Matthew 21:27

27 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 in Other Translations

27 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.

27 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.

27 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.

27 They decided to concede that round to Jesus. "We don't know," they answered. Jesus said, "Then neither will I answer your question.

27 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority 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 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’

26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’

29 “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.