23 (A)[a]And 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 [b]authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

24 Then Jesus answered, and said unto them, I also will ask of you [c]a certain thing, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25 The [d]baptism of John, whence was it? from [e]heaven, or of men? Then they [f]reasoned among themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven, he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 21:23 Against them which overstepping the doctrine, blind the calling and vocation to an ordinary succession going about by that false pretext, to stop Christ’s mouth.
  2. Matthew 21:23 Or, by what power.
  3. Matthew 21:24 One word, that is to say, I will ask you in one word.
  4. Matthew 21:25 John his preaching is called by a figure, Baptism, because he preached the baptism of repentance, etc., Mark 1:4; Acts 19:3.
  5. Matthew 21:25 From God, and so it is plainly seen how these are set one against another.
  6. Matthew 21:25 Beat their heads about it and mused, or laid their heads together.

Bible Gateway Recommends