23 And 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? 24 And 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. 25 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? 26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. (Matthew 21:23-27 KJV)
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
Our Lord Jesus preached his gospel with much contention. His first appearance was in a dispute with the doctors in the temple at twelve years old, and here, just before his death, he was again engaged in controversy. The chief priests and elders, the judges of two distinct courts, joined to attack him, hoping to find or make him guilty. The very leaders who should have promoted the Messiah’s kingdom were its greatest opponents. They disturbed him while he was preaching (Mt 21:23), refusing to receive his teaching and preventing others from doing so.
As soon as he entered Jerusalem, he went to the temple, despite being affronted there the day before and knowing he was in danger. He sought to do good to souls rather than prioritize his physical needs. Though he came hungry and was disappointed at the barren fig tree, he went straight to the temple, valuing God’s word above food.
In the temple, he was teaching, fulfilling Isaiah 2:3. He had called it a house of prayer (Mt 21:13), yet he also preached there, for prayer and preaching must go together in Christian assemblies. Ministers must dedicate themselves to both the word and prayer (Acts 6:4). The priests had once taught the knowledge of the Lord there, but never had they seen a teacher like Christ.
While he was teaching, the priests and elders confronted him, demanding to know by what authority he acted. Satan sought to hinder his work. A faithful minister is troubled when taken away from preaching by unnecessary disputes. Yet good came from this challenge, as Christ silenced his adversaries and satisfied his followers. His opponents sought to discredit him, questioning his right to receive hosannas, control the temple, and preach a new doctrine. They asked whether his authority came from Caesar, the high priest, or God. Their intent was to ensnare him. If he remained silent, they would condemn him as a usurper. If he claimed divine authority, they would accuse him of blasphemy.
Christ responded with a question of his own (Mt 21:24-25): “Was John’s baptism from heaven or of men?” This was not an evasion but a method of leading them to the answer. If they acknowledged John’s baptism as divine, they would have to accept Christ, for John testified of him (John 3:2). If they denied John’s authority, they would face the wrath of the people, who held him as a prophet. Gamaliel later used this same reasoning (Acts 5:38-39). This question forced them to reveal their hypocrisy.
The priests and elders debated among themselves, prioritizing their reputation and safety over the truth. If they admitted John’s baptism was from heaven, Christ would ask why they had not believed him. Their rejection of John’s baptism was a rejection of God’s counsel (Lu 7:30). They feared the people, who esteemed John more than they did. Their government was weak, and they had lost credibility (Mal 2:8-9). Those who misuse power often fear the very people they oppress. The common people, though despised by the rulers (John 7:49), recognized the truth of John’s message.
Unable to answer without incriminating themselves, they replied, “We cannot tell.” This was a lie, for they knew John’s baptism was from God. Many fear the shame of lying more than the sin itself and deny truths they know inwardly. By refusing to answer, they forfeited their right to an answer from Christ: “Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things” (Mt 21:27). If they rejected John’s testimony, they were not fit to receive further revelation. Those who suppress known truth in unrighteousness are justly denied greater truth (Ro 1:18-19). Those unwilling to see shall remain blind.