Matthew 21:23-27
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Messiah’s Authority Challenged
23 When He entered the temple complex,(A) the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority?”(B)
24 Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question, and if you answer it for Me, then I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from men?”
They began to argue among themselves, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’(C) 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we’re afraid of the crowd,(D) because everyone thought John was a prophet.”(E) 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
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Matthew 21:23-27
International Standard Version
Jesus’ Authority is Challenged(A)
23 Then Jesus[a] went into the Temple. While he was teaching, the high priests and the elders of the people came to him and asked, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus answered them, “I, too, will ask you one question.[b] If you answer it for me, I will also tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 Where did John’s authority to baptize[c] come from? From heaven or from humans?”
They began discussing this among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From humans,’ we are afraid of the crowd, because everyone regards John as a prophet.” 27 So they told Jesus, “We don’t know.”
He in turn told them, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 21:23 Lit. he
- Matthew 21:24 Lit. one word
- Matthew 21:25 Lit. John’s baptism
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