From: Matthew 21:23-27

The Authority of Jesus is Questioned

[23] And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the
people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you
doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” [24] Jesus answered them,
“I also will ask you a question; and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell
you by what authority I do these things. [25] The baptism of John, whence was
it? From heaven or from men?” And they argued with one another, “If we say,
‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ [26] But if
we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a
prophet.” [27] So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them,
“Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

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Commentary:

23-27. When the chief priests and elders ask “By what authority are you doing
these things?” they are referring both to his teaching and to his self-assure pub-
lic actions — throwing the traders out of the Temple, entering Jerusalem in tri-
umph, allowing the children to acclaim him, curing the sick, etc. What they want
him to do is to prove that he has authority to act in this way or to admit openly
that he is the Messiah.

However, Jesus knows that they are not well-intentioned and he declines to give
them a direct answer; he prefers to put a question to them that forces them to
make their own attitude clear. He seeks to provoke them into examining their
consciences and changing their whole approach.

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Readings at Mass

First reading

Numbers 24:2-7,15-17 ©

Raising his eyes Balaam saw Israel, encamped by tribes; the spirit of God came on him and he declaimed his poem. He said:

‘The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,

the oracle of the man with far-seeing eyes,

the oracle of one who hears the word of God.

He sees what Shaddai makes him see,

receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened.

How fair are your tents, O Jacob!

How fair your dwellings, Israel!

Like valleys that stretch afar,

like gardens by the banks of a river,

like aloes planted by the Lord,

like cedars beside the waters!

A hero arises from their stock,

he reigns over countless peoples.

His king is greater than Agag,

his majesty is exalted.’

Then Balaam declaimed his poem again. He said:

‘The oracle of Balaam son of Beor,

the oracle of the man with far-seeing eyes,

the oracle of one who hears the word of God,

of one who knows the knowledge of the Most High.

He sees what Shaddai makes him see,

receives the divine answer, and his eyes are opened.

I see him – but not in the present,

I behold him – but not close at hand:

a star from Jacob takes the leadership,

a sceptre arises from Israel.’

Psalm

Psalm 24:4-6,7-9 ©

Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, teach me your paths.

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:

for you are God my saviour.

Lord, make me know your ways.

In you I hope all day long

because of your goodness, O Lord.

Remember your mercy, Lord,

and the love you have shown from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth.

In your love remember me.

Lord, make me know your ways.

The Lord is good and upright.

He shows the path to those who stray,

He guides the humble in the right path,

He teaches his way to the poor.

Lord, make me know your ways.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord will come, go out to meet him.

Great is his beginning and his reign will have no end.

Alleluia!

Or	Ps84:8

Alleluia, alleluia!

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy

and give us your saving help.

Alleluia!

Gospel

Jesus had gone into the Temple and was teaching, when the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him and said, ‘What authority have you for acting like this? And who gave you this authority?’ ‘And I’ replied Jesus ‘will ask you a question, only one; if you tell me the answer to it, I will then tell you my authority for acting like this. John’s baptism: where did it come from: heaven or man?’ And they argued it out this way among themselves, ‘If we say from heaven, he will retort, “Then why did you refuse to believe him?”; but if we say from man, we have the people to fear, for they all hold that John was a prophet.’ So their reply to Jesus was, ‘We do not know.’ And he retorted, ‘Nor will I tell you my authority for acting like this.’