Mat 21:23-27 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Matt 21:23-22:46: 21:23–22:46 This section focuses on the Jewish leaders’ attack on Jesus’ authority. In each case, Jesus’ wisdom revealed the leaders’ spiritual blindness. These debates also revealed Jesus’ status as Messiah and the consequences of rejecting him. Tragically, the leaders grew more resistant with each encounter and plotted to eliminate Jesus (21:23 , 46 ; 22:15-17 , 23 , 34 , 41 ). 21:23 Elders (literally elders of the people ) were family heads from each tribe who were members of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem (cp. Ezra 5:5 ; 6:14 ; 10:8 ).

Summary for Matt 21:23-22:46: 21:23–22:46 ^a This section focuses on the Jewish leaders’ attack on Jesus’ authority. In each case, Jesus’ wisdom revealed the leaders’ spiritual blindness. These debates also revealed Jesus’ status as Messiah and the consequences of rejecting him. Tragically, the leaders grew more resistant with each encounter and plotted to eliminate Jesus (21:23 ^b, 46 ^c; 22:15-17 ^d, 23 ^e, 34 ^f, 41 ^g). 21:23 ^h Elders (literally elders of the people) were family heads from each tribe who were members of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem (cp. Ezra 5:5 ⁱ; 6:14 ^j; 10:8 ^k).
21:24 ^l Jesus propounded a riddle, the solution to which answered the leaders’ question and forced them into a dilemma that revealed their hearts (21:25-26 ^m). Answering by counter-question was typical for such debates.
21:25 ⁿ John’s ministry, like Jesus’ (see 3:1 ^o, 5-6 ^p), was controversial, especially after John’s public denouncement of the sins of Herod Antipas (see 14:4 ^q). The leaders did not want to acknowledge that John’s ministry was from God, since they had refused to believe John by repenting of their sins (3:2 ^r) and accepting Jesus as the Messiah (John 1:29-34 ^s).
21:27 ^t The leaders lacked integrity and courage to confess what they believed about John. So Jesus’ refusal to answer their original question was fair.