Matthew 21:23-27

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

23 ¹And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him ²as he was teaching, and said, ³“By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority? ”

24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25 The baptism of John, ⁴from where did it come? ⁵From heaven or from man? ”And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven, ’ he will say to us, ⁶‘Why then did you not believe him? ’

26 But if we say, ‘From man, ’ ⁷we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was ⁸a prophet. ”

27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know. ” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Cross References

• 1. 21:23 For ver. 23-27, see Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8
• 2. 21:23 See ch. 26:55
• 3. 21:23 [Ex. 2:14; John 1:25; Acts 4:7]
• 4. 21:25 [ch. 13:54]
• 5. 21:25 Luke 15:18, 21; John 3:27
• 6. 21:25 ver. 32; Luke 7:30
• 7. 21:26 ver. 46; ch. 14:5
• 8. 21:26 [John 5:35]; See ch. 11:9