Matthew 21:24

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Yeshua answered, "I too will ask you a question. If you answer it, then I will tell you by what s'mikhah I do these things.

Berean Standard Bible:

“I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

American Standard Version:

And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And^{G1161} Jesus^{G2424} answered^{G611} and said^{G2036} unto them^{G846}, I also^{G2504} will ask^{G2065} you^{G5209} one^{G1520} thing^{G3056}, which^{G3739} if^{G1437} ye tell^{G2036} me^{G3427}, I in like wise^{G2504} will tell^{G2046} you^{G5213} by^{G1722} what^{G4169} authority^{G1849} I do^{G4160} these things^{G5023}.

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Commentary for Matthew 21:24

Matthew 21:24 is part of a larger narrative where Jesus is confronted by the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem as He teaches in the temple courts. This encounter occurs during the final week of Jesus' life, shortly after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, which is celebrated by Christians as Palm Sunday. The religious leaders question Jesus about the source of His authority to teach and perform miracles. In the cultural and historical context of the time, authority was a critical issue; it was imperative that a teacher or leader be validated by a higher authority, such as the Sanhedrin or the Roman government.

In response to their challenge, Jesus poses a counter-question regarding the baptism of John the Baptist—was it from heaven or from men? This question places the religious leaders in a difficult position. If they acknowledge that John's baptism was from heaven, they would be compelled to accept Jesus' authority as originating from God, given that John had borne witness to Jesus as the Messiah. However, if they say it was merely of human origin, they risk the ire of the people who held John the Baptist in high regard.

The verse reflects themes of authority, accountability, and the tension between Jesus and the religious establishment of His day. It underscores Jesus' wisdom and His ability to challenge the status quo, forcing those who question Him to examine their own beliefs and motives. This passage is also indicative of the broader conflict between Jesus' divine authority and the human-centered authority claimed by the Jewish leaders, a conflict that would ultimately lead to His crucifixion.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G1161
   There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δέ
   Transliteration: dé
   Pronunciation: deh
   Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
   
2. Strong's Number: G2424
   There are 935 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: Ἰησοῦς
   Transliteration: Iēsoûs
   Pronunciation: ee-ay-sooce'
   Description: of Hebrew origin (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.
   
3. Strong's Number: G611
   There are 248 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀποκρίνομαι
   Transliteration: apokrínomai
   Pronunciation: ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee
   Description: from ἀπό and ; to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism (compare עָנָה) to begin to speak (where an address is expected):--answer.
   
4. Strong's Number: G2036
   There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἔπω
   Transliteration: épō
   Pronunciation: ep'-o
   Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω.
   
5. Strong's Number: G846
   There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: αὐτός
   Transliteration: autós
   Pronunciation: ow-tos'
   Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ.
   
6. Strong's Number: G2504
   There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: κἀγώ
   Transliteration: kagṓ
   Pronunciation: kam-eh'
   Description: from καί and ἐγώ; so also the dative case , and accusative case and (or also, even, etc.) I, (to) me:--(and, even, even so, so) I (also, in like wise), both me, me also.
   
7. Strong's Number: G2065
   There are 57 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐρωτάω
   Transliteration: erōtáō
   Pronunciation: er-o-tah'-o
   Description: apparently from ἐρέω (compare ἐρευνάω); to interrogate; by implication, to request:--ask, beseech, desire, intreat, pray. Compare πυνθάνομαι.
   
8. Strong's Number: G5209
   There are 388 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὑμᾶς
   Transliteration: hymâs
   Pronunciation: hoo-mas'
   Description: accusative case of ὑμεῖς; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).
   
9. Strong's Number: G1520
   There are 235 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: εἷς
   Transliteration: heîs
   Pronunciation: hice
   Description: a primary numeral; one:--a(-n, -ny, certain), + abundantly, man, one (another), only, other, some. See also εἷς καθ’ εἷς, μηδείς, μία, οὐδείς.
   
10. Strong's Number: G3056
    There are 316 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: λόγος
    Transliteration: lógos
    Pronunciation: log'-os
    Description: from λέγω; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.
    
11. Strong's Number: G3739
    There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὅς
    Transliteration: hós
    Pronunciation: ho
    Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ.
    
12. Strong's Number: G1437
    There are 254 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐάν
    Transliteration: eán
    Pronunciation: eh-an'
    Description: from εἰ and ἄν; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty:--before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever). See μή.
    
13. Strong's Number: G3427
    There are 227 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μοί
    Transliteration: moí
    Pronunciation: moy
    Description: the simpler form of ἐμοί; to me:--I, me, mine, my.
    
14. Strong's Number: G2046
    There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐρέω
    Transliteration: eréō
    Pronunciation: er-eh'-o
    Description: probably a fuller form of ῥέω; an alternate for ἔπω in certain tenses; to utter, i.e. speak or say:--call, say, speak (of), tell.
    
15. Strong's Number: G5213
    There are 567 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὑμῖν
    Transliteration: hymîn
    Pronunciation: hoo-min'
    Description: irregular dative case of ὑμεῖς; to (with or by) you:--ye, you, your(-selves).
    
16. Strong's Number: G1722
    There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐν
    Transliteration: en
    Pronunciation: en
    Description: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between εἰς and ἐκ); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
    
17. Strong's Number: G4169
    There are 33 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ποῖος
    Transliteration: poîos
    Pronunciation: poy'-os
    Description: from the base of ποῦ and οἷος; individualizing interrogative (of character) what sort of, or (of number) which one:--what (manner of), which.
    
18. Strong's Number: G1849
    There are 93 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐξουσία
    Transliteration: exousía
    Pronunciation: ex-oo-see'-ah
    Description: from ἔξεστι (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:--authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.
    
19. Strong's Number: G4160
    There are 519 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ποιέω
    Transliteration: poiéō
    Pronunciation: poy-eh'-o
    Description: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare πράσσω.
    
20. Strong's Number: G5023
    There are 237 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ταῦτα
    Transliteration: taûta
    Pronunciation: tow'-tah
    Description: nominative or accusative case neuter plural of οὗτος; these things:--+ afterward, follow, + hereafter, X him, the same, so, such, that, then, these, they, this, those, thus.