (cont.)
7)  But if you had known what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.
8)  For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.

Christ cited his authority as Lord of the Sabbath. What does that mean?

This Son of Man, who is also Son of God, created all things.

Joh 1
3)  All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.

Eph 3
9)  and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Yeshua Christ;

Col 1
16)  For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.
17)  He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.

Heb 1
1)  God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2)  has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.

Heb 1
8)  But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.
9)  You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”
10)  And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.

The one who came as the savior of the world made the world. Therefore, when the Son purposely rested at creation —

He created the Sabbath.

Since Christ created the Sabbath, he is naturally lord of the Sabbath. The Pharisees were arguing about what was lawful on the Sabbath —

With the one who made the Sabbath! The Pharisees argued for their Sabbath rules with the Ruler of the Sabbath.

Mat 12
9)  He departed there, and went into their synagogue.
10)  And behold there was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? that they might accuse him.
11)  He said to them, What man is there among you, who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, wont he grab on to it, and lift it out?
12)  Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.

Christ was doing good on the Sabbath day and that is lawful. He fulfilled the purpose of the Sabbath law that he made.

Amazingly, the Pharisees, for all their supposed law-keeping, repeatedly thought it was unlawful to do good on the Sabbath. When a deformed man got his hand back, they thought that was sin! When a blind man got his sight, they saw red. And when a paralyzed man took up his mat and walked on the Sabbath, the Pharisees thought he was jaywalking.

The Pharisees had no authority for their laws other than themselves.

On the other hand, Christ was anointed by God with God’s spirit.

Mat 12 (cont.)
13)  Then he told the man, Stretch out your hand. He stretched it out; and it was restored whole, just like the other.
14)  But the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him.
15)  Yeshua, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all,
16)  and commanded them that they should not make him known:
17)  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
18)  Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him. He will proclaim justice to the nations.

This Rabbi — the one real Rabbi — not only had knowledge; he had a totally different spirit than the counterfeit rabbis. This King of the Jews had a different spirit than all human kings. This Rabbi and this king, the Son of God, was full of the spirit of God.

The enormous problem with all human kings is just that — their human nature. This king, however, was not subject to David’s weakness when he saw Bathsheba bathing, or Solomon’s idols for his thousand women, or Uzziah’s arrogant urge to be a priest, or Hezekiah’s swaggering bragging to the Babylonians — and those were the good kings!

Also —

The enormous problem with all religious leaders is —

Their human nature. When they think they sit in the position of Peter in Jerusalem, they act like Caesar in Rome.

But this king and this Rabbi, like no other, has authority directly from the Father in heaven. No other king, no other religious leader, no other person has this authority directly from the Father.

Mat 9
1)  He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.
2)  Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Yeshua, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.

The Pharisees argued endlessly about what is sin and continually added more minutiae to the legal maze of their laws defining sin. Yet here was one who had the authority to forgive sin — to forgive the breaking of the law!

Throw out the whole Pharisees’ game plan! They focused on fencing in the law to keep from breaking it. It always was broken, though, by everyone. When that happened, they had no way to undo what was done.

Then along comes the Real Rabbi —

“cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”

Mat 9 (cont.)
3)  Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, This man blasphemes.
4)  Yeshua, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts?
5)  For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven; or to say, Get up, and walk?
6)  But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins- (then he said to the paralytic), Get up, and take up your mat, and go to your house.
7)  He arose and departed to his house.
8)  But when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

It is indeed something to marvel at, by all those whose sins need forgiving, that God gave to this One, and only to this One, the authority to forgive sin.

And to judge sinners.

Joh 5
16)  For this cause the Jews persecuted Yeshua, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.
17)  But Yeshua answered them, My Father is still working, so I am working, too.
18)  For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19)  Yeshua therefore answered them, Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.
20)  For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
21)  For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires.
22)  For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
23)  that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
24)  Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
25)  Most certainly, I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of Gods voice; and those who hear will live.
26)  For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself.
27)  He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man.

This Son of Man, Son of God, Rabbi of rabbis and King of Kings has life in himself — the ability to give life. And the Father gave him the authority to execute judgment — to decide who will be given life.

No political king, no religious leader can ever even remotely approach the authority of this Rabbi — authority directly from God.

The Pharisees arrogantly refused to accept that Christ gets his authority directly from His Father in heaven.

Joh 8
13)  So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify concerning yourself! Your testimony is not true.”

So where did the puffed up Pharisees get their authority?

Joh 8:37-59, in paragraph form.
I know you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are trying to kill me, because you will not accept my teaching. I talk about what my Father has shown me, but you do what your father has told you.”

Yeshua’s father is the Father in heaven. Who was the Pharisees’ father?

They answered him, “Our father is Abraham.”

“If you really were Abraham’s children,” Yeshua replied, “you would do the same things that he did. All I have ever done is to tell you the truth I heard from God, yet you are trying to kill me. Abraham did nothing like this! You are doing what your father did.”

Their father was not Abraham, because they didn’t act like Abraham. Again — who is the Pharisees’ father?

“God himself is the only Father we have,” they answered, “and we are his true children.”

Yeshua said to them, “If God really were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own authority, but he sent me.

The Pharisees’ father is not God, because they rejected God’s son. Christ was sent with the authority of the Father. Where did the Pharisees’ get their authority? Who is their father?

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to listen to my message. You are the children of your father, the Devil, and you want to follow your father’s desires. From the very beginning he was a murderer and has never been on the side of truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he is only doing what is natural to him, because he is a liar and the father of all lies.

The Pharisees and the Jewish religious rulers who rejected the Son of God were children of the devil.

Period.

All Jews who reject Yeshua as the Messiah and Son of God are always offended at that truth.

And it is the truth.

But I tell the truth, and that is why you do not believe me.

Which one of you can prove that I am guilty of sin? If I tell the truth, then why do you not believe me? He who comes from God listens to God’s words. You, however, are not from God, and that is why you will not listen.”

Of course, all others who reject the Messiah are also children of the devil, naturally having the same spirit. They are also offended at that idea.

The Pharisees then said that Yeshua had a demon himself.

They asked Yeshua, “Were we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon in you?”

“I have no demon,” Yeshua answered. “I honor my Father, but you dishonor me. I am not seeking honor for myself. But there is one who is seeking it and who judges in my favor. I am telling you the truth: whoever obeys my teaching will never die.”

They said to him, “Now we know for sure that you have a demon! Abraham died, and the prophets died, yet you say that whoever obeys your teaching will never die. Our father Abraham died; you do not claim to be greater than Abraham, do you? And the prophets also died. Who do you think you are?”

Yeshua answered, “If I were to honor myself, that honor would be worth nothing. The one who honors me is my Father—the very one you say is your God. You have never known him, but I know him. If I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him, and I obey his word.

Astonishing! The religious Jews, who studied about God, who taught about God, and who almost everyone thought sat in place of God — didn’t know God at all.

“You have never known him.”

The religious authority had no authority at all from God!

Those religious leaders got their religion from their position — their religious knowledge, their religious titles, and their religious clothing. That’s why religions have big titles and funny clothes. They look really good! The only thing missing from their religion was God.

On the other hand, Christ was sent from God, by God, and is God. There is no other religious authority like that.

Is a religious authority right when it’s wrong, because it’s the religious authority? Or is a religious authority right only because it teaches what is right? Should a religious authority add to and change what God said? Or should a religious authority just teach and practice what God said?

Over and over, religious authorities go from teaching what is right to teaching who is right. And, of course, that’s them.

Christ has authority directly from God the Father. No one else does. No others should act as if they do. Religious leaders can obey God’s laws. Religious leaders can teach God’s laws. But no religious authority can make or change God’s laws.