Matthew 21:26 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 21:23-27

Our Lord Jesus (like St. Paul after him) preached his gospel with much contention; his first appearance was in a dispute with the doctors in the temple, when he was twelve years old; and here, just before he died, we have him engaged in controversy. In this sense, he was like Jeremiah, a man of contention; not striving, but striven with. The great contenders with him, were, the chief priests and the elders, the judges of two distinct courts: the chief priests presided in the ecclesiastical... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 21:23-27

21:23-27 When Jesus had come into the Temple precincts, the chief priests and elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, "By what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority?" Jesus answered them, "I will ask you one question, and if you give me an answer to it, I too will tell you by what authority I do these things. Whence was the baptism of John? Was it from heaven? Or, was it from men?" They debated within themselves. "If," they said, "we say... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:26

But if we shall say of men ,.... They reasoned with themselves, that should they give their answer in this form, and say, that the ministry and baptism of John, were merely human, and what he took up of himself, or which he performed by an authority derived from men, we fear the people ; that were then upon the spot, in the temple; who, as many of them were now the followers of Christ, more of them had been the admirers of John, and probably had been baptized by him: wherefore the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:1-46

The vast multitudes who came to his baptism thereby professed faith in his teaching. Hence the general expression, "All hold John as a prophet." The defeat of Herod's army in the war with Aretas, King of Arabia, was esteemed by the Jews a judgment for the death of John (Josephus, 'Ant.,' John 18:7 ). 2 . John ' s testimony therefore should be conclusive. III. AS IT IS EVIDENT IN THE DISCOMFITURE OF HIS ENEMIES . 1 . They set up their authority against... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:23-27

First attack, referring to his late actions : and Christ ' s answer . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:23-27

Question met by question. Perhaps we shall best gather up the lessons of this incident if we look first at the form it assumed, then at the underlying substance. I. THE FORM . 1 . The question of the rulers. 2 . The counter question of Christ. He postpones his reply to a question he desires to have answered by the rulers. II. THE SUBSTANCE . That was indeed an important question which the rulers put to Christ. If it were asked humbly and sincerely, it might be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:23-32

The authority of Jesus. The "things" in reference to the doing of which this question of the authority of Jesus was raised by the chief priests and elders, were his purging the temple from the traffickers, his publicly teaching and working miracles of healing there. Mark, by more clearly placing the miracle of the withering of the fig tree in order before these things, brings them into closer connection with the passage before us. We may profitably consider the authority of Jesus— I. AS... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:23-40

The controversy in the temple. I. THE LORD 'S AUTHORITY CALLED IN QUESTION . 1 . The intervention of the chief priests. St. Luke tells us that they had resolved to destroy our Lord. He had now allowed himself to be saluted openly as the Christ, the Son of David. He had accepted the hosannas of the multitude in the city, in the temple itself. He had assumed a paramount authority in the temple. The chief priests regarded themselves as rulers there; the market in the court... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:26

We fear the people . They dared not, as they would gladly have done, affirm that John was a false prophet and impostor; for then, as according to St. Luke they said, "All the people will stone us." Public opinion was too strong for them. Whatever view they really took of John's position, they were forced, for the sake of retaining popularity, to uphold its Divine character. All hold John as a prophet. Even Herod, for the same reason, long hesitated to put the Baptist to death ( Matthew... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 21:23-27

See also Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-9.Matthew 21:23When he was come into the temple - That is, probably, into the inner court - the court of the Israelites.They took this opportunity of questioning him on this subject when he was not surrounded by the multitude.By what authority ... - There was a show of propriety in this question. He was making great changes in the affairs of the temple, and they claimed the right to know why this was done, contrary to their permission. He was not “a priest;” he... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 21:23-27

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 21:23-27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:26

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:1-46

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:23-27

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:23-27

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:23-32

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:23-40

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 21:26

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 21:23-27

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