Knowing The Word in Matthew 21:23-27

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

[Jesus is teaching in the Court of the Gentiles, which he has just cleaned out, but we learn nothing of his teaching but of his deepening confrontation with the religious authorities.]

23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people [members of the Sanhedrin] came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. [This is an approved Rabbinic method of debate using a counter-question.] 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. [Failing to provide an official declaration on John, they forfeited the right to continue debating publicly with Jesus.]