Bible Strands
Mark 11:33
So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The chief priests and scribes respond to Jesus that they do not know the origin of John the Baptist’s baptism, and Jesus counters by refusing to state the source of His own authority.
The words — ἀποκριθέντες (apokrithentes) means “answering,” and οἴδαμεν (oidamen) means “we know,” recording the leaders’ explicit declaration of ignorance.
The thread — The text in Isaiah 6:9 describes a people who hear without understanding and see without perceiving, a pattern repeated in 2 Corinthians 4:3 and 2 Thessalonians 2:10 where truth remains hidden to those who reject it.
Why it lands — The passage requires a decision regarding Jesus’ authority rather than continued debate, forcing the reader to acknowledge or reject His claim without evasion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 6:9 And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
- 2 Corinthians 4:3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.
- Job 5:13 He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.
- Proverbs 26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
- Isaiah 1:3 The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”
- Isaiah 29:9 Stop and be astonished; blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not from strong drink.
- Isaiah 42:19 Who is blind but My servant, or deaf like the messenger I am sending? Who is blind like My covenant partner, or blind like the servant of the LORD?
- Isaiah 56:10 Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.
- Jeremiah 8:7 Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush keep their time of migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD.