Don’t forget that the leaders who rejected Jesus also rejected John the Baptist.

John’s father, Zechariah, was a priest who saw and spoke with the angel Gabriel while he was in the temple. Furthermore, Zechariah prophesied about John after he was born,

Luke 1:76 And indeed you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

                        for you will go on before the Lord to prepare his ways,

77        to give knowledge of salvation to his people

                        in the forgiveness of their sins,

78        through the tender mercy of our God,

                        with which the sunrise from on high will visit us;

79        to give light to those who sit in darkness

                        and in the shadow of death,

                        to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Jesus made it clear that the leaders who rejected Him also rejected John and they did so without any excuse. John was obviously a prophet whose birth had been foretold by an angel and his mission had been prophesied by his father who was a member of the priesthood. Then it was equally obvious that the leaders would not except any authority other than themselves since they had rejected an angel, a priest, and a prophet.

Matthew 21:23 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 And Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one 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 – where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “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.

            28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He answered, ‘I will not.’ But afterward he regretted it and went. 30 But he went to the other and said the same thing. And he answered, ‘I will, sir.’ But he did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the harlots believed him. And when you saw it, you did not even repent afterward and believe him.

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament