Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged

²³ When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?"

²⁴ Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from man?" They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ²⁶ But if we say, 'From man,' we fear the crowd, for all hold John as a prophet." ²⁷ They answered Jesus, and said, "We do not know." He also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁷ They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders came to him, ²⁸ and they began saying to him, "By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority to do these things?"

²⁹ Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ The baptism of John?was it from heaven, or from man? Answer me."

³¹ They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ³² If we should say, 'From man'"?they feared the crowd, for all held John to really be a prophet. ³³ They answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things."

¹ It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the Good News, that the chief priests and scribes came to him with the elders. ² They asked him, "Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?"

³ He answered them, "I also will ask you one question. Tell me: ⁴ the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from man?"

⁵ They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' ⁶ But if we say, 'From man,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

⁷ They answered that they did not know where it was from.

⁸ Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."