Matthew 21:25

Matthew 21:25 in other versions

• King James Version (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?
• New International Version (NIV)John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
• English Standard Version (ESV)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?'
• New King James Version (NKJV)The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

Context of Matthew 21:25

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: 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? 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.

Matthew 21:25 word by word

τὸ βάπτισμα τὸ Ἰωάννου πόθεν ἦν; ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἢ ἐξ ἀνθρώπων;¶ Οἱ δὲ διελογίζοντο ἐν ἑαυτοῖς λέγοντες· ἐὰν εἴπωμεν· ἐξ οὐρανοῦ, ἐρεῖ ἡμῖν· διὰ τί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ;Read the interlinear

• baptismβάπτισμαbaptisma · baptismG908
• JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• reasonedδιαλογίζομαιdialogizomai · to discussG1260
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• believedπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100

Cross-references for Matthew 21:25

• Matthew 3:1Now in those days comes John the baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
• Matthew 11:7But as they went [away], Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed moved about by the wind?
• Matthew 17:12But I say unto you that Elias has already come, and they have not known him, but have done unto him whatever they would. Thus also the Son of man is about to suffer from them.
• Mark 1:1Beginning of the glad tidings of Jesus Christ, Son of God;
• Mark 11:27And they come again to Jerusalem. And as he walked about in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders come to him,
• Luke 1:11And an angel of [the] Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the altar of incense.
• Luke 3:2in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, [the] word of God came upon John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
• Luke 7:28for I say unto you, Among them that are born of women a greater [prophet] is no one than John [the baptist]; but he who is a little one in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
• John 1:6There was a man sent from God, his name John.
• John 3:26And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, he baptises, and all come to him.
• Luke 20:5And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why have ye not believed him?
• John 3:18He that believes on him is not judged: but he that believes not has been already judged, because he has not believed on the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
• John 5:33Ye have sent unto John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
• John 10:25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye do not believe. The works which I do in my Father's name, these bear witness concerning me:
• John 12:37But though he had done so many signs before them, they believed not on him,
• 1 John 3:20that if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

Commentaries on Matthew 21:25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25The baptism of John - Had John a Divine commission or not, for his baptism and preaching? Our Lord here takes the wise in their own cunning. He knew the estimation John was in among the people; and he plainly saw that, if they gave any answer at all, they must convict themselves: and so they saw, when they came to examine the question. See Matthew 21:25, Matthew 21:26.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23-27Verses 23-27 See also Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-9. Matthew 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-27Verses 23-27 As our Lord now openly appeared as the Messiah, the chief priests and scribes were much offended, especially because he exposed and removed the abuses they encouraged. Our Lord asked what they thought of John's ministry and baptism. Many are more afraid of the shame of lying than of the sin, and therefore scruple not to speak what they know to be false, as to their own thoughts, affections, and intentions, or their remembering and forgetting…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25The minsitry of John, like the ministry of Jesus, was controversial (see Matthew 3:1, 5–6). This was true especially after John publicly criticized Herod Antipas for his sins (see 14:4). The Jewish leaders did not want to admit that John's work was from God. They had refused to believe John and repent of their sins (3:2). They also refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:29–34).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. The baptism of John--meaning his whole mission and ministry, of which baptism was the proper character. whence was it? from heaven, or of men?--What wisdom there was in this way of meeting their question will best appear by their reply. If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?--"Why did ye not believe the testimony which he bore to Me, as the promised and expected Messiah?" for that was the burden of John's…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 21:25

• Baptism
• Falsehood

In the dictionaries

• Authority
• Daughter
• Grind
• Loose
• Move
• Presently
• Reverence
• Seat
• Thief
• Authority in Religion

Commentaries on Matthew 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings