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

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◄ Matthew 21:27 ►

New International Version (© 2011)
So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

King James Bible
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.

American Standard Version
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.

Young's Literal Translation
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.

Matthew 21:27 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

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.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

We cannot tell.

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.

Matthew 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O you hypocrites...

Matthew 23:16 Woe to you, you blind guides, which say, Whoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing...

*etc:

Isaiah 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes...

Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk...

Isaiah 29:10-12 For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers...

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...

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...

Jeremiah 8:7-9 Yes, the stork in the heaven knows her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming...