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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} they answered {G611} Jesus {G2424}, and said {G2036}, We cannot {G3756} tell {G1492}. And {G2532} he {G846} said {G5346} unto them {G846}, Neither {G3761} tell {G3004} I {G1473} you {G5213} by {G1722} what {G4169} authority {G1849} I do {G4160} these things {G5023}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing 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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 21:27 captures a pivotal exchange in the Jerusalem temple during Jesus' final week, revealing the profound spiritual chasm between Jesus and the religious leaders. Faced with a direct challenge to His authority, Jesus masterfully poses a counter-question concerning John the Baptist's baptism. The chief priests and elders, caught in a dilemma that exposed their hypocrisy and fear of man, strategically feigned ignorance. In response, Jesus, with divine wisdom, refused to disclose the source of His authority, thereby highlighting their unworthiness to receive such truth due to their deliberate evasion and hardened hearts.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a highly charged narrative following Jesus' [triumphal entry into Jerusalem](/matthew/21-1-11 "Matthew 21:1-11 - The Triumphal Entry") and His subsequent [cleansing of the temple](/matthew/21-12-17 "Matthew 21:12-17 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple"). These actions, particularly the temple cleansing, directly challenged the authority and practices of the chief priests and elders, prompting their confrontation in [Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Matthew 21:23 - Challenge to Jesus' Authority"). Jesus' response in Matthew 21:24-27 is a brilliant counter-interrogation, linking His authority to that of John the Baptist. The leaders' refusal to answer about John's baptism (Matthew 21:25-27) sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent parables, such as the [Parable of the Two Sons](/matthew/21-28-32 "Matthew 21:28-32 - The Parable of the Two Sons") and the [Parable of the Wicked Tenants](/matthew/21-33-46 "Matthew 21:33-46 - The Parable of the Wicked Tenants"), which further condemn their unbelief and impending judgment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the temple courts in Jerusalem, the epicenter of Jewish religious and political life. The chief priests and elders represented the highest religious and civil authorities in Judea under Roman rule, holding significant power and influence over the people. Their challenge to Jesus' "authority" (Greek: *exousía*) was a direct questioning of His right to teach, perform miracles, and act as He did, especially within the sacred temple precincts. They sought to discredit Him publicly and legally. The reference to John the Baptist is crucial; John was widely regarded as a prophet by the Jewish populace, and his baptism was seen as a divinely appointed act. The leaders' fear of the crowd's reaction if they denied John's heavenly origin underscores the volatile political and religious climate, as well as their prioritization of self-preservation over truth.
* **Key Themes:** This passage powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Matthew's Gospel. The theme of **Authority** is central, contrasting Jesus' divine authority with the human-derived and corrupt authority of the religious establishment. The leaders' challenge and Jesus' response highlight the true source of legitimate power. **Hypocrisy and Spiritual Blindness** are also prominently displayed, as the leaders' refusal to answer about John's baptism reveals their calculated dishonesty and unwillingness to acknowledge divine truth, even when it was evident. This spiritual blindness ultimately leads to their rejection of Jesus. Furthermore, Jesus' **Divine Wisdom and Discernment** are showcased; He skillfully avoids their trap, turning the tables on His accusers and exposing their motives without directly answering their loaded question. This exchange also foreshadows the **Consequences of Unbelief**, demonstrating that those who willfully reject divine revelation will be left in their ignorance, unable to comprehend the deeper truths of God's kingdom.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **tell (Greek, _eídō'_):** Derived from a verb meaning "to see," this word, when used in the perfect tense as here (οἴδαμεν, *oidamen*), signifies "to know" or "to be aware." The religious leaders' claim "We cannot tell" (οὐκ οἴδαμεν - *ouk oídōmen*) is therefore not merely an inability to speak but a deliberate refusal to acknowledge what they knew or should have known. It implies a willful ignorance or strategic evasion of truth, demonstrating their intellectual dishonesty rather than genuine lack of knowledge.
* **authority (Greek, _exousía'_):** This term denotes not just raw power but rightful power, freedom of action, or delegated influence. It encompasses the right to act, command, and teach. When the chief priests and elders challenged Jesus' *exousía*, they were questioning the legitimacy and divine source of His actions, particularly His teaching in the temple and the cleansing of its courts. Their question was fundamentally about the origin and validation of His right to perform such acts.
* **I (Greek, _egṓ'_):** As a primary first-person pronoun, "I" is used here emphatically by Jesus. By stating "Neither tell *I* you," Jesus emphasizes His personal decision to withhold information from them, mirroring their own refusal to answer. This highlights the direct, personal nature of the confrontation and Jesus' sovereign control over the interaction, underscoring that He is not obligated to provide answers to those who are unwilling to receive truth with an honest heart.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell."**: This clause reveals the religious leaders' calculated evasion. They were trapped by Jesus' counter-question about John's baptism: if they said "from heaven," they would condemn themselves for not believing John; if they said "from men," they would provoke the people, who held John as a prophet. Their response, "We cannot tell" (literally, "we do not know"), was a strategic lie, a maneuver to avoid accountability, protect their public standing, and escape the dilemma, demonstrating their fear of man over fear of God.
* **"And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things."**: Jesus' response is a profound act of divine wisdom and justice. By mirroring their refusal to answer, He highlights their spiritual unworthiness to receive further revelation. Their deliberate dishonesty and unwillingness to acknowledge divine truth (regarding John's prophetic ministry) disqualified them from receiving the truth about Jesus' own divine authority. This is not a failure on Jesus' part to answer, but a righteous judgment on their hardened hearts and manipulative intentions, indicating that truth is not to be given to those who willfully reject it.

#### Literary Devices
This passage masterfully employs several literary devices. **Rhetorical Question** is central, as Jesus' counter-question about John's baptism (Matthew 21:25) is designed not to elicit information for Himself, but to expose the motives and hypocrisy of His interrogators. The leaders' response, "We cannot tell," is a prime example of **Evasion**, a deliberate withholding of truth to avoid undesirable consequences. Jesus' subsequent retort, "Neither tell I you," demonstrates powerful **Parallelism** and **Reciprocity**, mirroring their refusal to answer with His own, thereby illustrating the principle that those who close themselves off to truth will find truth withheld from them. There is also a strong element of **Irony** in the scene: the religious authorities, who claim to be guardians of truth, are exposed as intellectually dishonest, while Jesus, whom they seek to trap, reveals His divine wisdom and discernment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 21:27 profoundly underscores the nature of divine authority and the spiritual prerequisites for receiving truth. The religious leaders' refusal to acknowledge John's heavenly authority, despite popular belief and likely their own internal conviction, demonstrates a profound spiritual blindness and a prioritizing of self-preservation over God's truth. Jesus' response reveals that divine revelation is not indiscriminately dispensed; it is withheld from those who approach God with hardened hearts, ulterior motives, and a deliberate unwillingness to embrace truth. This passage highlights that genuine seekers of truth must possess sincerity, humility, and a readiness to submit to God's revealed will, rather than seeking to manipulate or control the divine narrative for their own ends.

* [Proverbs 1:7](/proverbs/1-7 "Proverbs 1:7 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge")
* [John 7:17](/john/7-17 "John 7:17 - Doing God's Will Leads to Knowing His Teaching")
* [2 Timothy 3:7](/2_timothy/3-7 "2 Timothy 3:7 - Always Learning, Never Coming to the Knowledge of the Truth")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 21:27 serves as a potent reminder that our posture towards truth profoundly impacts our ability to receive it. The religious leaders' calculated evasion and fear of man prevented them from acknowledging a clear divine witness (John the Baptist) and, consequently, from recognizing the ultimate divine authority (Jesus Christ). This challenges us to honestly examine our own hearts: are we genuinely seeking God's truth, or are we approaching spiritual matters with preconceived notions, a desire to protect our own interests, or a fear of what God's truth might demand of us? True spiritual growth and understanding require humility, integrity, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves and the world. When we refuse to acknowledge what God has already revealed, we close the door to further revelation. This verse calls us to cultivate a sincere and open heart, ready to receive and obey God's word, even when it challenges our comfort or status, recognizing that divine authority is not to be trifled with or manipulated.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be subtly or overtly evading truth, either about myself, others, or God?**
* **Am I more concerned with human approval or maintaining my status than with acknowledging and obeying God's truth?**
* **How does my willingness (or unwillingness) to accept God's authority in one area of my life impact my ability to understand and receive His truth in others?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a more honest and humble heart, open to receiving God's truth, even when it's challenging?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jesus not directly answer the chief priests and elders?**

Answer: Jesus did not directly answer because the chief priests and elders were not genuinely seeking truth but were attempting to trap Him. Their question was a loaded one, designed to find grounds for accusation or to discredit Him publicly. By posing a counter-question about John the Baptist's authority, Jesus exposed their hypocrisy and unwillingness to acknowledge divine truth. Their refusal to answer about John, whom they knew to be a prophet in the eyes of the people, demonstrated their spiritual unworthiness to receive further revelation about Jesus' own divine authority. Jesus' response was a righteous judgment on their hardened hearts and manipulative intentions, indicating that truth is not to be cast before those who willfully reject it (compare [Matthew 7:6](/matthew/7-6 "Matthew 7:6 - Do Not Give What Is Holy to Dogs")).

**What was the dilemma faced by the religious leaders regarding John's baptism?**

Answer: Jesus' question, "The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?" ([Matthew 21:25](/matthew/21-25 "Matthew 21:25 - Jesus' Counter-Question")), presented them with an inescapable dilemma. If they said John's authority was "from heaven," they would condemn themselves for not believing him, which would implicitly validate John's testimony about Jesus. If they said "of men," they feared the people, who widely regarded John as a prophet ([Matthew 21:26](/matthew/21-26 "Matthew 21:26 - The Leaders' Fear of the People")). Their fear of man and concern for their own reputation and power led them to choose the dishonest answer, "We cannot tell," rather than face the consequences of the truth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 21:27, while a moment of confrontation, ultimately points to the supreme authority of Christ, an authority that transcends human recognition or validation. The religious leaders' refusal to acknowledge John's divine commission foreshadows their greater refusal to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus' authority, unlike theirs, was not derived from human tradition or position, but from His inherent divinity and His unique relationship with the Father. He is the one through whom all things were made and by whom all things are sustained ([Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16-17 "Colossians 1:16-17 - Christ as Creator and Sustainer")). His refusal to answer those who deliberately closed their hearts to truth highlights the spiritual blindness that prevents many from recognizing Him even today. Yet, for those who come with genuine humility and a sincere desire for truth, Jesus freely reveals Himself as the way, the truth, and the life ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). His authority is ultimately demonstrated not in debate, but in His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, by which He has been given "all authority in heaven and on earth" ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - The Great Commission and Jesus' Authority")), establishing His eternal reign and inviting all to submit to His gracious Lordship.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 1:18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Romans 1:22

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

2 Thessalonians 2:9

[Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2 Thessalonians 2:10

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Isaiah 29:10

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.

Isaiah 29:12

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 42:19

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?