Matthew 21:26

But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. BUT IF WE SHALL SAY, OF MEN; WE FEAR THE PEOPLE, [ ton (G3588) ochlon (G3793)] - rather the multitude. In Luke (Luke 20:6) it is, "all the people will stone us" [ katalithasei (G2642)] - 'stone us to death.' FOR ALL HOLD JOHN AS A PROPHET. Crooked, cringing hypocroties! No wonder Jesus gave you no answer....

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 remembering and forgetting. Our Lord refused to answer their inquiry. It is best to shun needless disputes with wicked opposers....

See also Mark 11:27; Luke 20:1. Matthew 21:23 WHEN 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 had no civil or ecclesiastical authority as a Jew. It was sufficient authority, in

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 21:1 _Triumphal entry into Jerusalem_. (Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29; John 12:12.) MATTHEW 21:1 We have come to the last week of our Lord's earthly life, when he made his appearance in Jerusalem as Messiah, and suffered the penalty of death. If, as is believed, his crucifixion took place on the fourteenth day of the month Nisan, the triumphal entry must be assigned to the ninth, which day was reckoned to commence at one sunset and to continue till the follow-lug evening. Th

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 sanhedrim were afraid of them, lest if they should affirm, that the authority by which John acted was human, they would immediately rise up against them; and, as Luke says, "stone" them: so high a veneration had they for him, and so dear was his memory still unto them. FOR ALL HELD JOHN AS A PROPHET. These are the words of the high priests and elders, and not of the evangelist, expressing the reason of their fe...

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?_ Jesus knew that these men came to him for no good purpose, mad that willing were only trying to trip him up in his speech. He was always willing to teach when men were willing to learn, but he did not care to cast his pearls before swine. Therefore, mark the holy caution, the sacred ingenuity with which our Lord replied to these men. Matthew 21:24. And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or o

9. THE KING ENTERS INTO JERUSALEM. The Parables of the Two Sons and the Householder and His Vineyard. CHAPTER 21 1. The King Enters Jerusalem. (Matthew 21:1 .) 2. The Second Cleansing of the Temple. (Matthew 21:12 .) 3. The Fig tree Cursed. (Matthew 21:18 .) 4. His Authority Impeached and His Question. (Matthew 21:23 .) 5. The Parable of the Two Sons. (Matthew 21:28 .) 6. The Parable of the Householder. (Matthew 21:33 .)

THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY (Mark 11:27 *, Luke 20:1). Mk. is no doubt right in connecting the priest's question with the purging of the Temple, though these things may include teaching (and healing). For scribes and elders Mt. has elders of the people. BY WHAT AUTHORITY: lit. by what kind of authority, _i.e._ human or Divine, ecclesiastical or civil....

THE BEGINNING OF THE LAST ACT (Matthew 21:1-11)...

PEOPLE. crowd. ALL. Put by Figure of speech _Synecdoche_ (of Genus), for the greater part....