Matthew 21:23–27 describes a moment when Jesus’ authority was questioned by the chief priests and elders.
Sometimes, the best way to answer a trap is with a better question, especially when Jesus faced his authority being questioned.
In this interaction, Jesus models boldness, wisdom, and spiritual authority in the face of hostile questioning.
Matthew 21:23–27 (NASB 2020)
23 When He entered the temple area, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” 24 But Jesus responded and said to them, “I will also ask you one question, which, if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John was from what source: from heaven or from men?” And they began considering this among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.” 27 And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” He also said to them, “Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.”
Who Was Jesus Speaking To?
- The chief priests and elders were trying to trap Him by questioning his authority.
- His disciples, watching how He responds to opposition
- Us today, learning how to stand firm in truth with wisdom
What Happened?
- Jesus enters the temple and teaches publicly
- Religious leaders confront Him, questioning His authority
- Jesus answers with a question about John the Baptist
- They dodge the question out of fear of public opinion
- Jesus exposes their hypocrisy and declines to answer further
The Mood: Confrontational, Calculated, Empowered
- The leaders are threatened and manipulative
- Jesus is firm, wise, and fearless even when his authority is called into question.
The Principle: True Authority Answers to God, Not Man
- Jesus didn’t argue; He exposed the heart of the accusers
- Wisdom silences manipulation
- Godly boldness doesn’t need validation from man
- Fear of man leads to compromise and evasion
Audience Response (Then)
- The leaders backpedal and dodge accountability after questioning Jesus’ authority.
- The crowd sees their cowardice and spiritual blindness
- Jesus keeps teaching, unshaken and undistracted
What This Means for Us in 2025
- Our faith will be challenged by culture and power structures
- We need wisdom and discernment to respond well when our own authority is questioned.
- Boldness doesn’t always look like arguing—it often looks like asking the right questions
- Standing on God-given authority means we don’t need to explain ourselves to manipulators
Action Steps for Today
- Stay grounded in truth. Don’t let people bait you into arguments.
- Ask better questions. Wisdom often speaks in questions, not accusations.
- Fear God, not man. Don’t compromise truth to please the crowd.
- Know your authority. You don’t need permission to walk in God’s call.
- Keep teaching. Stay on mission, even when others question your voice.
Final Prayer
Lord, give me wisdom like Jesus. Help me to speak with clarity and power. Keep me from fear of man and rooted in Your authority. Let my life reflect truth, not just in words but in wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
You don’t need to prove yourself to those who reject truth—you only need to keep walking in God’s authority.
