Matthew 21:23

KJV

¶ 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?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} when he {G846} was come {G2064} into {G1519} the temple {G2411}, the chief priests {G749} and {G2532} the elders {G4245} of the people {G2992} came {G4334} unto him {G846} as he was teaching {G1321}, and said {G3004}, By {G1722} what {G4169} authority {G1849} doest thou {G4160} these things {G5023}? and {G2532} who {G5101} gave {G1325} thee {G4671} this {G5026} authority {G1849}?

Complete Jewish Bible

He went into the Temple area; and as he was teaching, the head cohanim and the elders of the people approached him and demanded, "What s'mikhah do you have that authorizes you to do these things? And who gave you this s'mikhah?"

Berean Standard Bible

When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”

American Standard Version

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?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 21:23 captures a pivotal confrontation in Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem, immediately following His dramatic cleansing of the temple. As Jesus taught within the sacred precincts, the highest religious authorities—the chief priests and elders of the people—approached Him, challenging the very foundation of His actions and teachings by demanding to know the source of His authority and who had granted it to Him. This encounter underscores the escalating tension between divine truth embodied in Christ and the entrenched human religious establishment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical juncture in Matthew's Gospel, specifically within Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, often referred to as Passion Week. It immediately follows Jesus' [triumphal entry into Jerusalem](/matthew/21-1-11 "Matthew 21:1-11 - The Triumphal Entry"), where He was hailed as King, and His subsequent [cleansing of the temple](/matthew/21-12-17 "Matthew 21:12-17 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple"). In the temple, Jesus overturned the tables of money-changers and merchants, asserting that His Father's house was a "house of prayer" rather than a "den of thieves" ([Matthew 21:13](/matthew/21-13 "Matthew 21:13 - My House Shall Be Called the House of Prayer")). Following this dramatic act, He continued to teach and heal the blind and lame within the temple courts, further demonstrating an authority that transcended human institutions. The challenge from the chief priests and elders in [Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Matthew 21:23 - Challenge to Jesus' Authority") is a direct response to these actions, an attempt to formally question and undermine His legitimacy in the eyes of the people and within their religious jurisdiction.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "chief priests" (ἀρχιερεῖς) were primarily members of the priestly aristocracy, often Sadducees, who controlled the temple operations and its vast revenues. The "elders of the people" (πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ) represented the lay aristocracy and leading citizens, often Pharisees, who held significant influence in Jewish society. Together with the scribes, these groups constituted the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish governing council. Their authority was rooted in Mosaic Law and centuries of tradition, and they held considerable religious, judicial, and even political power under Roman oversight. The temple was not merely a place of worship but the economic, social, and spiritual heart of Jewish life. Jesus' actions in cleansing it, and His subsequent teaching, were perceived as a direct challenge to their established order, their control over the temple, and their interpretation of religious law. Their question about His authority was a formal legal and theological inquiry, designed to expose Him as a false prophet or an unauthorized rabbinic figure, thereby justifying His arrest and condemnation.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme emerging from [Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Matthew 21:23 - The Question of Authority") is the **authority of Jesus**. The religious leaders' question directly confronts the source and nature of Jesus' power and right to act. Jesus' ministry, marked by authoritative teaching (as seen in the [Sermon on the Mount](/matthew/5 "Matthew 5 - The Sermon on the Mount")), miraculous healings, and bold actions like the temple cleansing, consistently demonstrated a divine authority that surpassed any human or institutional sanction. This encounter also highlights the **religious opposition and skepticism** Jesus faced. Rather than engaging with the substance of His teachings or the evidence of His miracles, the leaders sought to discredit Him, protect their own power, and maintain the existing religious hierarchy. Their challenge reveals a deep-seated resistance to God's redemptive work when it threatened their established control. Ultimately, Jesus' actions and the leaders' response underscore the **challenge to the status quo** that His ministry represented. He consistently exposed hypocrisy and misdirection within the religious system, calling for genuine repentance and a true relationship with God, which inevitably brought Him into conflict with those who benefited from the existing order.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **teaching (Greek, _didáskō'_):** This verb, derived from a primary verb meaning "to learn," signifies the act of imparting knowledge or instruction. In the context of Jesus, it refers to His authoritative proclamation of God's truth, His exposition of the Scriptures, and His moral instruction. The religious leaders confronted Him precisely "as he was teaching," indicating that His instruction, like His actions, was perceived as unauthorized and threatening to their established pedagogical and theological control.
* **authority (Greek, _exousía'_):** This crucial term denotes not merely raw power or might (which would be _dynamis_), but rather the inherent right, privilege, or freedom to act. It often implies delegated power or jurisdiction. The chief priests and elders were not merely asking about Jesus' *ability* to perform these deeds, but about His *legitimate right* to do them, and crucially, *who* had conferred that right upon Him. They sought to understand if His authority was self-proclaimed, derived from human institutions (like a rabbinic school), or from God.
* **gave (Greek, _dídōmi'_):** This verb means "to give" in a very wide application, encompassing bestowing, committing, delivering, or granting. In the context of the leaders' question, "who gave thee this authority?", they are probing the origin of Jesus' _exousía_. They implicitly assume that legitimate authority must be conferred by a recognized human or divine source, and they are demanding to know that source, expecting it to be one they could either recognize or dismiss.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when he was come into the temple":** This phrase sets the scene immediately after Jesus' dramatic actions of cleansing the temple. His presence in the temple is not casual; it is an assertion of His claim over God's house, a claim He demonstrated by purifying its worship and teaching within its courts.
* **"the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching":** This identifies the antagonists: the highest echelons of the Jewish religious and political establishment. Their approach is deliberate and official, occurring while Jesus is engaged in the very act that underscores His perceived usurpation of their pedagogical role. Their timing suggests a formal challenge to His public ministry.
* **"and said, By what authority doest thou these things?":** This is the core of their challenge. "These things" refers to Jesus' recent actions—the cleansing of the temple, His teaching, and His healing miracles. They are demanding to know the legitimate basis, the _exousía_, for His radical disruption of their established order and His public ministry.
* **"and who gave thee this authority?":** This second, reinforcing question seeks to identify the source of His authority. They are looking for a human or divine patron, a recognized rabbinic ordination, or a prophetic commission that would legitimize His actions in their eyes. Their question implies that without such a recognized source, Jesus is acting without proper authorization, making Him a dangerous rogue.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 21:23 employs several potent literary devices. **Interrogation** is central, as the entire verse culminates in two direct questions from the religious leaders, highlighting their challenge and the confrontational nature of the scene. This interrogation sets up a dramatic **conflict** between Jesus and the established religious powers, a conflict that has been building throughout Matthew's narrative and will escalate to His crucifixion. The leaders' questions are imbued with **irony**: they, who claim to represent God's authority, are questioning the true embodiment of divine authority. Their inability or unwillingness to recognize Jesus' inherent authority, despite His miraculous works and prophetic teaching, reveals their spiritual blindness. Furthermore, this confrontation serves as **foreshadowing**, indicating the intensifying opposition that will ultimately lead to Jesus' arrest and trial, where His authority will again be the central issue.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The challenge to Jesus' authority in Matthew 21:23 is a profound theological moment, revealing the inherent conflict between divine truth and human institutions that resist it. Jesus' authority is not derived from human ordination or popular vote; it is intrinsic to His identity as the Son of God and the Messiah. The religious leaders, bound by their traditions and self-interest, failed to recognize the very source of all true authority standing before them. This encounter highlights that genuine spiritual authority flows from God alone and is often manifested in ways that challenge human-made systems and expectations. It forces us to consider whether we, like the leaders, might be prone to questioning or rejecting divine authority when it disrupts our comfort zones or established norms, rather than humbly submitting to it.

* [John 5:19](/john/5-19 "Jesus' Authority from the Father")
* [John 7:16](/john/7-16 "Jesus' Teaching is from God")
* [Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "All Authority Given to Jesus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 21:23 invites us to deeply reflect on the nature of authority, both divine and human, and our response to it. The religious leaders, blinded by their own power and prejudice, could not discern the true source of Jesus' authority, leading them to reject the very Messiah they claimed to serve. In our own lives, we are constantly confronted with various claims to authority—from political leaders, cultural trends, scientific consensus, or even religious traditions. This passage challenges us to critically examine the source of the authority we acknowledge and submit to. Do we recognize Jesus' ultimate authority over all aspects of life, including our personal choices, our understanding of truth, and the way we engage with the world? Or do we, like the chief priests and elders, seek to control or dismiss His authority when it challenges our comfort, traditions, or self-interest? True faith involves a humble submission to Christ's divine authority, allowing Him to transform our perspectives and guide our actions, rather than attempting to fit Him into our preconceived notions or human systems.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "things" in your life or in the church today might Jesus be doing that challenge established norms or traditions, and how do you respond to them?**
* **In what areas of your life do you struggle to fully acknowledge or submit to Jesus' authority?**
* **How might a genuine recognition of Jesus' divine authority impact your daily decisions, priorities, and interactions with others?**

### FAQ

**Why did the chief priests and elders ask about Jesus' authority specifically at this moment?**

Answer: Their question was a direct and strategic response to Jesus' recent actions, particularly His [cleansing of the temple](/matthew/21-12-17 "Jesus Cleanses the Temple") and His continued teaching within its courts. The temple was under their jurisdiction, and Jesus' actions were a profound public challenge to their control, their revenue streams, and their interpretation of what constituted proper worship. By asking "By what authority doest thou these things?" and "who gave thee this authority?", they were attempting to legally and theologically corner Him. If He claimed divine authority, they could accuse Him of blasphemy. If He claimed human authority, they could dismiss Him as an unauthorized teacher or revolutionary. Their goal was to discredit Him in the eyes of the people and find grounds for His arrest.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 21:23, though a question of authority, points profoundly to the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The very authority the religious leaders questioned was not merely delegated power but the inherent authority of the Son of God, the promised Messiah. Jesus' actions in the temple—cleansing it and teaching within it—were not random acts but demonstrations of His rightful claim as the Lord of the Temple, fulfilling prophecies of a new covenant and a purified worship. His authority was rooted in His divine identity as the one sent by the Father, as He later declared, "[All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth](/matthew/28-18 "Jesus' Post-Resurrection Authority")" after His resurrection. This authority is what enables Him to forgive sins ([Mark 2:10](/mark/2-10 "Authority to Forgive Sins")), to command demons ([Luke 4:36](/luke/4-36 "Authority Over Demons")), to lay down His life and take it up again ([John 10:18](/john/10-18 "Authority Over His Life")), and ultimately to judge the living and the dead ([John 5:27](/john/5-27 "Authority to Execute Judgment")). The leaders' question, "who gave thee this authority?", is answered definitively in the New Testament: it was given by the Father, because Jesus *is* the Son, the Word made flesh ([John 1:1-14](/john/1-1-14 "The Word Became Flesh")), the One through whom all things were created and in whom all things hold together ([Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16-17 "Christ as Creator and Sustainer")). Thus, the confrontation in the temple foreshadows the ultimate triumph of Christ's divine authority over all earthly powers and institutions.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Acts 4:7

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

1 Chronicles 24:1

¶ Now [these are] the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

1 Chronicles 24:19

These [were] the orderings of them in their service to come into the house of the LORD, according to their manner, under Aaron their father, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

Mark 11:27

¶ And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

Mark 11:33

And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Luke 19:47

And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

Luke 20:8

And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.