Psalm 78

A maskil^[a] of Asaph.

Joshua to Succeed Moses

¹² Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up this mountain^(A) in the Abarim Range^(B) and see the land^(C) I have given the Israelites.^{(D) 13} After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people,^(E) as your brother Aaron^(F) was, ¹⁴ for when the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin,^(G) both of you disobeyed my command to honor me as holy^(H) before their eyes.” (These were the waters of Meribah^(I) Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)

The Authority of Jesus Questioned^(A)

²⁷ They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. ²⁸ “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

²⁹ Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. ³⁰ John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!”

³¹ They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ ³² But if we say, ‘Of human origin’ …” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)^(B)

³³ So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”

Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”