Matthew 21:25

Of whence was the baptism of John; of heaven, or of men? And they thought within themselves, saying, If we say of heaven, he shall say to us, Why then believe ye not to him? (From where was the baptism of John; from heaven, or from men? And they thought within themselves, saying, If we say from heaven, he shall say to us, Then why did ye not believe him?)

Wycliffe Modern Spelling

In The King James Version

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?

In Context

24Jesus answered, and said to them, And I shall ask you one word (or And I shall ask you one question), the which if ye tell me, I shall say to you, in what power I do these things.

26If we say of men, we dread the people, for all had John as a prophet. (If we say from men, we fear the people, for everyone believed that John was a prophet.)

Read all of Matthew 21

Cross References

Matthew 3:1In those days John (the) Baptist came, and preached in the desert of Judea,

Matthew 17:12And I say to you, that Elias is now come, and they knew him not, but they did in him whatever things they would; and so man’s Son shall suffer of them. (And I tell you, that Elijah hath now come, and they knew him not, but they did to him whatever things they wanted to do; and so man’s Son shall also suffer by them.)

Mark 11:27And again they came to Jerusalem. And when he walked in the temple, the highest priests, and (the) scribes, and the elder men came to him, (And they came again to Jerusalem. And when he walked in the Temple, the high priests, and the scribes, and the elders came to him,)

Luke 1:67And Zacharias, his father, was full-filled with the Holy Ghost [or was filled with the Holy Ghost], and prophesied, and said, (And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he prophesied, and said,)

Luke 7:28Certainly I say to you, there is no man a more prophet among the children of women, than is John (the) Baptist, [or Soothly I say to you, among the children of women, no man is (a) more prophet (or is a greater prophet) than John (the) Baptist]; but he that is less in the kingdom of heavens, is more than he. (Truly I say to you, or I tell you the truth, no man is a greater prophet among the children of women, than is John the Baptist; but whoever is the least in the Kingdom of Heaven, is greater than he.)

Luke 20:5And they thought within themselves, saying, For if we say, Of heaven (or From heaven), he shall say, Why then believe ye not to him?

Matthew Henry on Matthew 21:24-28

Christ Questioned as to His Authority. 23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? 24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we… Read the whole commentary →

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