Matthew 21:27 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The leaders plead ignorance, so Jesus declines to tell them by what authority He acts.
What Does Matthew 21:27 Mean?
Cornered, the leaders retreat into a feigned ignorance: "We cannot tell." Because they refuse to answer honestly, Jesus declines to state the source of His authority. Their evasion forfeits the answer they pretended to seek.
Their reply is not true uncertainty but calculated avoidance, and Jesus meets it justly. He does not cast His truth before those who have already closed their hearts to it. The exchange teaches that God reveals Himself to the honest and humble, not to those who manipulate the truth for advantage. Yet the door is never sealed; a sincere question would have received a sincere reply.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 21:27
What does Matthew 21:27 mean?
The leaders plead ignorance, so Jesus declines to tell them by what authority He acts.