Matthew 21:25 Cross References - Twentieth_Century

²⁵ It is about John's baptism. What was its origin? divine or human?" But they began arguing among themselves: "If we say 'divine,' he will say to us 'Why then did not you believe him?'

¹ About that time John the Baptist first appeared, proclaiming in the Wilderness of Judea: ² "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." ³ This is he who was spoken of in the Prophet Isaiah, where he says--'The voice of one crying aloud in the Wilderness: "Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight."' ⁴ John wore clothing made of camels' hair, with a belt of leather round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ At that time Jerusalem, and all Judea, as well as the whole district of the Jordan, went out to him ⁶ And were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁷ When, however, John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he said to them: "You brood of vipers! Who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment? ⁸ Let your life, then, prove your repentance; ⁹ And do not think that you can say among yourselves 'Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham! ¹⁰ Already the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹ I, indeed, baptize you with water to teach repentance; but He who is Coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² His winnowing-fan is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, and store his grain in the barn, but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire."

⁷ While these men were going back, Jesus began to say to the crowds with reference to John: ⁸ "What did you go out into the Wilderness to look at? A reed waving in the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man richly dressed? Why, those who wear rich things are to be found in the courts of kings! ⁹ What, then, did you go for? To see a Prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a Prophet. ¹⁰ This is the man of whom Scripture says--'Behold, I am myself sending my Messenger before thy face, And he shall prepare thy way before thee.' ¹¹ I tell you, no one born of a woman has yet appeared who is greater than John the Baptist; and yet the lowliest in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. ¹² From the time of John the Baptist to this very hour, the Kingdom of Heaven has been taken by force, and men using force have been seizing it. ¹³ For the teaching of all the Prophets and of the Law continued till the time of John; ¹⁴ And--if you are ready to accept it--John is himself the Elijah who was destined to come. ¹⁵ Let him who has ears hear.

¹² And I tell you that Elijah has already come, and people have not recognized him, but have treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, too, the Son of Man is destined to undergo suffering at men's hands." ¹³ Then the disciples understood that it was of John the Baptist that he had spoken to them.

¹ The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ. ² It is said in the Prophet Isaiah--'Behold! I send my Messenger before thy face; He shall prepare thy way.' ³ 'The voice of one crying aloud in the Wilderness: "Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight."' ⁴ And in fulfillment of this, John the Baptizer appeared in the Wilderness, proclaiming a baptism upon repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole of Judea, as well as all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, went out to him; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶ John was clad in clothing of camels' hair, with a belt of leather round his waist, and lived on locusts and wild honey; ⁷ And he proclaimed--"There is coming after me one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to stoop down and unfasten his sandals. ⁸ I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." ⁹ Now about that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent apart, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him, ¹¹ And from the heavens came a voice--"Thou art my Son, the Beloved; in thee I delight."

²⁷ They came to Jerusalem again. While Jesus was walking about in the Temple Courts, the Chief Priests, the Teachers of the Law, and the Councillors came up to him. ²⁸ "What authority have you to do these things?" they said. "Who gave you the authority to do them?" ²⁹ "I will put one question to you," said Jesus. "Answer me that, and then I will tell you what authority I have to act as I do. ³⁰ It is about John's baptism. Was it of divine or human origin? Answer me that." ³¹ They began arguing together; "If we say 'divine,' he will say 'Why then did not you believe him?' ³² Yet can we say 'human'?"--They were afraid of the people, for everyone regarded John as undoubtedly a Prophet. ³³ So their answer to Jesus was--"We do not know." "Then I," replied Jesus, "refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things."

¹¹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right of the Altar of Incense. ¹² Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck. ¹³ But the angel said to him: " Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son, whom you shall call by the name John. ¹⁴ He shall be to you a joy and a delight; and many shall rejoice over his birth. ¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord; he shall not drink any wine or strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth, ¹⁶ And shall reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He shall go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, 'to reconcile fathers to their children' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him."

⁶⁷ Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said: ⁶⁸ "Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance, ⁶⁹ And has raised up for us the Strength of our Salvation In the House of his servant David-- ⁷⁰ As he promised by the lips of his Holy Prophets of old-- ⁷¹ Salvation from our enemies and from the hands of all that hate us, ⁷² Showing mercy to our forefathers, And mindful of his sacred Covenant. ⁷³ This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham-- ⁷⁴ That we should be rescued from the hands of our enemies, ⁷⁵ And should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness, In his presence all our days. ⁷⁶ And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way, ⁷⁷ To give his people the knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins, ⁷⁸ Through the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven, ⁷⁹ To give light to those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, And guide our feet into the way of peace." ⁸⁰ The child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before Israel.

² And when Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests, a Command from God came to John, the son of Zechariah, while he was in the wilderness. ³ And John went through the whole district of the Jordan, proclaiming baptism upon repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ This was in fulfillment of what is said in the writings of the Prophet Isaiah--'The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: "Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. ⁵ Every chasm shall be filled, Every mountain and hill shall be leveled, The winding ways shall be straightened, The rough roads made smooth, ⁶ And all mankind shall see the Salvation of God."' ⁷ And John said to the crowds that went to be baptized by him: "You brood of vipers! who has prompted you to seek refuge from the coming judgment? ⁸ Let your lives, then, prove your repentance; and do not begin to say among yourselves 'Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham! ⁹ Already, indeed, the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." ¹⁰ "What are we to do then?" the people asked. ¹¹ "Let the man who has two coats," answered John, "share with him who has none; and the man who has food do the same." ¹² Even tax-gatherers came to be baptized, and said to John: "Teacher, what are we to do?" ¹³ "Do not collect more than you have authority to demand," John answered. ¹⁴ And when some soldiers on active service asked "And we--what are we to do?" he said: "Never use violence, or exact anything by false accusation; and be content with your pay." ¹⁵ Then, while the people were in suspense, and were all debating with themselves whether John could be the Christ, ¹⁶ John, addressing them all, said: "I, indeed, baptize you with water; but there is coming one more powerful than I, and I am not fit even to unfasten his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing-fan is in his hand, that he may clear his threshing-floor, and store the grain in his barn, but the chaff he will burn with inextinguishable fire." ¹⁸ And so with many different exhortations John told his Good News to the people. ¹⁹ But Prince Herod, being rebuked by John respecting Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother, and for all the evil things that he had done, ²⁰ Crowned them all by shutting John up in prison.

²⁸ There is, I tell you, no one born of a woman who is greater than John; and yet the lowliest in the Kingdom of God is greater than he." ²⁹ (All the people, when they heard this, and even the tax- gatherers, having accepted John's baptism, acknowledged the justice of God. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the Students of the Law, having rejected John's baptism, frustrated God's purpose in regard to them.) ³¹ "To what then," Jesus continued, "shall I compare the people of the present generation? What are they like? ³² They are like some little children who are sitting in the market-place and calling out to one another--'We have played the flute for you, but you have not danced; We have wailed, but you have not wept!' ³³ For now that John the Baptist has come, not eating bread or drinking wine, you are saying 'He has a demon in him'; ³⁴ And now that the Son of Man has come, eating and drinking, you are saying 'Here is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax- gatherers and outcasts.' ³⁵ And yet Wisdom is vindicated by all her children."

⁵ But they began arguing together: "If we say 'divine,' he will say 'Why did not you believe him?'

⁶ There appeared a man sent from God, whose name was John;

¹⁵ (John bears witness to him; he cried aloud--for it was he who spoke--"'He who is Coming' after me is now before me, for he was ever first");

²⁵ And their next question was: "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor yet 'the Prophet'?" ²⁶ John's answer was--"I baptize with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; ²⁷ He is coming after me, yet I am not worthy even to unfasten his sandal." ²⁸ All this took place at Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was then baptizing. ²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him, and exclaimed: "Here is the Lamb of God, who is to take away the sin of the world! ³⁰ It was of him that I spoke when I said 'After me there is coming a man who is now before me, for he was ever First.' ³¹ I myself did not know him, but, that he may be made known to Israel, I have come, baptizing with water." ³² John also made this statement--"I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of the heavens, and it remained upon him. ³³ I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water, he said to me 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon him--he it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ This I have seen myself, and I have declared my belief that he is the Son of God."

¹⁸ He who believes in him escapes condemnation, while he who does not believe in him is already condemned, because he has not believed in the only Son of God.

²⁶ And the disciples came to John and said: "Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, and to whom you have yourself borne testimony--he, also, is baptizing, and everybody is going to him." ²⁷ John's answer was--"A man can gain nothing but what is given him from Heaven. ²⁸ You are yourselves witnesses that I said 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I have been sent before him as a Messenger.' ²⁹ It is the bridegroom who has the bride; but the bridegroom's friend, who stands by and listens to him, is filled with joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. This joy I have felt to the full. ³⁰ He must become greater, and I less." ³¹ He who comes from above is above all others; but a child of earth is earthly, and his teaching is earthly, too. He who comes from Heaven is above all others. ³² He states what he has seen and what he heard, and yet no one accepts his statement. ³³ They who did accept his statement attested the fact that God is true. ³⁴ For he whom God sent as his Messenger gives us God's own teaching, for God does not limit the gift of the Spirit. ³⁵ The Father loves his Son, and has put everything in his hands. ³⁶ He who believes in the Son has Immortal Life, while he who rejects the Son will not even see that Life, but remains under 'God's displeasure.'

³³ You have yourselves sent to John, and he as testified to the Truth. ³⁴ But the testimony which I receive is not from man; I am saying this for your Salvation. ³⁵ He was the 'Lamp that was burning' and shining, and you were ready to rejoice, for a time, in his light. ³⁶ But the testimony which I have is of greater weight than John's; for the work that the Father has given me to carry out-- the work that I am doing--is in itself proof that the Father has sent me as his Messenger.

⁴⁴ How can you believe in me, when you receive honor from one another and do not desire the honor which comes from the only God? ⁴⁵ Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have been resting your hopes. ⁴⁶ For, had you believed Moses, you would have believed me, for it was of me that Moses wrote; ⁴⁷ But, if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my teaching?"

²⁵ "I have told you so," replied Jesus, "and you do not believe me. The work that I am doing in my Father's name bears testimony to me. ²⁶ But you do not believe me, because you are not of my flock.

³⁷ But, though Jesus had given so many signs of his mission before their eyes, they still did not believe in him, ³⁸ In fulfillment of the words of the Prophet Isaiah, where he says--'Lord, who has believed our teaching? And to whom has the might of the Lord been revealed?' ³⁹ The reason why they were unable to believe is given by Isaiah elsewhere, in these words-- ⁴⁰ 'He has blinded their eyes, and blunted their mind, so that they should not see with their eyes, and perceive with their mind, and turn--And I should heal them.' ⁴¹ Isaiah said this, because he saw Christ's glory; and it was of him that he spoke. ⁴² Yet for all this, even among the leading men there were many who came to believe in Jesus; but, on account of the Pharisees, they did not acknowledge it, for fear that they should be expelled from their Synagogues; ⁴³ For they valued honor from men more than honor from God.

²⁰ that if our conscience condemns us, yet God is greater than our conscience and knows everything.