And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
Parallel translations
- WEB They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
- BSB So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
- NKJV So they answered Jesus and said, “We do not know.” And He said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
- NASB And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” He also said to them, “Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.
- NLT So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.
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
Refusing to answer honestly, the leaders say 'We don't know,' so Jesus declines to state His authority. Their evasion is itself a self-condemnation.
Overview
The leaders' professed ignorance is a dodge to avoid the consequences of either answer. Because they will not deal honestly with John's testimony, Jesus justly withholds a direct answer they would only reject. The episode shows that spiritual truth is withheld from those who close their hearts, and it sets up three parables of judgment that follow.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Rom 1:18–22For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
- 2 Th 2:9–10Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
- Matt 23:16–28Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
- Luke 20:7–8And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
- 2 Cor 4:3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
- Isa 28:9Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
- Isa 6:10Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
- Isa 42:19–20Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD’s servant?
- Rom 1:28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
- Isa 56:10–11His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
- Jer 8:7–9Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the LORD.
- John 9:30The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
- Matt 16:3And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
- Mal 2:6–9The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
- Isa 29:10–12For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
- Matt 15:14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
- John 9:40–41And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 21:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.