Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged

²³ And when he had come into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching, and said, By what authority do you do these things? and who gave you this authority?

²⁴ And Jesus said to them in answer, I will put one question to you, and if you give me the answer, I will say by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ The baptism of John, where did it come from? from heaven or from men? And they were reasoning among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did you not have faith in him? ²⁶ But if we say, From men; we are in fear of the people, because all take John to be a prophet. ²⁷ And they made answer and said, We have no idea. Then he said to them, And I will not say to you by what authority I do these things.

²⁷ And they came again to Jerusalem: and while he was walking in the Temple, there came to him the chief priests and the scribes and those in authority: ²⁸ And they said to him, By what authority do you do these things? or who gave you authority to do these things?

²⁹ And Jesus said to them, I will put to you one question; give me an answer, and I will say by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ The baptism of John, was it from heaven or from men? give me an answer.

³¹ And they gave thought to it among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not have faith in him? ³² But if we say, From men--they were in fear of the people, because all took John to be truly a prophet. ³³ And they said in answer to Jesus, We have no idea. And Jesus said to them, And I will not say to you by what authority I do these things.

¹ And it came about on one of those days, when he was teaching the people in the Temple and preaching the good news, ² That the chief priests and the scribes and the rulers of the people came to him and said, Make clear to us by what authority you do these things and who gave you this authority.

³ And in answer he said to them, I will put a question to you, and do you give me an answer: ⁴ The baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men?

⁵ And they said among themselves, If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why did you not have faith in him? ⁶ But if we say, Of men; we will be stoned by the people, for they are certain that John was a prophet.

⁷ And they made answer that they had no idea where it came from.

⁸ And Jesus said, And I will not make clear to you by what authority I do these things.