Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?
Parallel translations
- WEB The Jews therefore answered him, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?”
- BSB On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?”
- NKJV So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”
- NASB The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as Your authority for doing these things?”
- NLT But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The Jewish leaders demand a sign to justify Jesus' authority for such actions. They question His right to cleanse the temple.
Overview
Rather than repent, the authorities ask for a miraculous sign proving Jesus' authority to act so boldly. Their demand reflects a desire for proof on their own terms instead of recognition of God's claim through Him. Jesus' reply will point not to a display on demand but to the greatest sign of all — His resurrection.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Luke 11:29And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
- John 6:30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?
- Mark 8:11And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
- Matt 21:23And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
- Mark 11:27–28And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,
- Acts 5:28Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
- Luke 20:1–2And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,
- John 1:25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?
- Matt 16:1–4The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
- Acts 4:7And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?
- Matt 12:38–42Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
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Original language
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