SEV Biblia, Chapter 21:25
El bautismo de Juan, ¿de dnde era? ¿Del cielo, o de los hombres? Ellos entonces pensaron entre sí, diciendo: Si decimos, del cielo, nos dir: ¿Por qu pues no le creisteis?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:25
Verse 25. The baptism of John] Had John a Divine commission or not, for his baptism and preaching? Our Lord here takes the wise in their own cunning. He knew the estimation John was in among the people; and he plainly saw that, if they gave any answer at all, they must convict themselves: and so they saw, when they came to examine the question. See ver. 25, 26.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 25. The baptism of John, whence was it? etc.] By the baptism of John, is meant the ordinance of water baptism, which was first administered by him; from whence he took the name of John the Baptist: and the doctrine which he preached concerning it, and previous to it, and even the whole of his ministry; which is denominated from a principal part of it, and which greatly distinguished his ministry from all others: and the question put by Christ concerning it is, whence it was? by what authority did John administer the ordinance of water baptism, which had never been administered before by any? who sent him to preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, a doctrine the world had never heard of before? who gave him a commission to discharge the several parts of his ministry, which he performed in such a wonderful and powerful manner? did he receive his authority from heaven, or of men ? that is, from God or man? as the opposition requires; and as it was usual for the Jews to call God by the name of heaven: in this sense it is used by them, when they say f1139 , that such have no part in the world to come, who affirm, that the law is not ymh m , from heaven, that is, from God; which is exactly the phrase here: and when they observe f1140 , that care should be taken that a man does not pronounce ym , the name of heaven, that is, God, in vain: and when they tell us of a certain man that built large buildings by the way side, and put food and drink there, so that everyone that came went in and eat, and drank, yml rbw , and blessed heaven; that is blessed, or gave thanks to God; and when they speak of yml htym , death by heaven; that is, death which is immediately inflicted by God. So when Christ here asks, whether Johns baptism was from heaven, or of men, his meaning is, whether it was of divine institution, and that John acted by divine authority, and commission; or whether it was an human device of his own, or of other men, and that he took the office of preaching and baptizing upon himself of his own head, or by some human appointment: to this he requires a direct answer, as is said in Mark, answer me; whether it was from the one, or from the other; and they reasoned with themselves ; either within themselves, as the Arabic version renders it, in their own minds, as the Syriac; or they took some little time and privately conferred together, what answer they should return; when they argued the point among themselves, saying, if we shall say from heaven ; if we shall return for answer, that the baptism and ministry of John were of divine appointment, and that he acted by a divine authority, he will say unto us, why did ye not believe him ? why did not ye believe the doctrine that he preached? and receive the testimony that he gave concerning the Messiah? and why were ye not baptized by him? why did ye reject the counsel of God against yourselves? They saw plainly, that if they owned the divine authority of Johns baptism and ministry, they must allow Jesus to be the true Messiah, John bore witness to; and consequently, that it was by a divine authority he did what he did; and then there was an end of the question, and is the very thing that Christ had in view.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 23-27 - As our Lord now openly appeared as the Messiah, the chief priests an scribes were much offended, especially because he exposed and remove the abuses they encouraged. Our Lord asked what they thought of John' ministry and baptism. Many are more afraid of the shame of lying tha 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.
Greek Textus Receptus
το 3588 T-NSN βαπτισμα 908 N-NSN ιωαννου 2491 N-GSM ποθεν 4159 ADV-I ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S εξ 1537 PREP ουρανου 3772 N-GSM η 2228 PRT εξ 1537 PREP ανθρωπων 444 N-GPM οι 3588 T-NPM δε 1161 CONJ διελογιζοντο 1260 5711 V-INI-3P παρ 3844 PREP εαυτοις 1438 F-3DPM λεγοντες 3004 5723 V-PAP-NPM εαν 1437 COND ειπωμεν 2036 5632 V-2AAS-1P εξ 1537 PREP ουρανου 3772 N-GSM ερει 2046 5692 V-FAI-3S ημιν 2254 P-1DP δια 1223 PREP τι 5101 I-ASN ουν 3767 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N επιστευσατε 4100 5656 V-AAI-2P αυτω 846 P-DSM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
21:25 {The baptism of John} (to baptisma to iwanou). this represents his relation to Jesus who was baptized by him. At once the ecclesiastical leaders find themselves in a dilemma created by their challenge of Christ. {They reasoned with themselves} (dielogizonto). Picturesque imperfect tense describing their hopeless quandary.
