Matthew 21 · Verse 24

Matthew 21:24

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.

Matthew 21:24, King James Version

Matthew 21:24 in other translations

BSB	“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.
WEB	Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
ASV	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.
YLT	And Jesus answering said to them, ‘I will ask you--I also--one word, which if ye may tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things;
DARBY	And Jesus answering said to them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things:
BBE	And Jesus said to them in answer, I will put one question to you, and if you give me the answer, I will say by what authority I do these things.
Webster	And Jesus answered and said to them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things.

What does Matthew 21:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

24. And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, &c.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verses 24,25. And Jesus answered etc. Jesus was under no obligation to give them an answer. They well knew by what authority he did this. He had not concealed his power in working miracles, and had not kept back the knowledge that he was the Messiah. He therefore referred them to a similar case--that of John the Baptist He knew the estimation in which John was held by the people. He took the wise in their own craftiness. Whatever answer they gave, he knew they would convict themselves. And so they saw, when they looked at the question. They reasoned correctly. If they said, From heaven, he would directly ask why they did not believe him. They professed to hear all the prophets. If they said. Of men, their reputation was gone, for all the people believed that John was a prophet.

The baptism of John. For an account of this, see Matthew chapter 3. The word baptism here probably includes all his work. This was his principal employment; and hence he was called the Baptist, or the Baptizer. But our Saviour's question refers to his whole ministry.-- "The ministry of John, his baptism, preaching, prophecies--was it from God, or not?" If it was, then the inference was clear that Jesus was the Messiah; and then they might easily know by what authority he did those things.

From heaven. By Divine authority, or by the command of God.

Of men. By human authority.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 24 I also will ask you one thing - Our Lord was certainly under no obligation to answer their question: he had already given them such proofs of his Divine mission as could not possibly be exceeded, in the miracles which he wrought before their eyes, and before all Judea; and, as they would not credit him on this evidence, it would have been in vain to have expected their acknowledgment of him on any profession he would make.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 21:23-27

As our Lord now openly appeared as the Messiah, the chief priests and scribes were much offended, especially because he exposed and removed the abuses they encouraged. Our Lord asked what they thought of John's ministry and baptism. Many are more afraid of the shame of lying than of the sin, and therefore scruple not to speak what they know to be false, as to their own thoughts, affections, and intentions, or their…

Read the full comment on Matthew 21:23-27 →

Matthew 21:24 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἈποκριθεὶςApokritheisAnsweringG611

δὲdenowG1161

ὁho<the>G3588

ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424

εἶπενeipensaidG2036

αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846

ἐρωτήσωerōtēsōWill askG2065

ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771

κἀγὼkagōI myself alsoG1473

λόγονlogonthingG3056

ἕνα,henaone,G1520

ὃνhonwhichG3739

ἐὰνeanifG1437

εἴπητέeipēteyou shall tellG2036

μοιmoiMeG3165

κἀγὼkagōI myself alsoG1473

ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771

ἐρῶerōwill sayG4483

ἐνenbyG1722

ποίᾳpoiawhatG4169

ἐξουσίᾳexousiaauthorityG1849

ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778

ποιῶ.poiōI do.G4160

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 21:24

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?
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
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.
Proverbs 26:4-5
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

I also.
10:16; Pr 26:4,5; Lu 6:9; Col 4:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Matthew 21:23
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?
Matthew 21:24
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.
Matthew 21:25
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?

Read all of Matthew 21

Matthew 21:24 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y respondiendo Jesús, les dijo: Yo también os preguntaré una palabra, la cual si me dijereis, también yo os diré con qué autoridad hago esto.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et Jésus, répondant, leur dit: Je vous demanderai, moi aussi, une chose; et si vous me la dites, je vous dirai, moi aussi, par quelle autorité je fais ces choses.
German Elberfelder 1871	Jesus aber antwortete und sprach zu ihnen: Auch ich will euch ein Wort fragen, und wenn ihr es mir saget, so werde auch ich euch sagen, in welchem Recht ich diese Dinge tue.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Respondens Jesus dixit eis: Interrogabo vos et ego unum sermonem: quem si dixeritis mihi, et ego vobis dicam in qua potestate hæc facio.