In any institution, we must have a standard of authority. In money, we have the dollar as our standard. In determining measurements we have feet, gallons, miles, cups, and such, or we may use the metric standard. In religion, this fact remains true. We must have an authority to our practices, and we should be able to discern between human and Godly authority.

In an attempt to trap Jesus Christ by his own words, the Pharisees and Scribes came up to Jesus and asked him many dishonest questions. One particular question was asked during Jesus' last visit to Jerusalem. Matthew records this event for us. Matthew says, “When he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?” (Matthew 21:23 ) First we see the acknowledgement of the need of authority in our practices.

Jesus knowing that the works that he did ought to have testified to the source of his authority, (John 5:36 , 37) he asks them a question. Jesus said, “I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven, or of men?” (Matthew 21:24-25 )

These Pharisees and Scribes showed their dishonesty and said, “We cannot tell.” (Matthew 21:27 ) They knew that if they said that John's baptism was from heaven then Jesus would have asked them why they didn't believe John, and if they would've said that John's baptism was from man then they would've had to deal with the public. Their dishonesty poured out to Jesus by an out right lie, “We cannot tell!”

How sad a situation when we have religious leaders that can not tell whether a certain act is from God or from man. If the religious leaders could not tell, those that make it their profession to know, how could God ever expect any one else to know? The fact, of course, is that not only can and did the religious leaders of Christ's day discern what was from heaven or men, but we all can know!

Jesus teaches us that discernment comes from searching the scriptures. The testimony of Christ and his authority is found in Old Testament prophecy. Jesus exclaimed, “ Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. ” (John 5:39 ) Not only does these Old Testament Scriptures testify of Christ, but Jesus also said, “ I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. ” (John 10:25 )

Nicodemus, being more honest than his peers, acknowledged this fact. Nicodemus said, “ Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. ” (John 3:2 ) Noticed that Nicodemus used the words “we know”. It is a logical and much understood conclusion that they had made by looking at the facts of his works that Jesus was a teacher from God.

Another way for us to know the testimony of Christ is in the New Testament Scriptures. Jesus promised his Apostles that he would send the Holy Spirit, that “Spirit of Truth”, to “testify of me.” (John 15:26 ) In the New Testament Scriptures we can know that Christ was indeed sent by God to save the world from their sins.

Jesus makes it plain that the two major sources of authority is from God or Men. He also makes it plain that we can and should be able to discern between these two by searching the Scriptures, both old and new, and by considering the works that Christ did while he was on this earth. Let us be diligent in our searching of God's word and let us compare our practices with God's proven authority.