From Where was John's Baptism - Matthew 21:25

Matthew the apostle wrote when, “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 do you do these things? and who gave you this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things” and in chapter twenty-one and verse twenty-five of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus' question, “the baptism of John, where did it come from?” where we read:

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 you not then believe him?

The verse reads, “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” Matthew began with the words, “the baptism” or “the immersion or submersion which is the purification rite by which mean on confessing their sins were bound to spiritual reformation, obtained the pardon of their past sins and became qualified for the benefits of the Messiah's kingdom soon to be set up” “of John” which means “belonging to John the Baptist who was the fore-runner of Jesus”, “whence was it” or “where and from what place did it arise and arrive”? “from heaven” which refers to “from the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”, “or of men” or “or from human beings whether male or female”? Matthew shared how Jesus' question to the chief priests and elders of Jerusalem was for them to identify the source of “John the Baptist's” “baptism” whether it was “from heaven” or “from men”.

The verse goes on to say, “And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did you not then believe him?” Matthew continued with the words, “and they reasoned” which means “and the chief priests and elders of Jerusalem mused, thought about, considered and cast in mind” “with themselves” which means “alongside each other”, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “if we shall say” which means “whether we shall utter, declare, proclaim or answer”, “From heaven” or “from the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”; “he will say” or “Jesus will respond and answer” “unto us” which refers to “to the chief priests and elders of Jerusalem”, “Why” or “for what reason and cause” “did you not then” which means “did the chief priests and elders not at that time and moment” “believe him” or “were persuaded of, placed confidence in and trusted in Jesus”? Matthew wrote how the chief priests and elders of Jerusalem began to think about and consider the question Jesus posed to them. They knew if they answered John's “baptism” came “from heaven”, Jesus would ask them why they did not believe John the Baptist.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus put the “chief priests and elders” in their place. In some way, they must have thought themselves superior to Jesus and could therefore challenge Him without knowing He was smarter than they. God desires people to humble themselves and receive His Son Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”, but those who are like these “chief priests and elders” continue to question Him without understanding the source of “baptism” and “salvation” for all eternity.

Next time Matthew writes how the chief priests reason that if they say, “of men; we fear the people”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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