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Selected Verse: Matthew 21:23 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Mt 21:23	Strong Concordance	And [2532] when he [846] was come [2064] into [1519] the temple [2411], the chief priests [749] and [2532] the elders [4245] of the people [2992] came [4334] unto him [846] as he was teaching [1321], and said [3004], By [1722] what [4169] authority [1849] doest thou [4160] these things [5023]? and [2532] who [5101] gave [1325] thee [4671] this [5026] authority [1849]?
	King James	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?

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS QUESTIONED AND THE REPLY--THE PARABLES OF THE TWO SONS, AND OF THE WICKED HUSBANDMAN. ( = Mark 11:27-12:12; Luke 20:1-19). (Mat. 21:23-46) By what authority doest thou these things!--referring particularly to the expulsion of the buyers and sellers from the temple, and who gave thee this authority?

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS QUESTIONED AND THE REPLY--THE PARABLES OF THE TWO SONS, AND OF THE WICKED HUSBANDMAN. ( = Mark 11:27-12:12; Luke 20:1-19). (Mat. 21:23-46)

By what authority doest thou these things!--referring particularly to the expulsion of the buyers and sellers from the temple, and who gave thee this authority?

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
See also Mar 11:27-33; Luk 20:1-9. Mat 21:23 When he was come into the temple - That is, probably, into the inner court - the court of the Israelites. They took this opportunity of questioning him on this subject when he was not surrounded by the multitude. By what authority ... - There was a show of propriety in this question. He was making great changes in the affairs of the temple, and they claimed the right to know why this was done, contrary to their permission. He was not "a priest;" he had no civil or ecclesiastical authority as a Jew. It was sufficient authority, indeed, that he came as a prophet and worked miracles. But they professed not to be satisfied with that. These things - The things which he had just done, in overturning the seats of those that were engaged in traffic, Mat 21:12. Mat 21:24, Mat 21:25 And Jesus answered ... - Jesus was under no obligation to give them an answer. They well knew by what authority he did this. He had not concealed his power in working miracles, and had not kept back the knowledge that he was the Messiah. He therefore referred them to a similar case - that of John the Baptist. He knew the estimation in which John was held by the people, and he took the wise in their own craftiness. Whatever answer they gave, he knew they Would convict themselves, and so they saw when they looked at the question. They reasoned correctly. If they should say that John received authority to baptize from God or from heaven, he would directly ask why they did not believe him. They professed to hear all the prophets. If they said, "Of men," they would be in danger, for all the people believed that John was a prophet. The baptism of John - For an account of this, see Matt. 3. The word "baptism" here probably includes all his work. This was his principal employment; and hence he was called the Baptist, or the "Baptizer." But our Saviour's question refers "to his whole ministry." "The 'ministry of John' - his baptism, preaching, prophecies was it from God, or not?" If it was, then the inference was clear that Jesus was the Messiah, and then they might easily know by what authority he did those things. From heaven - By divine authority, or by the command of God. From men - By human authority. Mat 21:26 We fear the people - They feared that the people would stone them (Luke). Such an unpopular sentiment as to profess that all that "John" did was "imposture," would have probably ended in tumult, perhaps in their death. Mat 21:27 We cannot tell - This was a direct falsehood. They could have told; and the answer should have been, "We will not tell." There was no reason but that why they did not tell. The reason, probably, why they would not acknowledge that John was a prophet, was that, if they did, they saw he could easily show them by "what authority" he did those things; that is, by his authority as Messiah. John came as his forerunner, pointed him out to the people, baptized him, and bore his public and solemn testimony to the fact that he was the Messiah, Mat 3:13-15; Joh 1:29-34. If they acknowledged one, they must the other. In this way our Saviour was about to lead these crafty men to answer their own question, to their own confusion, about his authority. They saw this; and, having given them a "sufficient" answer, there was no need of stating anything further.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

See also Mar 11:27-33; Luk 20:1-9.

Mat 21:23

When he was come into the temple - That is, probably, into the inner court - the court of the Israelites.

They took this opportunity of questioning him on this subject when he was not surrounded by the multitude.

By what authority ... - There was a show of propriety in this question. He was making great changes in the affairs of the temple, and they claimed the right to know why this was done, contrary to their permission. He was not "a priest;" he had no civil or ecclesiastical authority as a Jew. It was sufficient authority, indeed, that he came as a prophet and worked miracles. But they professed not to be satisfied with that.

These things - The things which he had just done, in overturning the seats of those that were engaged in traffic, Mat 21:12.

Mat 21:24, Mat 21:25

And Jesus answered ... - Jesus was under no obligation to give them an answer.

They well knew by what authority he did this. He had not concealed his power in working miracles, and had not kept back the knowledge that he was the Messiah. He therefore referred them to a similar case - that of John the Baptist. He knew the estimation in which John was held by the people, and he took the wise in their own craftiness. Whatever answer they gave, he knew they Would convict themselves, and so they saw when they looked at the question. They reasoned correctly. If they should say that John received authority to baptize from God or from heaven, he would directly ask why they did not believe him. They professed to hear all the prophets. If they said, "Of men," they would be in danger, for all the people believed that John was a prophet.

The baptism of John - For an account of this, see Matt. 3. The word "baptism" here probably includes all his work. This was his principal employment; and hence he was called the Baptist, or the "Baptizer." But our Saviour's question refers "to his whole ministry." "The 'ministry of John' - his baptism, preaching, prophecies was it from God, or not?" If it was, then the inference was clear that Jesus was the Messiah, and then they might easily know by what authority he did those things.

From heaven - By divine authority, or by the command of God.

From men - By human authority.

Mat 21:26

We fear the people - They feared that the people would stone them (Luke). Such an unpopular sentiment as to profess that all that "John" did was "imposture," would have probably ended in tumult, perhaps in their death.

Mat 21:27

We cannot tell - This was a direct falsehood. They could have told; and the answer should have been, "We will not tell." There was no reason but that why they did not tell. The reason, probably, why they would not acknowledge that John was a prophet, was that, if they did, they saw he could easily show them by "what authority" he did those things; that is, by his authority as Messiah. John came as his forerunner, pointed him out to the people, baptized him, and bore his public and solemn testimony to the fact that he was the Messiah, Mat 3:13-15; Joh 1:29-34. If they acknowledged one, they must the other. In this way our Saviour was about to lead these crafty men to answer their own question, to their own confusion, about his authority. They saw this; and, having given them a "sufficient" answer, there was no need of stating anything further.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
When he was come into the temple, the chief priests came - Who thought he violated their right: and the elders of the people - Probably, members of the sanhedrim, to whom that title most properly belonged: which is the more probable, as they were the persons under whose cognizance the late action of Christ, in purging the temple, would naturally fall. These, with the chief priests, seem purposely to have appeared in a considerable company, to give the more weight to what they said, and if need were, to bear a united testimony against him. As he was teaching - Which also they supposed he had no authority to do, being neither priest, nor Levite, nor scribe. Some of the priests (though not as priests) and all the scribes were authorized teachers. By what authority dost thou these things - Publicly teach the people! And drive out those who had our commission to traffic in the outer court? Luk 20:1; Mar 11:27.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
By what authority doest thou these things? - The things which the chief priests allude to, were his receiving the acclamations of the people as the promised Messiah, his casting the traders out of the temple, and his teaching the people publicly in it. Who gave thee this authority? - Not them: for, like many of their successors, they were neither teachers nor cleansers; though they had the name and the profits of the place.

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²⁹ The next day [1887] John [2491] seeth [991] Jesus [2424] coming [2064] unto [4314] him [846], and [2532] saith [3004], Behold [2396] the Lamb [286] of God [2316], which [3588] taketh away [142] the sin [266] of the world [2889].
³⁰ This [3778] is he [2076] of [4012] whom [3739] I [1473] said [2036], After [3694] me [3450] cometh [2064] a man [435] which [3739] is preferred [1096] before [1715] me [3450]: for [3754] he was [2258] before [4413] me [3450].
³¹ And I [2504] knew [1492] him [846] not [3756]: but [235] that [2443] he should be made manifest [5319] to Israel [2474], therefore [1223] [5124] am [2064] I [1473] come [2064] baptizing [907] with [1722] water [5204].
³² And [2532] John [2491] bare record [3140], saying [3004], [3754] I saw [2300] the Spirit [4151] descending [2597] from [1537] heaven [3772] like [5616] a dove [4058], and [2532] it abode [3306] upon [1909] him [846].
³³ And I [2504] knew [1492] him [846] not [3756]: but [235] he that sent [3992] me [3165] to baptize [907] with [1722] water [5204], the same [1565] said [2036] unto me [3427], Upon [1909] whom [3739] [302] thou shalt see [1492] the Spirit [4151] descending [2597], and [2532] remaining [3306] on [1909] him [846], the same [3778] is [2076] he which baptizeth [907] with [1722] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151].
³⁴ And I [2504] saw [3708], and [2532] bare record [3140] that [3754] this [3778] is [2076] the Son [5207] of God [2316].

¹³ Then [5119] cometh [3854] Jesus [2424] from [575] Galilee [1056] to [1909] Jordan [2446] unto [4314] John [2491], to be baptized [907] of [5259] him [846].
¹⁴ But [1161] John [2491] forbad [1254] him, saying [3004], I [1473] have [2192] need [5532] to be baptized [907] of [5259] thee [4675], and [2532] comest [2064] thou [4771] to [4314] me [3165]?
¹⁵ And [1161] Jesus [2424] answering [611] said [2036] unto [4314] him [846], Suffer [863] it to be so now [737]: for [1063] thus [3779] it becometh [4241] [2076] us [2254] to fulfil [4137] all [3956] righteousness [1343]. Then [5119] he suffered [863] him [846].

²⁷ And [2532] they answered [611] Jesus [2424], and said [2036], We cannot [3756] tell [1492]. And [2532] he [846] said [5346] unto them [846], Neither [3761] tell [3004] I [1473] you [5213] by [1722] what [4169] authority [1849] I do [4160] these things [5023].

²⁶ But [1161] if [1437] we shall say [2036], Of [1537] men [444]; we fear [5399] the people [3793]; for [1063] all [3956] hold [2192] John [2491] as [5613] a prophet [4396].

²⁵ The baptism [908] of John [2491], whence [4159] was it [2258]? from [1537] heaven [3772], or [2228] of [1537] men [444]? And [1161] they reasoned [1260] with [3844] themselves [1438], saying [3004], If [1437] we shall say [2036], From [1537] heaven [3772]; he will say [2046] unto us [2254], Why [1302] did ye [4100] not [3756] then [3767] believe [4100] him [846]?

²⁴ And [1161] Jesus [2424] answered [611] and said [2036] unto them [846], I also [2504] will ask [2065] you [5209] one [1520] thing [3056], which [3739] if [1437] ye tell [2036] me [3427], I in like wise [2504] will tell [2046] you [5213] by [1722] what [4169] authority [1849] I do [4160] these things [5023].

¹² And [2532] Jesus [2424] went [1525] into [1519] the temple [2411] of God [2316], and [2532] cast out [1544] all them [3956] that sold [4453] and [2532] bought [59] in [1722] the temple [2411], and [2532] overthrew [2690] the tables [5132] of the moneychangers [2855], and [2532] the seats [2515] of them that sold [4453] doves [4058],

²³ And [2532] when he [846] was come [2064] into [1519] the temple [2411], the chief priests [749] and [2532] the elders [4245] of the people [2992] came [4334] unto him [846] as he was teaching [1321], and said [3004], By [1722] what [4169] authority [1849] doest thou [4160] these things [5023]? and [2532] who [5101] gave [1325] thee [4671] this [5026] authority [1849]?

¹ And [2532] it came to pass [1096], that on [1722] one [3391] of those [1565] days [2250], as he [846] taught [1321] the people [2992] in [1722] the temple [2411], and [2532] preached the gospel [2097], the chief priests [749] and [2532] the scribes [1122] came upon [2186] him with [4862] the elders [4245],
² And [2532] spake [2036] unto [4314] him [846], saying [3004], Tell [2036] us [2254], by [1722] what [4169] authority [1849] doest thou [4160] these things [5023]? or [2228] who [5101] is he [2076] that gave [1325] thee [4671] this [5026] authority [1849]?
³ And [1161] he answered [611] and said [2036] unto [4314] them [846], I [2504] will [2065] also [2504] ask [2065] you [5209] one [1520] thing [3056]; and [2532] answer [2036] me [3427]:
⁴ The baptism [908] of John [2491], was it [2258] from [1537] heaven [3772], or [2228] of [1537] men [444]?
⁵ And [1161] they reasoned [4817] with [4314] themselves [1438], saying [3004], [3754] If [1437] we shall say [2036], From [1537] heaven [3772]; he will say [2046], Why [1302] then [3767] believed ye [4100] him [846] not [3756]?
⁶ But and [1161] if [1437] we say [2036], Of [1537] men [444]; all [3956] the people [2992] will stone [2642] us [2248]: for [1063] they be [2076] persuaded [3982] that John [2491] was [1511] a prophet [4396].
⁷ And [2532] they answered [611], that they could [1492] not [3361] tell [1492] whence [4159] it was.
⁸ And [2532] Jesus [2424] said [2036] unto them [846], Neither [3761] tell [3004] I [1473] you [5213] by [1722] what [4169] authority [1849] I do [4160] these things [5023].
⁹ Then [1161] began he [756] to speak [3004] to [4314] the people [2992] this [5026] parable [3850]; A certain [5100] man [444] planted [5452] a vineyard [290], and [2532] let [1554] it [846] forth [1554] to husbandmen [1092], and [2532] went into a far country [589] for a long [2425] time [5550].

²⁷ And [2532] they come [2064] again [3825] to [1519] Jerusalem [2414]: and [2532] as he [846] was walking [4043] in [1722] the temple [2411], there come [2064] to [4314] him [846] the chief priests [749], and [2532] the scribes [1122], and [2532] the elders [4245],
²⁸ And [2532] say [3004] unto him [846], By [1722] what [4169] authority [1849] doest thou [4160] these things [5023]? and [2532] who [5101] gave [1325] thee [4671] this [5026] authority [1849] to [2443] do [4160] these things [5023]?
²⁹ And [1161] Jesus [2424] answered [611] and said [2036] unto them [846], I will [1905] also [2504] ask [1905] of you [5209] one [1520] question [3056], and [2532] answer [611] me [3427], and [2532] I will tell [2046] you [5213] by [1722] what [4169] authority [1849] I do [4160] these things [5023].
³⁰ The baptism [908] of John [2491], was [2258] it from [1537] heaven [3772], or [2228] of [1537] men [444]? answer [611] me [3427].
³¹ And [2532] they reasoned [3049] with [4314] themselves [1438], saying [3004], If [1437] we shall say [2036], From [1537] heaven [3772]; he will say [2046], Why [1302] then [3767] did ye [4100] not [3756] believe [4100] him [846]?
³² But [235] if [1437] we shall say [2036], Of [1537] men [444]; they feared [5399] the people [2992]: for [1063] all [537] men counted [2192] John [2491], that [3754] he was [2258] a prophet [4396] indeed [3689].
³³ And [2532] they answered [611] and said [3004] unto Jesus [2424], We [1492] cannot [3756] tell [1492]. And [2532] Jesus [2424] answering [611] saith [3004] unto them [846], Neither [3761] do I [1473] tell [3004] you [5213] by [1722] what [4169] authority [1849] I do [4160] these things [5023].