"By What Authority Are You"...attempting to redeem us from our fruitlessness?

Mark 11:27-33, 12:1-9

"Then they (Jesus and those following Him) came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him. And they said to Him, 'By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?' But Jesus answered and said to them, 'I also will ask you one question; then answer Me , and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: the baptism of John - was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.'

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' "But if we say, 'From men' "- they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed.

So they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know". And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.' "

It appears these chief priests, scribes and elders were UNWILLING to respond honestly to His question; yet REFUSING TO RECEIVE the Savior of Israel. Jesus responds, "Neither will I tell you..........". We must seek Him to find Him!

Then He began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a place for the wine vat and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, THAT HE MIGHT RECEIVE SOME OF THE FRUIT OF VINEYARD FROM THE VINEDRESSERS. And they took him and beat him and sent him away EMPTY-HANDED. Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounding him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated. And again he sent another, and him they killed; and many others, beating some and killing some. Therefore still having one son, his beloved, he also sent him to them last, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But those vinedressers SAID AMONG THEMSELVES (initiated within themselves), 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be our's.'

So they took him and killed him and cast him out of the vineyard. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers and give the vineyard to others. Have you not even read this scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?" And they sought to lay hands on Him, but feared the multitude, for they knew He has spoken the parable against them. So THEY LEFT HIM (instead of embracing Him) and went away."

"If any of you lack wisdom (Do I/you know that we lack in His wisdom?), let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts (after having asked and received from Him) is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:5-8)

The ministers of that day were not asking Him so that could receive Him; they were asking of Him to contend with Him so they may retain their place of authority; unwittingly one step closer to destruction.