Matthäus 21:27

27 Und sie antworteten Jesu und sprachen: Wir wissen es nicht. Da sagte auch er zu ihnen: So sage auch ich euch nicht, in welchem Recht ich diese Dinge tue.

Matthäus 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.

Matthäus 21:27 In-Context

25 Die Taufe Johannes', woher war sie? Vom Himmel oder von Menschen? Sie aber überlegten bei sich selbst und sprachen: Wenn wir sagen: Vom Himmel, so wird er zu uns sagen: Warum habt ihr ihm denn nicht geglaubt?

26 Wenn wir aber sagen: Von Menschen, wir fürchten die Volksmenge, denn alle halten Johannes für einen Propheten.

27 Und sie antworteten Jesu und sprachen: Wir wissen es nicht. Da sagte auch er zu ihnen: So sage auch ich euch nicht, in welchem Recht ich diese Dinge tue.

28 Was dünkt euch aber? Ein Mensch hatte zwei Kinder; und er trat hin zu dem ersten und sprach: Kind, geh heute hin, arbeite in meinem Weinberge.

29 Er aber antwortete und sprach: Ich will nicht; danach aber gereute es ihn, und er ging hin.