Matthew 21:26

Matthew 21:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
• New International Version (NIV)But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)But if we say, 'From man,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet."
• New King James Version (NKJV)But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.”

Context of Matthew 21:26

24Jesus answered them, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25Where did John’s baptism come from? From heaven or from people?” They discussed this among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From people,’ we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’

Matthew 21:26 word by word

ἐὰν δὲ εἴπωμεν· ἐξ ἀνθρώπων, φοβούμεθα τὸν ὄχλον· πάντες γὰρ ὡς προφήτην ἔχουσιν τὸν Ἰωάννην.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• we shall sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• we fearφοβέωphobeō · to fearG5399
• the peopleὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the peopleὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• holdἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• a prophetπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396

Cross-references for Matthew 21:26

• Matthew 21:46They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, because the crowds regarded him as a prophet.
• Matthew 14:5Although Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd because they accepted John as a prophet.
• Isaiah 57:11Whom are you worried about? Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully and not remember me or think about me? Because I have been silent for so long, you are not afraid of me.
• Mark 11:32But if we say, ‘From people – ’” (they feared the crowd, for they all considered John to be truly a prophet).
• Mark 12:12Now they wanted to arrest him (but they feared the crowd), because they realized that he told this parable against them. So they left him and went away.
• Luke 20:6But if we say, ‘From people,’ all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
• Luke 22:2The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to execute Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.
• John 9:22(His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jewish religious leaders. For the Jewish leaders had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Christ would be put out of the synagogue.
• Acts 5:26Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought the apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people).
• Mark 6:20because Herod stood in awe of John and protected him, since he knew that John was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, and yet he liked to listen to John.
• John 5:35He was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you wanted to rejoice greatly for a short time in his light.
• John 10:41Many came to him and began to say, “John performed no miraculous sign, but everything John said about this man was true!”

Commentaries on Matthew 21:26

• 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. 23-46This section focuses on how Jewish leaders challenged the authority of Jesus. Each time, the wisdom of Jesus revealed their lack of spiritual understanding. These debates also revealed the status of Jesus as the Messiah and the consequences of rejecting him. Sadly, the leaders became more resistant with each encounter and plotted to kill Jesus (Matthew 21:23, 46; 22:15–17, 23, 34, 41).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people--rather, "the multitude." In Luke (Lu 20:6) it is, "all the people will stone us"--"stone us to death." for all hold John as a prophet--Crooked, cringing hypocrites! No wonder Jesus gave you no answer.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 21:26

• Falsehood
• Opinion, Public

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