23
And when he was comeinto the temple, the chief priestsand the elders of the peoplecame unto him as he was teaching, and said, Bywhatauthority doest thou these things?andwhogavetheethisauthority?
24
AndJesusanswered and said unto them, I also will askyouonething,whichif ye tellme, I in like wise will tellyoubywhatauthority I do these things.
25
The baptism of John,whence was it? fromheaven,orofmen?And they reasonedwiththemselves,saying, If we shall say, Fromheaven; he will say unto us,Why did yenotthenbelievehim?
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Butif we shall say, Ofmen; we fear the people;forallholdJohnas a prophet.
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And they answeredJesus, and said, We cannottell. Andhesaid unto them,NeithertellIyoubywhatauthority I do these things.
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Butwhatthinkye? A certain manhadtwosons;and he came to the first, and said, Son,gowork to dayinmyvineyard.
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He answered* and said, I willnot:butafterward he repented, and went.
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And he came to the second, and saidlikewise.And he answered and said, I go, sir:andwentnot.
31
Whetherof them twaindid the will of his father? They say unto him, The first.Jesussaith unto them,Verily I say unto you,That the publicansand the harlotsgointo the kingdom of Godbeforeyou.
32
ForJohncameuntoyouin the way of righteousness,and ye believedhimnot:but the publicansand the harlotsbelievedhim:andye, when ye had seen it, repentednotafterward, that ye might believehim.