Mateus 21:27

27 Responderam, pois, a Jesus: Não sabemos. Disse-lhe ele: Nem eu vos digo com que autoridade faço estas coisas.

Mateus 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.

Mateus 21:27 In-Context

25 O batismo de João, donde era? do céu ou dos homens? Ao que eles arrazoavam entre si: Se dissermos: Do céu, ele nos dirá: Então por que não o crestes?

26 Mas, se dissermos: Dos homens, tememos o povo; porque todos consideram João como profeta.

27 Responderam, pois, a Jesus: Não sabemos. Disse-lhe ele: Nem eu vos digo com que autoridade faço estas coisas.

28 Mas que vos parece? Um homem tinha dois filhos, e, chegando- se ao primeiro, disse: Filho, vai trabalhar hoje na vinha.

29 Ele respondeu: Sim, senhor; mas não foi.