Matthew 21 · Verse 27

Matthew 21:27

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.

Matthew 21:27, King James Version

Matthew 21:27 in other translations

BSB	So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
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.
ASV	And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
YLT	And answering Jesus they said, ‘We have not known.' He said to them--he also--‘Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
DARBY	And answering Jesus they said, We do not know. He also said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
BBE	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.
Webster	And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

What does Matthew 21:27 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

27. And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell--Evidently their difficulty was, how to answer, so as neither to shake their determination to reject the claims of Christ nor damage their reputation with the people. For the truth itself they cared nothing whatever. Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things--What composure and dignity of wisdom does our Lord here display, as He turns their question upon themselves, and, while revealing His knowledge of their hypocrisy, closes their mouths! Taking advantage of the surprise, silence, and awe produced by this reply, our Lord followed it up immediately by the two following parables. Parable of the Two Sons (Mt 21:28-32).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 27. We cannot tell. This was a direct falsehood. They could have told; and it should have been, we will not tell. There was no reason but that why they did not tell. The reason probably why they would not acknowledge that John was a prophet was that, if they did, they saw he could easily show them by what authority he did those things; i.e., as Messiah. John predicted him, pointed him out, baptized him, came as his forerunner, to fulfil the prophecies. If they acknowledged one, they must the other. In this way our Saviour was about to lead these crafty men to answer their own question, to their own confusion, about his authority. They saw this; and having given them a sufficient answer, there was no need of stating anything further.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 27 We cannot tell - Simplicity gives a wonderful confidence and peace of mind; but double dealing causes a thousand inquietudes and troubles. Let a man do his utmost to conceal in his own heart the evidence he has of truth and innocence, to countenance his not yielding to it; God, who sees the heart, will, in the light of the last day, produce it as a witness against him, and make it his judge. We cannot tell, said they; which, in the words of truth, should have been, We will not tell, for we will not have this man for the Messiah: because, if we acknowledge John as his forerunner, we must, of necessity, receive Jesus as the Christ. They who are engaged against the truth are abandoned to the spirit of falsity, and scruple not at a lie. Pharisaical pride, according to its different interests, either pretends to know every thing, or affects to know nothing. Among such, we may meet with numerous instances of arrogance and affected humility. God often hides from the wise and prudent what he reveals unto babes; for, when they use their wisdom only to invent the most plausible excuses for rejecting the truth when it comes to them, it is but just that they should be punished with that ignorance to which, in their own defense, they are obliged to have recourse.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 21:23-27

As our Lord now openly appeared as the Messiah, the chief priests and scribes were much offended, especially because he exposed and removed the abuses they encouraged. Our Lord asked what they thought of John's ministry and baptism. Many are more afraid of the shame of lying than of the sin, and therefore scruple not to speak what they know to be false, as to their own thoughts, affections, and intentions, or their…

Read the full comment on Matthew 21:23-27 →

Matthew 21:27 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΚαὶKaiAndG2532

ἀποκριθέντεςapokrithentesansweringG611

τῷtō<the>G3588

ἸησοῦIēsouJesusG2424

εἶπαν·eipanthey said;G2036

οὐκoukNotG3756

οἴδαμεν.oidamendo we know.

ἔφηephēWas sayingG5346

αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846

καὶkaialsoG2532

αὐτός·autosHe himself;G846

οὐδὲoudeNeitherG3761

ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473

λέγωlegōtellG3004

ὑμῖνhuminyouG4771

ἐνenbyG1722

ποίᾳpoiawhatG4169

ἐξουσίᾳexousiaauthorityG1849

ταῦταtautathese thingsG3778

ποιῶ.¶poiōI do.G4160

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 21:27

Romans 1:18-22
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. …
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
John 9:30
The 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.
2 Corinthians 4:3
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
Isaiah 28:9
Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Matthew 23:16-28
Woe 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! Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? …
Romans 1:28
And 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;
Luke 20:7-8
And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
Isaiah 42:19-20
Who 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? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.
Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Isaiah 29:10-12
For 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. And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
Isaiah 56:10-11
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

We cannot tell.
15:14; 16:3; 23:16-28; Isa 6:10; 28:9; 29:10-12; 42:19,20; 56:10,11
Jer 8:7-9; Mal 2:6-9; Lu 20:7,8; Joh 9:30,40,41; Ro 1:18-22,28
2Co 4:3; 2Th 2:9,10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Matthew 21:26
But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
Matthew 21:27
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.
Matthew 21:28
But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.

Read all of Matthew 21

Matthew 21:27 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y respondiendo á Jesús, dijeron: No sabemos. Y él también les dijo: Ni yo os digo con qué autoridad hago esto.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et, répondant, ils dirent à Jésus: Nous ne savons. Lui aussi leur dit: Moi non plus, je ne vous dis pas par quelle autorité je fais ces choses.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und sie antworteten Jesu und sprachen: Wir wissen es nicht. Da sagte auch er zu ihnen: So sage auch ich euch nicht, in welchem Recht ich diese Dinge tue.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Et respondentes Jesu, dixerunt: Nescimus. Ait illis et ipse: Nec ego dico vobis in qua potestate hæc facio.