Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 1:25

"And they asked him, and said unto him, Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet?" — John 1:25 (ASV)

The Pharisees represented the strict interpreters of the Law and were particularly interested in examining the credentials of any new religious teacher in Judaism. This gospel does not show unvarying hostility toward them. Nicodemus was a Pharisee and was apparently a sincere if unenlightened person . As a class, however, they were hostile toward Jesus because he did not observe traditional rules and because he openly rebuked their superficial and often hypocritical religiosity. These Pharisees challenged John’s right to baptize.