Matthew 21:27

27 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.

Matthew 21:27 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 21:27

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.

Matthew 21:27 In-Context

25 Where did John's right to baptize come from: was it from God or from human beings?" They started to argue among themselves, "What shall we say? If we answer, "From God,' he will say to us, "Why, then, did you not believe John?'

26 But if we say, "From human beings,' we are afraid of what the people might do, because they are all convinced that John was a prophet."

27 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.

28 "Now, what do you think? There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the older one and said, "Son, go and work in the vineyard today.'

29 "I don't want to,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.