Matthew 21:23-27

The issue of authority 21:23-27

Israel’s religious leaders approached Jesus asking that He show them His credentials authorizing Him to disrupt the buying and selling in the courtyard and to heal people.

"Two incidents about authority (Matthew 21:23-27 and Matthew 22:41-46) serve as ’bookends’ to three parables (Matthew 21:28 to Matthew 22:14) and three controversial dialogues with the Pharisees and Herodians, the Sadducees, and the Pharisees (Matthew 22:15-40)." [Note: Bailey, in The New . . ., p. 44.]