The baptism of John was from what source: from heaven or from men?” And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’
Parallel translations
- WEB The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
- KJV 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?
- BSB What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
- NKJV The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
- NLT “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?” They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask us why we didn’t believe John.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus asks whether John's baptism was from God or merely human. The leaders are caught, because either answer condemns them.
Overview
John the Baptist's ministry pointed directly to Jesus, so the source of John's authority is bound up with the source of Jesus' authority. The leaders privately admit that affirming John as God-sent would expose their failure to believe him. Their reasoning shows they care more about self-protection than truth, the very root of their rejection of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- 1 Jn 3:20because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
- Mark 1:1–11The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
- Matt 3:1–12In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
- Luke 20:5They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’
- John 3:18He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
- John 1:15John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”
- John 10:25–26Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you don’t believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, these testify about me.
- John 5:44–47How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?
- John 5:33–36You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
- Matt 17:12–13but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.”
- John 1:6There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
- Luke 1:11–17An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
- John 12:37–43But though he had done so many signs before them, yet they didn’t believe in him,
- Luke 7:28–35“For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer, yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”
- John 1:25–34They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
- Matt 11:7–15As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
- Luke 3:2–20in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
- Luke 1:67–80His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
- John 3:26–36They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”
- Mark 11:27–33They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders came to him,
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Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
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Original language
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