21:25 The {m} baptism of John, whence was it? from {n} heaven, or of men? And they {o} reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
(m) The preaching of John is called by the figure baptism because he preached the baptism of repentance, etc.; Mr 1:4 Ac 19:3.
(n) From God, and so it is plainly seen how these are set one against another.
(o) Beat their heads about it, and mused, or laid their heads together.
21:25,26 The baptism of John. Though the people generally had obeyed John, they had rejected his baptism. Yet they dared not say it was of men, for fear of the people; nor that it was of heaven, because they had disobeyed it. They therefore say, We cannot tell (Mt 21:27).
21:25 Why did ye not believe him - Testifying this.
21:23-27 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.
