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?’
• 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?’
• New Living Translation (NLT)“Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John.

Context of Matthew 21:25

23And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" 24Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 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?' 26But if we say, 'From man,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet." 27So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• The baptismβάπτισμαbaptisma · baptismG908
• of JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• whenceπόθενpothen · whenceG4159
• was itεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• orἤē · orG2228
• menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• they reasonedδιαλογίζομαιdialogizomai · to discussG1260
• withπαράpara · from/with/besideG3844
• themselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• we shall sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• he will sayἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
• unto usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• ·διάdia · through/because ofG1223
• Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• did yeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Matthew 21:25

• Matthew 3:1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
• Matthew 11:7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
• Matthew 17:12But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands."
• Mark 1:1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
• Mark 11:27And they came again to Jerusalem. And as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him,
• Luke 1:11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
• Luke 3:2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness.
• Luke 7:28I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
• John 1:6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
• John 3:26And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him."
• Luke 20:5And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'
• John 3:18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
• John 5:33You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.
• John 10:25Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me,
• John 12:37Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,
• 1 John 3:20for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

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