Matthew 21:25
23 When 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.
What 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?’
26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”
27 So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- What 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?’
- KJV
- The 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?
- WEB
- 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?’
- ASV
- The 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?
- DARBY
- The 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?
- BLB
- From where was the baptism of John? From heaven or from men?” And they were reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you⁺ not believe him?’
- ÅB
- Hvor kom Johannes' dåp fra? Var den fra himmelen eller fra mennesker?» Da tenkte de med seg selv: «Sier vi ‘Fra himmelen’, så vil han si ‘Hvorfor trodde dere ham ikke da?’
- OTB
- Johannes’ dåp, hvor var den fra? Fra himmelen eller fra mennesker?” De diskuterte det seg imellom og sa: “Hvis vi sier: ‘Fra himmelen,’ vil han spørre: ‘Hvorfor trodde dere ham da ikke?’
- B1930
- Johannes' dåp, hvorfra var den? fra himmelen eller fra mennesker? Da tenkte de ved sig selv og sa: Sier vi: Fra himmelen, da sier han til oss: Hvorfor trodde I ham da ikke?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 John 3:20
Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.
Read in contextMark 1:1–11
This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Read in contextJohn 10:25–26
“I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf.
Read in contextLuke 20:5
They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
Read in contextJohn 3:18
Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
Read in contextMatthew 3:1–12
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea
Read in contextJohn 1:15
John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”
Read in contextJohn 12:37–43
Although Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still did not believe in Him.
Read in context