Matthew 21:23-27
New English Translation
The Authority of Jesus
23 Now after Jesus[a] entered the temple courts,[b] the chief priests and elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching and said, “By what authority[c] are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus[d] answered them, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?”[e] They discussed this among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From people,’ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.” 27 So[f] they answered Jesus,[g] “We don’t know.”[h] Then he said to them, “Neither will I tell you[i] by what authority[j] I am doing these things.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 21:23 tn Grk “he.”
- Matthew 21:23 tn Grk “the temple.”
- Matthew 21:23 tn On this phrase, see BDAG 844 s.v. ποῖος 2.a.γ.1
- Matthew 21:24 tn Grk “answering, Jesus said to them.” This is somewhat redundant and has been simplified in the translation. Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
- Matthew 21:25 tn The plural Greek term ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn) is used here (and in v. 26) in a generic sense, referring to both men and women (cf. NAB, NRSV, “of human origin”; TEV, “from human beings”; NLT, “merely human”).sn The question is whether John’s ministry was of divine or human origin.
- Matthew 21:27 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “So” to indicate that the clause is a result of the deliberations of the leaders.
- Matthew 21:27 tn Grk “answering Jesus, they said.” This construction is somewhat awkward in English and has been simplified in the translation.
- Matthew 21:27 sn Very few questions could have so completely revealed the wicked intentions of the religious leaders. Jesus’ question revealed the motivation of the religious leaders and exposed them for what they really were—hypocrites. They indicted themselves when they cited only two options and chose neither of them (“We do not know”). The point of Matt 21:23-27 is that no matter what Jesus said in response to their question, they were not going to believe it and would in the end use it against him.
- Matthew 21:27 sn Neither will I tell you. Though Jesus gave no answer, the analogy he used to their own question makes his view clear. His authority came from heaven.
- Matthew 21:27 tn On this phrase, see BDAG 844 s.v. ποῖος 2.a.γ. This is exactly the same phrase as in v. 23.
Matthew 21:23-27
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
23 And kai when he autos had entered erchomai the ho temple hieron, the ho ruling priests archiereus and kai the ho elders presbyteros of the ho people laos approached proserchomai him autos while he was teaching didaskō and said legō, “ By en what poios authority exousia are you doing poieō these houtos things , and kai who tis gave didōmi you sy · ho this houtos authority exousia?” 24 Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai · de · ho them autos, saying legō, “ I also kagō will ask erōtaō you hymeis one heis question logos, and if ean you give legō me egō an answer , then I kagō will tell legō you hymeis by en what poios authority exousia I do poieō these houtos things . 25 The ho baptism baptisma of ho John Iōannēs, where pothen did eimi it come from? From ek heaven ouranos or ē from ek man anthrōpos?” They ho · de reasoned dialogizomai among en themselves heautou, saying legō, “ If ean we say legō, ‘ From ek heaven ouranos,’ he will say legō to us hēmeis, ‘ Why dia tis then oun did you not ou believe pisteuō him autos?’ 26 But de if ean we say legō, ‘ From ek man anthrōpos,’ we are afraid phobeomai of the ho crowd ochlos, for gar they pas hold echō that hōs John Iōannēs was a prophet prophētēs.” · ho 27 So kai they answered apokrinomai · ho Jesus Iēsous, saying legō, “ We do not ou know oida.” And he autos said phēmi to them autos, · kai “ Neither oude will I egō tell legō you hymeis by en what poios authority exousia I do poieō these houtos things .
Read full chapterNET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
The Mounce Reverse Interlinear™ New Testament (MOUNCE)
Copyright © 2011 by William D. Mounce. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
“Reverse Interlinear” is a trademark of William D. Mounce.
