Jesus' Authority Challenged
Matthew 21:23-27
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Matt.21.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- ελθοντος: VERB,aor,act,part,gen,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- εις: PREP
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- ιερον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- προσηλθον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- διδασκοντι: VERB,pres,act,part,dat,sg,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αρχιερεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- πρεσβυτεροι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- λαου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- λεγοντες·Εν: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ποια: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ποιεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- εδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εξουσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ταυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f,dem
Parallels
- Mark 11:27-28 (quotation): Direct Synoptic parallel: the chief priests, scribes and elders confront Jesus in the temple and ask by what authority he acts, using essentially the same challenge and leading into the question about John’s baptism.
- Luke 20:1-2 (quotation): Another Synoptic parallel: Luke reports the same incident with temple authorities confronting Jesus and asking about the source of his authority to teach and act.
- Acts 4:7-8 (verbal): When the Jewish council questions Peter and John after a healing they ask, 'By what power or by what name have you done this?'—a comparable interrogation about the source of authority/power behind religious action.
- John 2:18 (thematic): After Jesus clears the temple in John’s Gospel the Jews demand a sign asking why he acts as he does—a thematically similar challenge to Jesus’ right or authority to act in the temple.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and they said, "By what authority do you these things, and who gave you this authority?"
- And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him while he was teaching, and said, 'By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you this authority?'
Matt.21.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αποκριθεις: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Ερωτησω: PRON,dat,pl,3+VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- καγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ενα: NUM,acc,sg,m
- ον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εαν: CONJ
- ειπητε: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,pl
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
- καγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- ερω: VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- εν: PREP
- ποια: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ποιω·: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
Parallels
- Mark 11:28 (verbal): Nearly identical wording—Jesus replies that he will ask one question and, if they answer, he will tell them by what authority he acts (verbal parallel).
- Mark 11:27-33 (structural): Parallel narrative of the same confrontation between Jesus and the chief priests/elders, including Jesus' counter-question about John's baptism and the authorities' evasive response (parallel episode/structure).
- Luke 20:3-8 (verbal): Luke records the same tactic: the authorities question Jesus' authority and he answers by posing a question about John's baptism—same strategy of deflection and testing their stance (verbal/structural parallel).
- Matthew 21:23 (structural): Immediate context in Matthew—the priests' original challenge ('By what authority...') that prompts the response in 21:24 (direct contextual parallel).
- Matthew 21:25 (verbal): The very next verse in Matthew—Jesus' follow-up question about the origin of John's baptism continues the exchange begun in 21:24 and shows the content of the one question he poses (direct verbal continuation).
Alternative generated candidates
- Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question; tell me it, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
- Jesus answered them, 'I also will ask you one thing; if you tell me, I will tell you by what authority I do these things: the baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?'
Matt.21.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- βαπτισμα: NOUN,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- Ιωαννου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ποθεν: ADV
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- εξ: PREP
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- εξ: PREP
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- διελογιζοντο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- εαυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- λεγοντες·Εαν: PTCP,prs,act,nom,pl,m
- ειπωμεν·Εξ: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ερει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- ημιν·Δια: PRON,dat,pl,m
- τι: ADV
- ουν: CONJ
- ουκ: PART
- επιστευσατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 11:30 (verbal): Near-verbatim Synoptic parallel: Jesus asks the same question about the origin of John’s baptism (‘from heaven or from men’), using the identical argumentative device.
- Luke 20:4 (verbal): Another close Synoptic parallel where Jesus counters the challengers by asking whether John’s baptism was from heaven or from men, matching wording and force.
- Matt.21:23 (structural): Immediate context in Matthew: the chief priests and elders challenge Jesus’ authority, prompting Jesus’ counter-question about John’s baptism (the preceding verse sets up the exchange).
- John 1:33 (thematic): John the Baptist’s testimony that he baptized ‘with water’ and saw the Spirit descend from heaven on Jesus supplies the theological basis for understanding John’s baptism as ‘from heaven,’ which is the option Jesus presses in his question.
Alternative generated candidates
- The baptism of John — was it from heaven or from men?" They discussed it among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'",
- They discussed it among themselves, saying, 'If we say,
Matt.21.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- ειπωμεν·Εξ: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl+PREP
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- φοβουμεθα: VERB,pres,mid,ind,1,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- οχλον: NOUN,acc,sg,masc
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- γαρ: CONJ
- ως: CONJ
- προφητην: NOUN,acc,sg,masc
- εχουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- Ιωαννην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 11:31-33 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel of the chief priests' reasoning: if they say John's authority is 'from men' they will be hated by the people because 'all count John as a prophet.'
- Luke 20:5-6 (verbal): Concise parallel reporting the same reply — the leaders feared the people because the crowd was convinced that John was a prophet.
- Matt 21:25 (structural): Immediate context in Matthew's narrative: the preceding clause contrasts the dilemma of answering whether John's baptism was 'from heaven' or 'from men.'
- John 1:19-21 (thematic): Background on popular and religious leaders' perception of John—priests and Levites question John's identity, reflecting widespread recognition of him as a prophetic figure.
- Matt 11:9-11 (thematic): Jesus' earlier remark about John emphasizes public esteem for him as 'a prophet' (indeed 'more than a prophet'), underscoring why the leaders feared the crowd's reaction.
Alternative generated candidates
- but if we say, 'From men,' we fear the crowd, for all hold John to be a prophet."
- But if we say, "From men," we fear the people; for they all hold John to be a prophet.'
Matt.21.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αποκριθεντες: PART,aor,pass,nom,pl,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ειπαν·Ουκ: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- εφη: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αυτος·Ουδε: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εγω: PRO,nom,sg,1
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- εν: PREP
- ποια: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ποιω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
Parallels
- Mark 11:27-33 (verbal): Direct Synoptic parallel: Mark records the same challenge about Jesus' authority, the counter-question about John's baptism, the leaders' refusal to answer, and Jesus' corresponding refusal to disclose his authority.
- Luke 20:1-8 (verbal): Luke's parallel pericope: same exchange—the religious leaders ask Jesus about his authority, he answers by asking about John's baptism, they decline to say, and Jesus withholds his source of authority.
- Matt.21:23 (structural): Immediate structural parallel within the same chapter and pericope: this verse introduces the priests' question ('By what authority...'), which frames the dialogue that ends with v.27 (Jesus' refusal to answer).
Alternative generated candidates
- So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
- So they answered Jesus, 'We do not know.' And he said to them, 'Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.'
And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him while he was teaching, and they said, "By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority?"
Jesus answered them, "I will ask you one question as well: The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men?" And they considered among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'" But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the crowd—for all hold John to be a prophet. So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."