A dictatorship is a type of authoritarianism, which is a form of government characterized by a strict absolute obedience to authority, it seeks to eliminate individual freedom and expects unquestioning obedience. Satan always raises his ugly head through this type of authority. Just in the last 100 years we see or have seen Fascism, Communism, and the Islamic State. Each is controlled by a person, central body, or group which seek absolute power and obedience. Religion has always been a tool for such, the protestant reformation sought to free Christianity from such control. Democracy, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state sought to relinquish such control, it was about we the people.
Any organization that has a type of authority that expects unquestioning obedience is a dictatorship. There are Christian organizations that come under the influence of teachings that portray God as a dictator and thus they run their organizations as such; if you question them you come against God himself. They will intentionally set out snares against those who question their authority. They are much like the Pharisees of Jesus day, sending out spies to find fault in him. They accused him of breaking their rules, traditions, and doctrines, ultimately they accused him of blasphemy and of being a rebel against authority. It was about absolute control for the Pharisees, when they saw the influence Jesus had on the people, they feared loosing control so they plotted to kill him.
When Jesus cleared out the temple, the blind and lame came to him, they sang Hosanna to the Son of David. The leaders were indignant and said to Him, Do You hear what these are saying? He said, yes, out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise? They would not praise him. Then what follows speaks to their authority; the fig tree looks like it is producing fruit, but it is not so Jesus commands it to wither. Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.
Jesus then told a parable of two sons. But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’ He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father? They answered the first, wisely, and Jesus says to them tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you. The harlots and tax collectors believed but they had not followed the law, while the leaders followed the commandments, but did not believe. Who is more righteous?
The leaders questioned the authority of Jesus. Dictators promote their own authority as absolute. They use their authority to demand respect and obedience. Jesus said to them, if you were of the Father you would know me. They said to Jesus, you do not have the authority to speak from God, that is our authority. John had come in the way of righteousness and they did not believe, but the least of these did. Jesus in the authority of God came but they would not recognize his authority. Why do you think that is so? Maybe they could not get past his lowliness, his humanity, they perceived the Christ to be an earthly king, they sought earthly authority, wisdom,and power. They knew the scriptures but did not know God nor truth.
Then Jesus speaks of these leaders in a parable of the wicked vinedressers, God sent prophets but they despised and killed them. He would send his son, surely they will respect him, but they killed him too. Jesus tells them the kingdom of God is like a king preparing a wedding feast, who sent out invitations, But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. The king then destroys those who killed his servants and he invites those from the highways and byways, lowly, despised, the least of these to the wedding.
The leaders were questioning the authority of Jesus, Jesus was removing theirs, they were like a fig tree that looked fruit bearing but did not, so he removes their authority. They were like the son who obeyed the commandments but did not do the Father's will. Like evil vinedressers who were put in authority to bring in a harvest, instead they wanted to be like God in their authority and they lorded over the people for selfish reasons, they killed his messengers and then his son. Like those called by the king they made light of the call and went their own way, so he chose others.
Only a few were worthy to be chosen, they were the despised and lowly of this world, he exalted them so his name would be glorified, not the name of another. But even these the chosen would lead people astray, they would do things in their own strength causing others to think this was the way of righteousness. The people they deceive show up at the wedding, not clothed in the garments of righteousness from the king, but in their own, they are speechless as to why they showed up in these, they thought it right, they were cast into hell.
Jesus was an example of leadership, he was not a dictator. He had a lowly heart, such is a characteristic of God, meek and lowly, it is why he exalts these. If this is who God is then we should be as He. Today I can boldly approach the Father because of this lowly Jesus, from a lowly town, from a lowly family, born in a lowly manger, this Jesus of Nazareth was a least of these, nobody from human standards, so they rejected him based on human reasoning. God reminds us He measures the heart, not the external, He clothes us in righteousness, He exalts the humble, He uses the foolish things of this world to confound human reasoning and understanding, so that his name is exalted and glorified above all names.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.3