Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” New Living Translation So they finally replied, “We don’t know.” And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.” English Standard Version So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Berean Standard Bible So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” Berean Literal Bible And answering to Jesus, they say, "We do not know." And Jesus says to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things." King James Bible And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. New King James Version So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” New American Standard Bible Answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.” NASB 1995 Answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Nor will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” NASB 1977 And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Legacy Standard Bible And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Amplified Bible So they replied to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Christian Standard Bible So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Holman Christian Standard Bible So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” American Standard Version And they answered Jesus and say, We know not. And Jesus saith unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. Contemporary English Version and told Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus replied, "Then I won't tell you who gave me the right to do what I do." English Revised Version And they answered Jesus and say, We know not. And Jesus saith unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. GOD'S WORD® Translation So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus told them, "Then I won't tell you why I have the right to do these things." Good News Translation So their answer to Jesus was, "We don't know." Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you, then, by what right I do these things." International Standard Version So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then Jesus told them, "Then I won't tell you by what authority I'm doing these things." NET Bible So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things." New Heart English Bible They answered and said to Jesus, "We do not know." Jesus said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things." Webster's Bible Translation And they answered and said to Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. Weymouth New Testament So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." "Nor do I tell you," said Jesus, "by what authority I do these things." Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” World English Bible They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand answering they say to Jesus, “We have not known”; and Jesus answering says to them, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Berean Literal Bible And answering to Jesus, they say, "We do not know." And Jesus says to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things." Young's Literal Translation and answering they say to Jesus, 'We have not known;' and Jesus answering saith to them, 'Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.' Smith's Literal Translation And having answered they say to Jesus, We know not. And Jesus having answered, says to them, Neither say I to you by what power I do these things. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd they answering, say to Jesus: We know not. And Jesus answering, saith to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. Catholic Public Domain Version And answering, they said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And in response, Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” New American Bible So they said to Jesus in reply, “We do not know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.” New Revised Standard Version So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSo they answered and said to Jesus, We do not know. He said to them, I will also not tell you by what authority I do these things. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And they answered and they were saying to Yeshua, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.” NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd they answered and said to Jesus: We do not know. And Jesus answering, said to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. Godbey New Testament And responding they say to Jesus, We do not know. And Jesus says to them, Haweis New Testament And they answering said to Jesus, We do not know. And Jesus in reply said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. Mace New Testament they therefore gave Jesus this answer, we cannot tell, neither do I, said Jesus, acquaint you by what authority I act thus. Weymouth New Testament So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." "Nor do I tell you," said Jesus, "by what authority I do these things." Worrell New Testament And, answering, they say to Jesus, "We do not know." And Jesus saith to them, Worsley New Testament and they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus replied and said unto them, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jesus' Authority Challenged…32But if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet. 33So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” Cross References Matthew 21:27 So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. Luke 20:8 And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” Matthew 21:23-27 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?” / “I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. / What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ... Luke 20:1-8 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him. / “Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” / “I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me: ... John 8:25-27 “Who are You?” they asked. “Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. / “I have much to say about you and much to judge. But the One who sent Me is truthful, and what I have heard from Him, I tell the world.” / They did not understand that He was telling them about the Father. Matthew 12:38-42 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” / Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. / For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. ... John 2:18-22 On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?” / Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.” / “This temple took forty-six years to build,” the Jews replied, “and You are going to raise it up in three days?” ... Matthew 16:1-4 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. / But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’ / and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times. ... John 10:24-26 So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” / “I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf. / But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. Matthew 22:15-22 Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words. / They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance. / So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” ... Acts 4:7-10 They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” / Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! / If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed, ... Matthew 7:28-29 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, / because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. John 7:14-17 About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach. / The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?” / “My teaching is not My own,” Jesus replied. “It comes from Him who sent Me. ... Matthew 13:54-57 Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked. / “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? / Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?” ... John 12:48-50 There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. / I have not spoken on My own, but the Father who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to say it. / And I know that His command leads to eternal life. So I speak exactly what the Father has told Me to say.” Treasury of Scripture And they answered and said to Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering said to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. We. Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Isaiah 6:9,10 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not… Isaiah 29:9-14 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink… Neither. Job 5:13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. Proverbs 26:4,5 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him… Matthew 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. Jump to Previous Authority Idea JesusJump to Next Authority Idea JesusMark 11 1. Jesus rides with triumph into Jerusalem;12. curses the fruitless fig tree; 15. purges the temple; 20. exhorts his disciples to steadfastness of faith, and to forgive their enemies; 27. and defends his actions by the witness of John, who was a man sent of God. So they answered, “We do not know.” This response comes from the chief priests, scribes, and elders who were questioning Jesus' authority in the temple. Their answer reveals their unwillingness to commit to a position regarding John the Baptist's authority, as acknowledging it would imply recognizing Jesus' authority as well. This reflects their fear of the people, who regarded John as a prophet (Mark 11:32). The religious leaders' indecision highlights their spiritual blindness and lack of integrity, as they were more concerned with maintaining their power and influence than seeking the truth. And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus- The central figure in this passage, Jesus is questioned by the religious leaders about His authority. 2. Chief Priests, Scribes, and Elders - These are the religious leaders who challenge Jesus, representing the Jewish authority. 3. Jerusalem - The city where this event takes place, significant as the religious and cultural center of Jewish life. 4. The Temple - The setting of the preceding events, where Jesus had been teaching and cleansing the temple. 5. John the Baptist - Mentioned earlier in the dialogue, his baptism is questioned by Jesus to challenge the leaders' understanding of authority. Teaching Points Understanding AuthorityJesus' authority is divine and not derived from human institutions. Believers should recognize and submit to Christ's authority in their lives. The Danger of Spiritual Blindness The religious leaders' inability to recognize Jesus' authority highlights the danger of spiritual blindness. We must remain open to God's truth and guidance. The Importance of Humility The leaders' refusal to answer Jesus' question reveals their pride. Humility is essential in our relationship with God and others. Discernment in Leadership Jesus challenges the leaders to discern the source of authority. As believers, we should seek discernment in recognizing true spiritual leadership. Courage in Witnessing Jesus' boldness in confronting the leaders serves as an example for believers to stand firm in their faith and witness. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Mark 11What did Jesus mean by 'Be of good cheer'? Can you speak of things as if they exist? Mark 11:27-33: Why is there no clear record outside the Gospels confirming Jesus' authority if it was truly divinely established? How can water instantly transform into wine (John 2:1-11) without violating natural laws of chemistry?(33) We cannot tell.--Better, as also in Matthew 21:27, We do not know. The repetition of the verb "tell" in the English, gives an unreal emphasis which is not in the Greek. The real stress lies on the pronoun "I." Verse 33. - We know not. They had seen the life of John. They had heard his holy and Divine teaching. They were witnesses to his death for the truth; and yet they lie. They might have said," We think it imprudent or inexpedient to say;" but for this they had not sufficient moral courage. Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. You will not answer my question; neither will I therefore answer yours; because your answer to mine is the answer to your own. "He thus shows," says St. Jerome, "that they knew, but would not answer; and that he knew, but did not speak, because they were silent as to what they knew." Our Lord did thus but mete out to them the measure which they meted to him. |
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