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

23When He entered the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” 24But Jesus responded and said to them, “I will also ask you one question, which, if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John was from what source: from heaven or from men?” And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.” 27And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” He also said to them, “Neither am I telling 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

• The baptismβάπτισμαbaptisma · baptismG908
• of JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• was from whatπόθενpothen · whenceG4159
• from heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• orἤē · orG2228
• from menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• consideringδιαλογίζομαιdialogizomai · to discussG1260
• amongἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• themselvesἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• we sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• to us, ‘Thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• whyδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• whyτίςtis · which?G5101
• did you not believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100

Cross-references for Matthew 21:25

• Matthew 3:1Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
• Matthew 11:7As these disciples of John were going away, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
• Matthew 17:12but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. So also the Son of Man is going to 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 area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him,
• Luke 1:11Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
• Luke 3:2in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.
• Luke 7:28I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
• John 1:6A man came, one sent from God, and his name was John.
• John 3:26And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.”
• Luke 20:5They discussed among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
• John 3:18The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
• John 5:33You have sent messengers to John, and he has testified 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, these testify of Me.
• John 12:37But though He had performed so many signs in their sight, they still were not believing in Him.
• 1 John 3:20that if our heart condemns us, that God is greater than our heart, and He 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