Daily Discovery Bible Study

23 Jesus went into the Temple. The chief priests and the ruling elders of the people came to him while he was teaching and asked, “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?”

24 “I too will ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “If you give me the answer, I will tell you by what authority I do these things.25 Where did the baptism of John come from? Was it from heaven, or was it from human beings?”

They argued with each other. “If we say ‘it was from heaven,’ then he'll ask us why we didn't believe him. 26 But if we say, ‘it was from human beings,’ then the crowd will turn against us, because they all consider John to be a prophet.”27 So they answered Jesus, “We don't know.”

“Then I won't tell you by what authority I'm doing these things,” Jesus replied. 28 “But what do you think about this illustration? Once there was a man who had two sons. He went to the first son, and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’29 The son answered, ‘I won't,’ but afterwards he was sorry for what he said and he did go.30 The man went to the second son, and told him the same thing. He replied, ‘I'll go,’ but he didn't.31 Which of the two sons did what his father wanted?”

“The first,” they answered.

“I tell you the truth: tax-collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you,” Jesus told them. 32 “John came to show you the way to live right with God, and you didn't believe him, but the tax-collectors and prostitutes did believe him. Later, when you saw what happened, you still didn't repent and believe him.

Matthew 21: 23-32