Matthew 21:23-27 · Bible study

Matthew 21:23-27 Commentary: Jesus' Authority and the Leaders' Trap

Greek · 10 what the commentators say

Meaning in one sentence

Jesus' authority challenged by temple leaders; his counter-question about John's baptism exposes their unbelief and their fear of the people.

Research Summary

Meaning: Jesus' divine authority is confirmed through a wise counter-question that exposes the leaders' unbelief and fear of the crowd.
Key words: ἐξουσία (authority/power); βάπτισμα (baptism, representing John's whole ministry); λόγον ἕνα (one word/matter, Jesus' single counter-question).
Main debate: Some ask whether Jesus' response was evasive; the overwhelming consensus among commentators is that it was perfectly wise, forcing the leaders to condemn themselves.
Theological theme: Divine authority versus human authority; the fear of God versus the fear of people; the way unbelief refuses to see what God is doing.
Best use: A model for handling opposition with wisdom, and a warning against letting concern for reputation block hearing God's truth.

Translation Comparison

BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020

²³When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”

²⁴“I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

²⁵What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

²⁶But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”

²⁷So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

WEB World English Bible 2000

²³When 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?”

²⁴Jesus 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.

²⁵The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

²⁶But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”

²⁷They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

KJV King James Version 1769

²³And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

²⁴And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁵The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

²⁶But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

²⁷And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

ASV American Standard Version 1901

²⁴And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁵The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?

²⁶But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.

²⁷And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898

²³And he having come to the temple, there came to him when teaching the chief priests and the elders of the people, saying, `By what authority dost thou do these things? and who gave thee this authority?'

²⁴And Jesus answering said to them, `I will ask you--I also--one word, which if ye may tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things;

²⁵the baptism of John, whence was it? --from heaven, or from men?' And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, `If we should say, From heaven; he will say to us, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?

²⁶and if we should say, From men, we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.'

²⁷And answering Jesus they said, `We have not known.' He said to them--he also--`Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Darby Darby Bible 1890

²³And when he came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him [as he was] teaching, saying, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

²⁴And Jesus answering said to them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things:

²⁵The baptism of John, whence was it? of heaven or of men? And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say to us, Why then have ye not believed him?

²⁶but if we should say, Of men, we fear the crowd, for all hold John for a prophet.

²⁷And answering Jesus they said, We do not know. He also said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899

²³And when he was come into the temple, there came to him, as he was teaching, the chief priests and ancients of the people, saying: By what authority dost thou these things? And who hath given thee this authority?

²⁴Jesus answering, said to them: I also will ask you one word, which if you shall tell me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁵The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men? But they thought within themselves, saying:

²⁶If we shall say, from heaven, he will say to us: Why then did you not believe him? But if we shall say, from men, we are afraid of the multitude: for all held John as a prophet.

²⁷And answering Jesus, they said: We know not. He also said to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Verse in Context

21 Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you told this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it would be done.

22 All things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

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 men?” 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 men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”

27 They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

28 But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’

29 He answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind, and went.

Original Language (Koine Greek)

New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 21:23

Καὶ Kai G2532 And

ἐλθόντος elthontos G2064 when was coming

αὐτοῦ autou G0846 He

εἰς eis G1519 into

τὸ to G3588 the

ἱερὸν hi'eron G2411 temple

προσῆλθον prosēlthon G4334 came

αὐτῷ autō G0846 to Him

διδάσκοντι didaskonti G1321 teaching

οἱ hoi G3588 the

ἀρχιερεῖς archiereis G0749 chief priests

καὶ kai G2532 and

οἱ hoi G3588 the

πρεσβύτεροι presbuteroi G4245 elders

τοῦ tou G3588 of the

λαοῦ laou G2992 people

λέγοντες· legontes G3004 saying;

ἐν en G1722 By

ποίᾳ poia G4169 what

ἐξουσίᾳ exousia G1849 authority

ταῦτα tauta G3778 these things

ποιεῖς poieis G4160 are You doing

καὶ kai G2532 And

τίς tis G5101 who

σοι soi G4771 to You

ἔδωκεν edōken G1325 gave

τὴν tēn G3588 <the>

ἐξουσίαν exousian G1849 authority

ταύτην;¶ tautēn G3778 this?

Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.

Scholars' Consensus

Commentators across traditions agree on the main contours of this exchange. The chief priests and elders, as Matthew Henry notes, held authority in both religious and civil courts, yet they used it to oppose the Messiah rather than welcome him. Their question "By what authority do you do these things?" was a direct challenge to Jesus after his temple cleansing and public teaching. Calvin observes they were not seeking truth but trying to trap Jesus. Jesus, however, had already given ample proof of his divine commission through miracles (Barnes, Clarke). Instead of answering directly, he asked about the baptism of John, a counter-question that forced them into a difficult position. Wesley explains that if they admitted John’s mission was from heaven, they had to accept John’s testimony that Jesus was the Messiah. If they said John was from men, they feared the people who held John as a prophet. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown call them "crooked, cringing hypocrites." Their refusal to answer, "We do not know", exposed that their real concern was not truth but power and public opinion. Jesus then refused to answer them, not out of ignorance, but because they had already rejected the clear testimony of John and his own works.

How settled is the interpretation?

Interpretive difficulty: Low

What is clear: Jesus exposed the leaders' hypocrisy and confirmed that his authority is connected to John's divine mission, which they had already rejected.

What Scholars Agree and Debate

Topic	Agreed	Debated
Jesus' authority	All Christians affirm that Jesus' authority comes from God and is demonstrated in his miracles, teaching, and resurrection.	Some traditions emphasize the episcopal or presbyteral transmission of authority in the Church, while others stress the direct calling of Christ through Scripture and the Spirit. Both agree Jesus' authority is ultimate.
John's role as a prophet	Christians across traditions accept that John the Baptist was sent by God as the forerunner of the Messiah (Malachi 3:1, Mark 1:2-3).	There is agreement that the leaders' rejection of John was sinful. The debate lies in whether their failure was primarily intellectual (not recognizing the signs) or moral (hardening their hearts). Commentators generally say moral.
Jesus' refusal to answer	Jesus was not obligated to answer those who had already rejected clear evidence (Barnes, Calvin). His silence was not ignorance but judgment.	Some ask whether Jesus violated a principle of giving a reason for faith; others argue that prudence dictates knowing when to speak and when to be silent. Both positions find support in Scripture (1 Peter 3:15 vs. Matthew 7:6).

Historical & Cultural Context

This scene takes place in the temple courts (hieron) in Jerusalem, likely in the Court of the Israelites or one of the colonnades where teachers gathered. Jesus had just cleared the temple of merchants (Matthew 21:12-13), an act that asserted divine authority over the temple system. The chief priests (archiereis) and elders of the people (presbuteroi tou laou) approached him as he was teaching, acting as a recognized rabbi, but without formal ordination from the Sanhedrin.

Under Jewish tradition (as Poole’s background notes), no one could teach in the temple unless authorized by the chief priests and elders. This made their question seem proper: they were asking, in effect, for Jesus to produce his ordination credentials. But the question was a trap. They knew of his miracles and his impact on the crowd.

The reference to "the baptism of John" recalls a figure still vivid in public memory. John had baptized many in the Jordan only a few years prior, preaching repentance and announcing the coming Messiah. Jesus’ question, whether John’s ministry originated "from heaven" or "from men", drew on the widely held belief that John was a prophet. The leaders feared the multitude (ochlos), who regarded John as a true prophet. Luke 19:47 records that the leaders sought to destroy Jesus but could not because the people were "hung upon him, hearing him." So the dilemma was not just a clever debating tactic, it reflected the real tension between the leaders' hostility toward Jesus and their fear of losing popular support.

The imperfect verb dielogizonto ("they were reasoning") shows their internal deliberation: they weighed options, but faith in God was not among them. Their answer, ouk oidamen ("we do not know"), was a lie; they knew John was from God, but they refused to acknowledge it.

Textual Notes

None of the supplied commentary sources mention any significant textual variants for Matthew 21:23-27. The passage is well-attested across manuscript traditions with only minor scribal differences (e.g., the presence or absence of the conjunction kai in some witnesses). The core meaning is unaffected.

Reception History

Throughout church history, this passage has been read as a key example of Christ's superior wisdom in debate. Early Christian writers like Origen and Chrysostom admired how Jesus escaped a trap while revealing the leaders' hypocrisy. During the Reformation, Calvin and the Geneva Notes used it to criticize religious authorities who opposed the gospel while claiming to represent God. In modern times, the text has been used to encourage believers who face challenges to their faith from institutional power: it reminds us that the truth of Christ does not need human credentials, and that God can expose the falsehood of his opponents. The passage is also frequently cited in studies of how Jesus handled controversy, offering a model of gentle but clear confrontation.

Preaching This Verse

Three-point outline

The Challenge: The chief priests and elders question Jesus' authority. They demand to know by what right he cleansed the temple and taught the people.
The Wisdom of the Counter-Question: Jesus answers by asking about John's baptism. This turns the tables, forcing the leaders to reveal their true allegiance. They must choose between acknowledging God's messenger and protecting their own position.
The Exposure: Caught between truth and self-interest, the leaders claim ignorance. Their refusal to answer Jesus shows that their hearts are closed to God's work. Jesus then declines to answer them, confirming that those who reject the light are left in darkness.

Five-point outline

The Temple Setting: Jesus teaching in the temple, after clearing it of merchants and healing the blind and lame (Matthew 21:14). The atmosphere is charged with anticipation.
The Delegation: Chief priests and elders, the highest religious authority, approach him as a group, adding weight to their challenge.
The Question: "By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?" A demand for Jesus' credentials.
The Counter-Question: Jesus asks about the source of John's baptism. The leaders' internal reasoning reveals their fear of the people and their unwillingness to accept John's testimony.
The Stalemate: The leaders answer, "We don't know." Jesus responds, "Neither will I tell you." The exchange ends with the leaders exposed as men who care more about public opinion than truth.

Illustration hooks

The skilful cross-examiner: Imagine a courtroom where a witness tries to discredit the prosecutor. The prosecutor asks a simple question that exposes the witness's own bias. The leaders came to trap Jesus, but he turned their question back on them.
The teacher who catches the cheating student: A student asks the teacher a tricky question hoping to show the teacher's flaw. The teacher responds with a question that reveals the student's own lack of preparation. The leaders thought they were clever, but Jesus exposed their unbelief.

Questions your congregation is asking

Why didn't Jesus just tell them plainly that his authority came from God? Could this exchange be seen as evasive?
Are we ever like these leaders, fearing what people will think more than we fear God?
How do we know when to engage with those who challenge our faith and when to stay silent, as Jesus did?

Leading a Discussion

This passage shows a confrontation between Jesus and the religious authorities of his day. The leaders ask a question designed to trap him; Jesus answers with a question that reveals the state of their hearts. It's a lesson in discerning true authority and the danger of letting fear shape our responses to God.

Discussion questions

What had Jesus done that prompted the chief priests and elders to question his authority? (Review Matthew 21:12-16.)
Why do you think the leaders asked both "by what authority" and "who gave you this authority"? What difference between human and divine authority does their question imply?
Jesus answered their question with a question about John's baptism. Why was this a wise response? What did it force the leaders to consider?
The leaders reasoned among themselves (verse 25). What were their options, and why did each one worry them? What does this reveal about their priorities?
They answered, "We don't know." Was that a truthful answer? Why or why not? What does Jesus' refusal to answer teach us about dealing with those who harden their hearts?
How does this passage encourage us to examine our own motives when we question God's work or his servants?
In what situations today might we be tempted to let fear of others keep us from acknowledging what we know to be true about Jesus?

What the Commentators Say

9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.

Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826

Clarke observes that when the priests said “We cannot tell,” they actually meant “We will not tell”—acknowledging John’s divine commission would force them to accept Jesus. He sees their pretended ignorance as willful lying, and notes that God sometimes punishes such hypocrisy by giving people the very ignorance they falsely claim.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832

Barnes highlights that Jesus refused to give the religious leaders a direct answer about his authority because they already knew it from his miracles. Instead, Jesus used their own craftiness against them by asking about John's baptism, forcing them into a dilemma where any truthful answer would condemn them. Their reply "We cannot tell" was a direct falsehood, born of fear rather than ignorance.

Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564

Calvin sees the priests' question as a dishonest evasion, not a sincere search for truth. They had already seen ample miracles and heard John the Baptist clearly identify Jesus as the Messiah, yet they pretended ignorance. Their real aim was to discredit his authority, not to learn where it came from.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880

The Cambridge Bible notes that the elders' two questions are not the same: they ask Jesus what kind of authority he claims and who gave it to him. Jesus' counter-question about John's baptism traps them three ways, since answering "from heaven" admits his own authority while "from men" risks popular anger, and silence abandons their role as spiritual leaders.

Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599

The note highlights how the religious leaders were trapped by their own fear of the people and their refusal to acknowledge John’s divine commission. Their dishonest answer exposes their hypocrisy, and Jesus consequently withholds His answer, showing that they have no true authority to question Him.

Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748

Gill highlights the Sanhedrin's calculated dilemma: admitting John's divine authority would convict them of rejecting his testimony about Jesus, while denying it would risk the crowd's anger. Their false answer "we cannot tell" was a deliberate evasion, not genuine ignorance.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871

JFB highlights the shrewd wisdom in Jesus' counter-question about John's baptism. The leaders are exposed as crooked hypocrites who care nothing for truth, only for how their answer will affect their reputation and determination to reject Christ. Jesus' reply shows perfect composure, revealing their hypocrisy while closing their mouths.

Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710

Henry notes the tragedy: the very leaders of church and state, who should have welcomed the Messiah, joined forces to oppose him. Christ was not a contentious man, but was striven with, like Jeremiah. His point is that those charged with guiding God's people became the chief obstacle to his kingdom.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754

Wesley observes that the religious leaders challenged Jesus not only for purging the temple but for teaching publicly without priestly or scribal credentials. He notes that Jesus' counter-question about John's baptism exposed their dilemma: admitting it was from heaven would force them to accept John's testimony that Jesus is the Christ.

Word Study

The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.

ἀρχιερεύς archiereus high-priest G0749 · Greek → αὐτός autos it/s/he G0846 · Greek → διδάσκω didaskō to teach G1321 · Greek → δίδωμι didōmi to give G1325 · Greek → εἰς eis toward G1519 · Greek → ἐν en in/on/among G1722 · Greek → ἐξουσία exousia authority G1849 · Greek → ἔρχομαι erchomai to come/go G2064 · Greek → ἱερόν hieros temple G2411 · Greek → καί kai and G2532 · Greek → λαός laos a people G2992 · Greek → λέγω legō to say G3004 · Greek → ὁ ho the/this/who G3588 · Greek → οὗτος ohutos this/he/she/it G3778 · Greek → ποιέω poieō to do/make: do G4160 · Greek → ποῖος poios what? G4169 · Greek → πρεσβύτερος presbuteros elder: Elder G4245 · Greek → προσέρχομαι proserchomai to come near/agree G4334 · Greek → σύ su you G4771 · Greek → τίς tis which? G5101 · Greek →

Cross-References

Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)

Exodus 2:14	He said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely this thing is known.”
I Chronicles 24:1	These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
I Chronicles 24:19	This was their ordering in their service, to come into Yahweh’s house according to the ordinance given to them by Aaron their father, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
Matthew 26:55	In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to seize me? I sat daily in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me.
Mark 11:27	They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him,
Mark 11:33	They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
Luke 19:47	He was teaching daily in the temple, but the chief priests, the scribes, and the leading men among the people sought to destroy him.
Luke 20:8	Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.

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