25 “The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men?” And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’
26 “But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.”
27 And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Matthew 21:23-27.
We may too often think that the value of Christ’s miracles is just the benefit that it gives to the sick and suffering. But, we see here in this text as emphasized by Calvin’s Commentary below that Christ’s miracles prove His divine majesty and authority, that Christ is the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of God.
And the way for Christ was prepared by the Witness John the Baptist. If the people truly honored John the Baptist who “pointed out Christ with the finger, and had declared him to be the only Son of God”, then they should believe in Christ’s divine majesty and authority, that Christ is the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Son of God.
But, as we see, the chief priests and elders were so wicked that they chose their own plans and plots to undermine and attack Jesus over the clear evidence that should have led them to the truth.
Calvin in his Commentary on this Scripture states in part:
“… But when the divine majesty of Christ had been attested by so many miracles, they act maliciously and wickedly in inquiring whence he came, as if they had been ignorant of all that he had done. For what could be more unreasonable than that., after seeing the hand of God openly displayed in curing the lame and blind, they should doubt if he were a private individual who had rashly assumed this authority? Besides, more than enough of evidence had been already laid before them., that Christ was sent from heaven., so that nothing was farther from their wish than to approve of the performances of Christ, after having learned that God was the Author of them.” …
Whence was the baptism of John? Christ interrogates them about the baptism of John, not only to show that they were unworthy of any authority, because they had despised a holy prophet of God, but also to convict them, by their own reply, of having impudently pretended ignorance of a matter with which they were well acquainted. For we must bear in mind why John was sent, what was his commission, and on what subject he most of all insisted. He had been sent as Christ’s herald. He was not deficient in his duty, and claims nothing more for himself than to prepare the way of the Lord. (Malachi 3:1; Luke 7:27.)
In short, he (John) had pointed out Christ with the finger, and had declared him to be the only Son of God. From what source then do the scribes mean that the new authority of Christ should be proved, since it had been fully attested by the preaching of John?
We now see that Christ employed no cunning stratagem in order to escape, but fully and perfectly answered the question which had been proposed; for it was impossible to acknowledge that John was a servant of God, without acknowledging that he was Himself the Lord.” …
“But they thought within themselves. Here we perceive the impiety of the priests. They do not inquire what is true, nor do they put the question to their own conscience; and they are so base as to choose rather to shuffle than to acknowledge what they know to be true, that their tyranny may not be impaired. In this manner, all wicked men, though they pretend to be desirous of learning, shut the gate of truth, if they feel it to be opposed to their wicked desires. So then Christ does not allow those men to go without a reply, but sends them away ashamed and confounded, and, by bringing forward the testimony of John, sufficiently proves that he is furnished with divine power.”
In conclusion, there is a lesson here for us. Although we certainly do not engage in plans and plots to undermine and attack Jesus, do we have our own agenda that cause us to close our eyes to the truth and to the command of Jesus’ authority? The chief priest and elders did see Jesus’ miracles and John the Baptist’s witness. However ,we have much more. We have the testimony of the full Word of God. We have the foundation of the apostles and prophets. We also have Augustine, Luther, and Calvin and all the other saints throughout history who gave us creeds and other sound doctrine and the examples of their lives to guide us and inspire us. “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 