Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged

²³ When he had entered the Temple, and was teaching, the high priests and the elders of the people came up to him, and said, "What authority have you for doing as you do, and who gave you this authority?"

²⁴ Jesus answered, "Let me ask you one question, and if you answer it, I will tell you what authority I have for doing as I do. ²⁵ Where did John's baptism come from? Was it from heaven, or from men?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'It was from heaven,' he will say to us, 'Then why did you not believe him?' ²⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' we have the people to fear, for they all consider John a prophet." ²⁷ And they answered Jesus, "We do not know." He said to them, "Nor will I tell you what authority I have for doing as I do.

²⁷ Then they went into Jerusalem again. And as Jesus was walking about in the Temple, the high priests, scribes, and elders came up ²⁸ and said to him, "What authority have you for doing as you do? And who gave you a right to do as you are doing?"

²⁹ Jesus said to them, "Let me ask you one question, and if you answer me, I will tell you what authority I have for doing as I do. ³⁰ Was John's baptism from heaven or from men? Answer me."

³¹ And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'It was from heaven,' he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' ³² Yet can we say, 'It was from men'?" For they were afraid of the people, because all the people thought John was really a prophet. ³³ So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus said to them, "Nor will I tell you what authority I have for doing as I do."

¹ One day as he was teaching the people in the Temple, and preaching the good news, the high priests and scribes came up with the elders ² and said to him, "Tell us what authority you have for doing as you do, or who gave you any such authority?"

³ He said to them, "I will ask you a question too. ⁴ Tell me, did John's baptism come from heaven or from men?"

⁵ And they argued with one another, and said, "If we say 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' ⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet."

⁷ So they answered that they did not know where it came from.

⁸ And Jesus said to them, "Nor will I tell you what authority I have for doing as I do."