Matthew 21:24

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Matthew 21:24, Jesus masterfully responds to the chief priests and elders who challenge His authority in the Temple. Rather than directly answering their hostile inquiry, He poses a counter-question regarding the source of John the Baptist's authority. This strategic move exposes the religious leaders' intellectual dishonesty and fear of the people, demonstrating Jesus' profound wisdom and His refusal to be trapped by their manipulative tactics, while implicitly asserting the divine origin of His own actions.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated during the pivotal Passion Week, immediately following Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem ([Matthew 21:1-11](/matthew/21-1-11 "Matthew 21:1-11 - The Triumphal Entry")) and His dramatic cleansing of the Temple ([Matthew 21:12-17](/matthew/21-12-17 "Matthew 21:12-17 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple")). The religious establishment, particularly the chief priests and elders, are deeply threatened by Jesus' popular acclaim and His authoritative actions within their domain. Their challenge in [Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Matthew 21:23 - The Challenge to Jesus' Authority"), "By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?", directly sets the stage for Jesus' counter-question in verse 24, initiating a profound verbal confrontation that highlights the clash between divine and human authority.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the Temple courts in Jerusalem during Passover, a time of heightened religious and political tension. Jewish religious leaders, particularly the Sanhedrin (represented here by the chief priests and elders), held significant authority over religious law and practice. Rabbinic tradition often involved disputation and counter-questioning as a form of intellectual engagement and teaching. Jesus' interrogators were not seeking genuine understanding but rather an admission from Him that would allow them to accuse Him of blasphemy or sedition, thereby justifying His arrest. His response, therefore, must be understood within this adversarial context, where public perception and the fear of popular uprising played a significant role in the leaders' calculations.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme is the **nature and source of authority**. The religious leaders believed authority flowed through their established institutions, while Jesus consistently demonstrated an authority that transcended human appointment, stemming directly from God. Jesus' response also highlights themes of **wisdom and discernment**, as He refuses to fall into their trap, instead turning the tables to expose their **hypocrisy and spiritual blindness**. By linking His authority to John the Baptist's, Jesus forces them to confront their own inconsistent rejection of God's messengers, a theme further developed in the parables that follow, such as the Parable of the Two Sons ([Matthew 21:28-32](/matthew/21-28-32 "Matthew 21:28-32 - Parable of the Two Sons")) and the Parable of the Wicked Tenants ([Matthew 21:33-46](/matthew/21-33-46 "Matthew 21:33-46 - Parable of the Wicked Tenants")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **authority (Greek, _exousía'_):** G1849. This term signifies not merely permission, but inherent power, privilege, and the right to act. The religious leaders were questioning both Jesus' moral and spiritual right, and His intrinsic power, to perform the miracles, teach, and cleanse the Temple. Jesus' counter-question implicitly raises the issue of the _source_ of such authority—whether it is "from heaven" or "from men," directly addressing the core of their challenge.
* **ask (Greek, _erōtáō'_):** G2065. While often translated as "ask" or "question," this verb can also carry the nuance of "request" or "interrogate." Here, it denotes Jesus' strategic act of posing a question back to His interrogators. It's not a simple inquiry but a calculated move to expose their motives and force them into a dilemma, demonstrating His control over the discourse.
* **thing (Greek, _lógos'_):** G3056. This versatile word, often translated as "word" or "reason," here refers to a "matter" or "topic" of discussion. Jesus states He will ask them "one thing" (ἓν λόγον), indicating a single, decisive point that will determine the course of the conversation and expose the true nature of their challenge. It is a specific, pointed issue designed to reveal their hypocrisy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jesus answered and said unto them,"**: This phrase sets the scene for Jesus' response, emphasizing that His words are a direct reply to the challenge posed by the chief priests and elders in [Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Matthew 21:23 - The Challenge to Jesus' Authority"). It highlights His composure and control in the face of hostility.
* **"I also will ask you one thing,"**: Jesus immediately turns the tables, indicating that He will not directly answer their question but will instead pose His own. The "I also" (καγὼ - _kagō_) underscores the reciprocal nature of the challenge, asserting His right to interrogate them just as they interrogated Him. This "one thing" is the pivotal question about John the Baptist.
* **"which if ye tell me,"**: This clause establishes a clear condition for Jesus' subsequent disclosure. He places the burden of response back on His accusers, demanding their answer first. This is not a genuine request for information, as Jesus already knows the truth, but a rhetorical strategy to reveal their unwillingness to speak the truth.
* **"I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things."**: Jesus promises to reveal the source of His authority, but only _if_ they answer His question. This conditional statement highlights their hypocrisy: they demand an answer from Him but are unwilling to provide one themselves when faced with a difficult truth. It implicitly links His authority to the same divine source as John's, which they dared not deny publicly.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 21:24 masterfully employs several literary devices. The primary device is the **Rhetorical Question**, where Jesus does not directly answer His interrogators' challenge but poses a question back to them, not seeking information but rather to expose their motives and corner them. This is a classic example of **Socratic Method** (or more appropriately, rabbinic argumentation), where a series of questions leads an opponent to a self-incriminating conclusion. There is also a subtle **Irony** at play: the religious leaders, who pride themselves on their wisdom and authority, are rendered speechless and exposed as intellectually dishonest by a simple counter-question. Jesus' conditional promise, "which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you," functions as a **Strategic Deflection**, diverting the immediate confrontation while simultaneously elevating the discourse to a higher moral and theological plane, revealing the true nature of authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 21:24 is a crucial moment demonstrating Jesus' divine wisdom and His unique approach to hostile questioning. It underscores the profound theological truth that true authority originates from God, not from human institutions or traditions. The religious leaders' inability to answer Jesus' question about John's baptism reveals their fear of man over God, their spiritual blindness, and their ultimate rejection of God's messengers, including John and, by extension, Jesus Himself. This passage highlights the clash between earthly, self-serving power and divine, truth-revealing authority, setting the stage for Jesus' subsequent parables that further condemn the religious establishment for their unfaithfulness.

* [Mark 11:29-33](/mark/11-29-33 "Mark 11:29-33 - Jesus' Counter-Question in Mark")
* [Luke 20:3-8](/luke/20-3-8 "Luke 20:3-8 - Jesus' Counter-Question in Luke")
* [John 5:19](/john/5-19 "John 5:19 - Jesus' Dependence on the Father's Authority")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jesus' encounter in Matthew 21:24 offers profound lessons for believers today in navigating challenging interactions and discerning true authority. It teaches us that not every question deserves a direct answer, especially when the interrogator's motive is to trap, malign, or undermine rather than to genuinely learn or understand. Jesus models a divine wisdom that transcends mere factual knowledge, demonstrating the importance of discerning the heart and intentions behind questions. We are called to exercise wisdom in our responses, sometimes turning the focus back on the questioner to expose hypocrisy or to reveal deeper truths. Furthermore, this passage serves as a powerful reminder that genuine spiritual authority comes from God alone, not from human titles, positions, or traditions. Believers must always prioritize discerning and submitting to divine authority, even when it challenges human-established power structures that may oppose God's will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How can I discern the motives behind questions or challenges I face, and how might Jesus' example inform my response?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be tempted to prioritize human approval or fear over speaking or living out God's truth?**
* **How does understanding the divine source of Jesus' authority impact my trust in His teachings and commands?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jesus respond with a question instead of directly answering the chief priests and elders?**

Answer: Jesus' response was a masterful strategic move, not a genuine request for information. The religious leaders were not seeking truth but attempting to trap Him and find grounds for accusation (see [Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Matthew 21:23 - The Challenge to Jesus' Authority")). By asking about John the Baptist's authority, Jesus forced them into a dilemma: if they said John's baptism was "from heaven," they would validate John's testimony about Jesus and condemn themselves for not believing him; if they said "from men," they feared the people, who regarded John as a prophet. Their inability to answer exposed their hypocrisy and fear of man, demonstrating Jesus' superior wisdom and control of the situation.

**What was the significance of John the Baptist's baptism in this exchange?**

Answer: John the Baptist's ministry was widely recognized by the people as divinely inspired (see [Matthew 21:26](/matthew/21-26 "Matthew 21:26 - The People's View of John")). By linking His authority to the source of John's, Jesus implicitly asserted the divine origin of His own actions. John had prepared the way for Jesus and testified to Him as the Messiah (e.g., [John 1:29-34](/john/1-29-34 "John 1:29-34 - John Testifies About Jesus")). The religious leaders' rejection of John's divine mandate thus served as a pre-existing condemnation of their rejection of Jesus, making their hypocrisy evident to all.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 21:24, while seemingly a tactical exchange, profoundly points to the Christ-centered fulfillment of all authority. Jesus' refusal to submit to the earthly religious leaders' demand for an explanation of His authority underscores that His power does not derive from human appointment or institutional validation, but from His inherent divine nature and His unique relationship with the Father. He is the one to whom "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given" ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus")), a truth fully revealed after His resurrection. This passage foreshadows His ultimate judicial authority, as He is the Son to whom the Father has "given authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man" ([John 5:27](/john/5-27 "John 5:27 - Authority to Execute Judgment")). The religious leaders' rejection of His divine authority ultimately led to their condemnation, while those who acknowledge His sovereign power and submit to His Lordship find salvation and life in Him, for "God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Christ's Exaltation and Lordship")).

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

Luke 6:9

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy [it]?

Matthew 10:16

¶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Proverbs 26:4

¶ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Proverbs 26:5

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.