Matthew 21:23-27

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

23 aAnd when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him bas he was teaching, and said, cBy what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus 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. 25The baptism of John, dfrom where did it come? eFrom heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, fWhy then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From man,’ gwe are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was ha prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

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