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New Living Translation
Matthew 21:27
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So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
And they answered Iesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said vnto them, Neither tell I you by what authoritie I doe these things.
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.
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.
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.
So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said to them, "Then I won't tell you what authority I have to do these things.
So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what [kind of] authority I do these things."
And answering Jesus, they said, "We do not know." He also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
And they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." He also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
So they answered, "We do not know." And Jesus replied, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
So they told Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Then I won't tell you who gave me the right to do what I do."
So they answered Yeshua, "We don't know." And he replied, "Then I won't tell you by what s'mikhah I do these things.
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.
So they told Jesus, "We don't know the answer." Jesus said, "Then I will not tell you who gave me the authority to do these things.
Then they answered Iesus, and said, We can not tell. And he said vnto them, Neither tell I you by what authoritie I doe these things.
So they answered and said to him, We do not know. Jesus said to them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you, then, by what right I do these things.
And they answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
And answering Jesus, they said, We do not know. And He said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
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.
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.
They answered Yeshua, and said, "We don't know." He also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
So they said to Jesus, "We don't know." He in turn told them, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
And they answered, saying to him, We know not: Jeshu saith to them, Also I tell not you by what authority I do these (things).
And they answered, and said to him: We do not know. Jesus said to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
And they aunswered vnto Iesus, and sayde: we can not tell. And he saide vnto them: neither tell I you, by what aucthoritie I do these thynges.
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.
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.
And they answering said to Jesus, We cannot tell. And he said to them, Neither tell I you, by what authority I do these things.
So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." "Nor do I tell you," He replied, "by what authority I do these things."
And thei answeriden to Jhesu, and seiden, We witen not. And he seide to hem, Nether Y seie to you, in what power Y do these thingis.
And they answered Jesus, and said, We don't know. He also said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
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.
So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
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.
They said to Jesus, "We do not know." He said to them, "Then I will not tell you by what right and power I do these things.
So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
And, making answer to Jesus, they said - We know not. He also, said unto them - Neither do, I, tell, you, by what authority, these things, I am doing.
And answering Jesus, they said: We know not. He also said to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
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.
And they answered Iesus and sayde: we cannot tell. And he lyke wyse sayd vnto them: nether tell I you by what auctorite I do these thinges.
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.
And they answered Iesus, & sayde: We can not tell. Then sayde he vnto them: Nether tell I you, by what auctorite I do these thinges.
so they made answer, we cannot tell. and Jesus said, neither shall I tell you, by what authority I do these things.
The Royal Welcome When they neared Jerusalem, having arrived at Bethphage on Mount Olives, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: "Go over to the village across from you. You'll find a donkey tethered there, her colt with her. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you're doing, say, ‘The Master needs them!' He will send them with you." This is the full story of what was sketched earlier by the prophet: Tell Zion's daughter, "Look, your king's on his way, poised and ready, mounted On a donkey, on a colt, foal of a pack animal." The disciples went and did exactly what Jesus told them to do. They led the donkey and colt out, laid some of their clothes on them, and Jesus mounted. Nearly all the people in the crowd threw their garments down on the road, giving him a royal welcome. Others cut branches from the trees and threw them down as a welcome mat. Crowds went ahead and crowds followed, all of them calling out, "Hosanna to David's son!" "Blessed is he who comes in God's name!" "Hosanna in highest heaven!" As he made his entrance into Jerusalem, the whole city was shaken. Unnerved, people were asking, "What's going on here? Who is this?" The parade crowd answered, "This is the prophet Jesus, the one from Nazareth in Galilee." Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this text: My house was designated a house of prayer; You have made it a hangout for thieves. Now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he healed them. When the religious leaders saw the outrageous things he was doing, and heard all the children running and shouting through the Temple, "Hosanna to David's Son!" they were up in arms and took him to task. "Do you hear what these children are saying?" Jesus said, "Yes, I hear them. And haven't you read in God's Word, ‘From the mouths of children and babies I'll furnish a place of praise'?" Fed up, Jesus turned on his heel and left the city for Bethany, where he spent the night. Early the next morning Jesus was returning to the city. He was hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree alongside the road, he approached it anticipating a breakfast of figs. When he got to the tree, there was nothing but fig leaves. He said, "No more figs from this tree—ever!" The fig tree withered on the spot, a dry stick. The disciples saw it happen. They rubbed their eyes, saying, "Did we really see this? A leafy tree one minute, a dry stick the next?" But Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Yes—and if you embrace this kingdom life and don't doubt God, you'll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you'll tell, ‘Go jump in the lake,' and it will jump. Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God." Then he was back in the Temple, teaching. The high priests and leaders of the people came up and demanded, "Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to teach here?" Jesus responded, "First let me ask you a question. You answer my question and I'll answer yours. About the baptism of John—who authorized it: heaven or humans?" They were on the spot and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, "If we say ‘heaven,' he'll ask us why we didn't believe him; if we say ‘humans,' we're up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet." They decided to concede that round to Jesus. "We don't know," they answered. Jesus said, "Then neither will I answer your question.
They finally just threw their hands up and said, "We don't know." Then Jesus said, "Since you didn't answer, neither will I."
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
We cannot tell: Matthew 15:14, Matthew 16:3, Matthew 23:16-28, Isaiah 6:10, Isaiah 28:9, Isaiah 29:10-12, Isaiah 42:19, Isaiah 42:20, Isaiah 56:10, Isaiah 56:11, Jeremiah 8:7-9, Malachi 2:6-9, Luke 20:7, Luke 20:8, John 9:30, John 9:40, John 9:41, Romans 1:18-22, Romans 1:28, 2 Corinthians 4:3, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:10
Reciprocal: Matthew 22:46 - no Mark 11:33 - Neither 1 Timothy 1:7 - understanding
Cross-References
About this time, Abimelech came with Phicol, his army commander, to visit Abraham. "God is obviously with you, helping you in everything you do," Abimelech said.
"Swear to me in God's name that you will never deceive me, my children, or any of my descendants. I have been loyal to you, so now swear that you will be loyal to me and to this country where you are living as a foreigner."
But Abraham also took seven additional female lambs and set them off by themselves.
Then he named the place Beersheba (which means "well of the oath"), because that was where they had sworn the oath.
So come, let's make a covenant, you and I, and it will be a witness to our commitment."
And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.
A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!
Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people!
There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.
A secret gift calms anger; a bribe under the table pacifies fury.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And they answered Jesus and said, we cannot tell,.... They saw the dilemma they were brought into; they chose rather therefore to speak against their own consciences, and tell a wilful lie, and incur the reproach of ignorance: who, at other times, took upon them to judge of a prophet, whether he was a true or a false one, and by what authority he acted, whether of God, or man: but now being reduced to this wretched condition, contrary to their office and character, declare they did not know, and could not tell from whence John had his commission, and who gave him his authority:
and he said unto them, neither tell I you by what authority I do these things: since, according to the proposal of Christ, and the agreement he entered into with them, they did not give him a direct answer to his question, he looked upon himself under no obligation to inform them, what was his authority, and from whence he had it; though by the question he put to them he tacitly suggests, that he had his authority not from man, but from God; and by this his answer signifies, that since John preached and baptized without their authority and approbation, so might he; nor was he dependent on them, or accountable to them.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
See also Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-9.
Matthew 21:23
When he was come into the temple - That is, probably, into the inner court - the court of the Israelites.
They took this opportunity of questioning him on this subject when he was not surrounded by the multitude.
By what authority ... - There was a show of propriety in this question. He was making great changes in the affairs of the temple, and they claimed the right to know why this was done, contrary to their permission. He was not âa priest;â he had no civil or ecclesiastical authority as a Jew. It was sufficient authority, indeed, that he came as a prophet and worked miracles. But they professed not to be satisfied with that.
These things - The things which he had just done, in overturning the seats of those that were engaged in traffic, Matthew 21:12.
Matthew 21:24, Matthew 21:25
And Jesus answered ... - Jesus was under no obligation to give them an answer.
They well knew by what authority he did this. He had not concealed his power in working miracles, and had not kept back the knowledge that he was the Messiah. He therefore referred them to a similar case - that of John the Baptist. He knew the estimation in which John was held by the people, and he took the wise in their own craftiness. Whatever answer they gave, he knew they Would convict themselves, and so they saw when they looked at the question. They reasoned correctly. If they should say that John received authority to baptize from God or from heaven, he would directly ask why they did not believe him. They professed to hear all the prophets. If they said, âOf men,â they would be in danger, for all the people believed that John was a prophet.
The baptism of John - For an account of this, see Matthew 3:0. The word âbaptismâ here probably includes all his work. This was his principal employment; and hence he was called the Baptist, or the âBaptizer.â But our Saviourâs question refers âto his whole ministry.â âThe âministry of Johnâ - his baptism, preaching, prophecies was it from God, or not?â If it was, then the inference was clear that Jesus was the Messiah, and then they might easily know by what authority he did those things.
From heaven - By divine authority, or by the command of God.
From men - By human authority.
Matthew 21:26
We fear the people - They feared that the people would stone them (Luke). Such an unpopular sentiment as to profess that all that âJohnâ did was âimposture,â would have probably ended in tumult, perhaps in their death.
Matthew 21:27
We cannot tell - This was a direct falsehood. They could have told; and the answer should have been, âWe will not tell.â 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 âwhat authorityâ he did those things; that is, by his authority as Messiah. John came as his forerunner, pointed him out to the people, baptized him, and bore his public and solemn testimony to the fact that he was the Messiah, Matthew 3:13-15; John 1:29-34. 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 âsufficientâ answer, there was no need of stating anything further.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 21:27. 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 defence, they are obliged to have recourse.
