“The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven, or of men? Why did ye not then believe him?”
The full verse · Matthew 21:25 · KJV
The of , was ? , ? they , , we shall , ; he will unto , did ?
Asked by
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, answering the leaders' challenge with a question about John (Matthew 21:24); Chief Priests: the leading priests of the temple, reasoning among themselves about how to answer (Matthew 21:25); Elders: the elders of the people, reasoning with the chief priests (Matthew 21:23, 25)
Asked to
Chief Priests, Elders, Each Other
Chief Priests: the leading priests of the temple in Jerusalem, who came to Jesus as He taught in the temple (Matthew 21:23); Elders: the elders of the people, leaders who came with the chief priests to question Jesus in the temple (Matthew 21:23)
The Scene
In the temple, the chief priests and elders have demanded to know Jesus' authority, and He has said, "I also will ask you one thing" (Matthew 21:23-24).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJesus' question was not a dodge. It went to the heart of their own unbelief. Barnes says the word "baptism" here "probably includes all his work," and Gill says it means John's baptism and "the whole of his ministry." "From heaven, or of men" asks whether John was sent by God or only by people.
The second question is one the leaders put into Jesus' mouth as they talked it over. Gill says they reasoned either in their own minds or "privately conferred together, what answer they should return." They could see where "From heaven" would lead: "Why did ye not then believe him?" Their reasoning weighed what each answer would cost them (Matthew 21:26), not which answer was true.
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe leaders would not answer. If they said "Of men," they feared the people, "for all hold John as a prophet" (Matthew 21:26). So "they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell" (Matthew 21:27). Barnes calls this "a direct falsehood. They could have told; and the answer should have been, 'We will not tell.'" Jesus then said, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things" (Matthew 21:27).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsJohn baptized people in the Jordan "confessing their sins" (Matthew 3:6), and when many Pharisees and Sadducees came to his baptism, he warned them of "the wrath to come" (Matthew 3:7). He also said that One mightier than he was coming after him (Matthew 3:11). To admit that John came "from heaven" would mean admitting that his witness to Jesus was true, as Gill observes.
Luke adds that the leaders feared "all the people will stone us" (Luke 20:6). Mark says "all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed" (Mark 11:32).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyJesus' question shows how God's truth searches the heart. The leaders were not missing information. Gill says they chose "to speak against their own consciences." Matthew Henry observes, "Many are more afraid of the shame of lying than of the sin."
The chapter then names the real issue. "For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not" (Matthew 21:32). The question "Why did ye not then believe him?" was the one they most wanted to avoid, and it was the one Jesus pressed home. God sent John to prepare the way, and the response to John showed the response to Jesus.
Look Closer
Why would the leaders not answer "From heaven"?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord, when believing You would cost me something, what am I tempted to protect instead of simply trusting You?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- The leaders weighed their answer by what it would cost, not by what was true. Where do you feel that pull?
- Tell about a time when someone's honest "I was wrong" opened a door for faith.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
When God's truth is plain, the next step is to believe and obey it, not to calculate the cost of saying so. The leaders knew what they thought of John, but they hid it because of what it would cost them.
This does not mean every "I don't know" is dishonest. Honest uncertainty is welcome before God. Barnes' point is that these men could have told and would not. Be willing to say what you actually believe, even when it changes what you must do next.
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Keep questioning
“The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?”
“Why then did ye not believe him?”
“The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?”
“Why then believed ye him not?”