God’s Word Translation
Matthew 21:24
24Jesus answered them, “I, too, have a question for you. If you answer it for me, I’ll tell you why I have the right to do these things.
Matthew 21:24 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Jesus 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things:
Context of Matthew 21:24
22Have faith that you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” 23Then Jesus went into the temple courtyard and began to teach. The chief priests and the leaders of the people came to him. They asked, “What gives you the right to do these things? Who told you that you could do this?” Jesus answered them, “I, too, have a question for you. If you answer it for me, I’ll tell you why I have the right to do these things. 25Did John’s right to baptize come from heaven or from humans?” They discussed this among themselves. They said, “If we say, ‘from heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘from humans,’ we’re afraid of what the crowd might do. All those people think of John as a prophet.”
Read all of Matthew 21Matthew 21:24 word by word
Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· ἐρωτήσω ὑμᾶς κἀγὼ λόγον ἕνα, ὃν ἐὰν εἴπητέ μοι κἀγὼ ὑμῖν ἐρῶ ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιῶ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- Jesusὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
- and saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- I alsoκἀγώkagō kamoi kame · and IG2504
- will askἐρωτάωerōtaō · to askG2065
- youσύsu · youG4771
- oneεἷςheis · oneG1520
- thingλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- ifἐάνean · ifG1437
- meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- will tellἐρῶereō · to sayG2046
- byἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- whatποῖοςpoios · what?G4169
- authorityἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
- I doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
Cross-references for Matthew 21:24
- Matthew 10:16“I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves.
- Proverbs 26:4Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity, or you will be like him.
- Luke 6:9Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you—what is the right thing to do on a day of rest—a holy day: to do good or evil, to give a person his health or to destroy it?”
- Colossians 4:6Everything you say should be kind and well thought out so that you know how to answer everyone.
Commentaries on Matthew 21:24
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24I also will ask you one thing - Our Lord was certainly under no obligation to answer their question: he had already given them such proofs of his Divine mission as could not possibly be exceeded, in the miracles which he wrought before their eyes, and before all Judea; and, as they would not credit him on this evidence, it would have been in vain to have expected their acknowledgment of him on any profession he would make.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. 24Jesus gave a riddle. The answer solved the leaders’ question and placed them in a dilemma that showed what was in their hearts (Matthew 21:25–26). Asking a counter-question was common in debates at that time.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, &c.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 21:24
In the dictionaries
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
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