Matthew 21 27

Matthew 21:27 kjv

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 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.

Matthew 21:27 niv

So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Matthew 21:27 esv

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.

Matthew 21:27 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.

Matthew 21 verses

Matthew 21 27 Meaning

Matthew 21:27 recounts the exchange where the chief priests and elders, unable or unwilling to answer Jesus' counter-question about John the Baptist's authority due to their own political expediency and fear of the crowd, claim ignorance. In response, Jesus, with divine wisdom, justly withholds the answer to their initial challenge regarding His own authority, thereby exposing their spiritual dishonesty and insincerity in seeking truth. This strategic non-response underscores their unworthiness of a direct revelation, as they deliberately chose to suppress truth for personal advantage.

Matthew 21 27 Context

Matthew 21 opens with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt 21:1-11), publicly affirming His Messiahship. He then cleanses the Temple (Matt 21:12-13), declaring it a "house of prayer" rather than a "den of robbers," challenging the established religious commerce. Miracles and teachings in the Temple further provoke the religious leaders (Matt 21:14-17). The verse (Matt 21:27) immediately follows the chief priests and elders' challenge to Jesus' authority for these actions (Matt 21:23) and Jesus' shrewd counter-question regarding John the Baptist's baptism (Matt 21:24). The leaders found themselves in a dilemma: acknowledging John's divine authority would implicitly validate Jesus', as John testified of Jesus (Matt 3:11-12; Jn 1:29-34); denying John's divine authority would alienate the people who believed John was a prophet (Matt 21:26). Their shared "We do not know" is a strategic evasion stemming from fear of public backlash and an unwillingness to accept a truth that challenged their vested interests. This deliberate dishonesty by those who should have been guardians of truth is the immediate backdrop against which Jesus refuses to answer.

Matthew 21 27 Word analysis

• And answering (Greek: καὶ ἀποκριθέντες - kai apokrithentes):

  • kai: "and," a simple connective.
  • apokrithentes: a participle from apokrinō, meaning "to answer," "to reply." This implies they deliberated among themselves (as shown in Matt 21:25-26) before formulating their response, making their final answer a calculated evasion, not a spontaneous admission of ignorance. Their answer was not borne of simple perplexity but conscious decision.

• they said to Jesus, 'We do not know.' (Greek: εἶπαν τῷ Ἰησοῦ· Οὐκ οἴδαμεν - eipan tō Iēsou· Ouk oidamen):

  • eipan: "they said," past tense of legō (to speak/say).
  • tō Iēsou: "to Jesus," dative case, indicating the recipient.
  • Ouk: a strong negation, "not," "no."
  • oidamen: "we know," first person plural perfect active indicative of oida. This Greek verb implies full knowledge or understanding derived from observation and insight, not just intellectual acquaintance. Thus, "We do not know" means "we have not come to know," "we have not ascertained," or "we do not perceive," implying a full lack of informed opinion. However, in this context, it is a strategic and hypocritical declaration, as they knew John's prophetic standing but refused to acknowledge it due to self-preservation (Matt 21:26). They suppressed what they knew or intuitively understood.

• He said to them, 'Neither will I tell you (Greek: ἔφη αὐτοῖς· Οὐδὲ ἐγὼ λέγω ὑμῖν - ephē autois· Oude egō legō hymin):

  • ephē: "he said," a specific form for emphatic or reported speech.
  • autois: "to them," dative plural.
  • Oude: "neither," "not even," an emphatic negative conjunction, stressing the reciprocity and firm refusal. It implies, "Just as you would not answer truthfully, so I will not answer you."
  • egō: "I," the emphatic pronoun. Jesus strongly asserts His personal choice in this refusal, reflecting His sovereign authority and wisdom.
  • legō: "will tell" (present active indicative, but used here with future force, "I tell you" or "I am telling you," conveying immediate decision).
  • hymin: "you" (plural), referring to the chief priests and elders.

• by what authority I do these things.' (Greek: ἐν ποίᾳ ἐξουσίᾳ ταῦτα ποιῶ - en poia exousia tauta poiō):

  • en poia exousia: "by what authority," the central point of the leaders' initial question.
    • en: "by," "in."
    • poia: "what sort of," "by what means."
    • exousia: "authority," "power," "right," "jurisdiction." It encompasses both the legitimate right and the enabling power. This was their original demand.
  • tauta: "these things," referring to Jesus' actions (cleansing the Temple, teaching authoritatively, healing, accepting praise, as described in Matt 21:12-16).
  • poiō: "I do" (present active indicative), a direct response to their challenge about His ongoing actions.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• "And answering, they said to Jesus,": This phrase emphasizes the deliberate nature of their response. It wasn't a casual remark but a formal, calculated statement after consultation, making their ensuing "We do not know" all the more damning. It highlights the direct confrontation with Jesus.
• "'We do not know.'": This is the crucial, dishonest declaration. It is a calculated lie stemming from fear (Matt 21:26), rather than genuine ignorance. They prioritized self-preservation and fear of popular opinion over truth and integrity. This public admission of ignorance or indecision highlights their intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy, particularly for those whose role it was to discern prophetic authority.
• "He said to them, 'Neither will I tell you...": This is Jesus' decisive and justified counter-action. The "Neither" (Oude) mirrors their refusal, establishing a principle of reciprocal justice. Because they refused to give a truthful answer to a matter essential to their own religious discernment (John's prophetic standing), Jesus saw no reason to give them a direct answer to their question, which they posed not out of genuine inquiry but to entrap or condemn Him. It is a moment where wisdom withholds itself from those who would misuse it.
• "...by what authority I do these things.'": This concludes the specific, conditional refusal. Jesus connects His non-disclosure directly to their lack of truthfulness regarding John. It's not a denial of His authority but a refusal to engage in a disingenuous debate. The implication is that if they were unwilling to acknowledge God's work through John, they were utterly incapable of discerning or accepting God's greater work through Him.

Matthew 21 27 Bonus section

The deliberate evasion of the chief priests and elders ("We do not know") underscores the moral dimension of truth-seeking. Their issue was not an intellectual inability to grasp truth, but a moral unwillingness to acknowledge truth that conflicted with their self-interests, power, and reputation. This passage serves as a sharp indictment against spiritual leadership that prioritizes human approval over divine approval. Jesus' response simultaneously preserves divine truth from being misused, rebukes hypocrisy, and subtly directs the astute listener back to the undeniable impact and authority of John, which pointed to Jesus. The incident highlights that God does not reveal truth to those whose hearts are closed and who operate out of fear of man rather than reverent awe of Him. Their refusal to answer became an implicit confession of their unrighteousness, paving the way for the parables Jesus would immediately speak afterwards, condemning their actions (Matt 21:28-46).

Matthew 21 27 Commentary

Matthew 21:27 is a poignant moment in Jesus' public ministry, illustrating His profound wisdom and discernment in dealing with His adversaries. The chief priests and elders, representatives of institutional religious authority, sought to discredit Jesus by questioning the source of His "authority" (exousia) for His Temple actions and teachings. Jesus, understanding their intent was malicious and not genuine inquiry, did not provide a direct answer. Instead, He exposed their hypocrisy and moral cowardice by presenting a dilemma concerning John the Baptist, whose divine authority they tacitly acknowledged (due to popular belief) but refused to explicitly endorse or deny for fear of the crowds.

Their response, "We do not know," was a transparent falsehood. These religious leaders were tasked with discerning spiritual truth; claiming ignorance on such a well-known prophet revealed either profound incompetence or, more likely, deliberate evasion. By this lie, they disqualified themselves from receiving further truth from Jesus. Consequently, Jesus withheld His answer. This was not a capitulation but a righteous judgment on their stubborn unbelief and spiritual blindness. It embodies the principle of not casting pearls before swine (Matt 7:6) and highlights that divine truth is often withheld from those who willfully resist and distort it. Their rejection of John, the forerunner, demonstrated their fundamental unwillingness to recognize God's redemptive work, making any further revelation of Jesus' own divine authority futile for them. It revealed that their ultimate authority was popular opinion and their own self-interest, not the will of God.

Example: This situation reminds us that when confronted by insincere questions or deliberate obfuscation, true wisdom often lies in discerning when to speak and when to remain silent, and that withholding answers can be a form of just teaching, inviting reflection rather than enabling further deception.