^{23 Ref} And when he had come into the Temple, the chief priests and those in authority over the people came to him while he was teaching, and said, By what authority do you do these things? and who gave you this authority?

^{24 Ref} And Jesus said to them in answer, I will put one question to you, and if you give me the answer, I will say by what authority I do these things.

^{25 Ref} The baptism of John, where did it come from? from heaven or from men? And they were reasoning among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did you not have faith in him?

^{26 Ref} But if we say, From men; we are in fear of the people, because all take John to be a prophet.

^{27 Ref} And they made answer and said, We have no idea. Then he said to them, And I will not say to you by what authority I do these things.

^{28 Ref} But how does it seem to you? A man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go and do work today in the vine-garden.

^{29 Ref} And he said in answer, I will not: but later, changing his decision, he went.

^{30 Ref} And he came to the second and said the same. And he made answer and said, I go, sir: and went not.

^{31 Ref} Which of the two did his father's pleasure? They say, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, that tax-farmers and loose women are going into the kingdom of God before you.

^{32 Ref} For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you had no faith in him, but the tax-farmers and the loose women had faith in him: and you, when you saw it, did not even have regret for your sins, so as to have faith in him.