The Authority of Jesus Challenged

Matthew 21

²³ _x Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and _y said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?" ²⁴ But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: ²⁵ "The _z baptism of _a John - where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ²⁶ "But if we say, 'From men,' we _b fear the multitude, _c for all count John as a prophet." ²⁷ So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

1. Cross References
   Mark 11:27 - 33
   Then they came again to Jerusalem. And as He was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to Him.
   Luke 20:1 - 8
   Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him
   
2. Cross References
   Exodus 2:14
   Then he said, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" So Moses feared and said, "Surely this thing is known!
   Acts 4:7
   And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?
   Acts 7:27
   But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
   
3. Cross References
   John 1:29 - 34
   The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
   
4. Cross References
   John 1:15 - 28
   John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'
   
5. Cross References
   Matthew 14:5
   And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
   Matthew 21:46
   But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.
   Luke 20:6
   "But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."
   
6. Cross References
   Matthew 14:5
   And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
   Mark 6:20
   For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.