Lectionary Calendar
Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Mark 11:31
They were on the spot, and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, "If we say ‘heaven,' he'll ask us why we didn't believe John; if we say ‘humans,' we'll be up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet." They decided to concede that round to Jesus. "We don't know," they said. Jesus replied, "Then I won't answer your question either."
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Christian Standard Bible®
They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
They discussed it among themselves: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’
King James Version (1611)
And they reasoned with themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then did ye not beleeue him?
And they reasoned with themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then did ye not beleeue him?
King James Version
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
English Standard Version
And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
New American Standard Bible
And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
And they began considering the implications among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
New Century Version
They argued about Jesus' question, saying, "If we answer, ‘John's baptism was from God,' Jesus will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'
They argued about Jesus' question, saying, "If we answer, ‘John's baptism was from God,' Jesus will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'
Amplified Bible
They began discussing it with each other, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
They began discussing it with each other, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
They began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
They began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'
Legacy Standard Bible
And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?'
And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' He will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?'
Berean Standard Bible
They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
Contemporary English Version
They thought it over and said to each other, "We can't say that God gave John this right. Jesus will ask us why we didn't believe John.
They thought it over and said to each other, "We can't say that God gave John this right. Jesus will ask us why we didn't believe John.
Complete Jewish Bible
They discussed it among themselves: "If we say, ‘From Heaven,' he will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'
They discussed it among themselves: "If we say, ‘From Heaven,' he will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?'
Darby Translation
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why [then] have ye not believed him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why [then] have ye not believed him?
Easy-to-Read Version
These Jewish leaders talked about Jesus' question. They said to each other, "If we answer, ‘John's baptism was from God,' then he will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe John?'
These Jewish leaders talked about Jesus' question. They said to each other, "If we answer, ‘John's baptism was from God,' then he will say, ‘Then why didn't you believe John?'
Geneva Bible (1587)
And they thought with themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then did ye not beleeue him?
And they thought with themselues, saying, If we shall say, From heauen, he will say, Why then did ye not beleeue him?
George Lamsa Translation
And they reasoned among themselves and said, If we should say to him, from heaven, he will say to us, Why then did you not believe him?
And they reasoned among themselves and said, If we should say to him, from heaven, he will say to us, Why then did you not believe him?
Good News Translation
They started to argue among themselves: "What shall we say? If we answer, ‘From God,' he will say, ‘Why, then, did you not believe John?'
They started to argue among themselves: "What shall we say? If we answer, ‘From God,' he will say, ‘Why, then, did you not believe John?'
Lexham English Bible
And they began to discuss this with one another, saying, "What should we say? If we say ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
And they began to discuss this with one another, saying, "What should we say? If we say ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
Literal Translation
And they argued to themselves, saying, If we say, From Heaven, He will say, Why then did you not believe him?
And they argued to themselves, saying, If we say, From Heaven, He will say, Why then did you not believe him?
American Standard Version
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
Bible in Basic English
And they gave thought to it among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not have faith in him?
And they gave thought to it among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not have faith in him?
Hebrew Names Version
They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
International Standard Version
They began discussing this among themselves. "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'
They began discussing this among themselves. "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'
Etheridge Translation
And they reasoned among themselves, and said, If we say to him, that (it was) from heaven, he saith to us, And why did you not believe him ?
And they reasoned among themselves, and said, If we say to him, that (it was) from heaven, he saith to us, And why did you not believe him ?
Murdock Translation
And they reasoned with themselves, and said: If we should say to him, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, and said: If we should say to him, From heaven; he will say to us, Why then did ye not believe him?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And they reasoned with them selues, saying, yf we shall say from heauen: he wyll say, why then dyd ye not beleue hym?
And they reasoned with them selues, saying, yf we shall say from heauen: he wyll say, why then dyd ye not beleue hym?
English Revised Version
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
World English Bible
They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we should say, 'From heaven;' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we say, from heaven, he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we say, from heaven, he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
Weymouth's New Testament
So they debated the matter with one another. "Suppose we say, `Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask, `Why then did you not believe him?'
So they debated the matter with one another. "Suppose we say, `Heavenly,'" they argued, "he will ask, `Why then did you not believe him?'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei thouyten with ynne hem silf, seiynge, If we seien of heuene, he schal seie to vs, Whi thanne bileuen ye not to him;
And thei thouyten with ynne hem silf, seiynge, If we seien of heuene, he schal seie to vs, Whi thanne bileuen ye not to him;
Update Bible Version
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did you not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did you not believe him?
Webster's Bible Translation
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
New English Translation
They discussed with one another, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?'
They discussed with one another, saying, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?'
New King James Version
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, "From heaven,' He will say, "Why then did you not believe him?'
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, "From heaven,' He will say, "Why then did you not believe him?'
New Living Translation
They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe John.
They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe John.
New Life Bible
They talked among themselves. They said, "If we say from heaven, He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?'
They talked among themselves. They said, "If we say from heaven, He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?'
New Revised Standard
They argued with one another, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
They argued with one another, "If we say, ‘From heaven,' he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?'
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And they were deliberating among themselves, saying - If we say, Of heaven, he will say, Wherefore thendid ye not believe him?
And they were deliberating among themselves, saying - If we say, Of heaven, he will say, Wherefore thendid ye not believe him?
Douay-Rheims Bible
But they thought with themselves, saying: If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him?
But they thought with themselves, saying: If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him?
Revised Standard Version
And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And they thought in them selves sayinge: yf we shall saye from heven: he will saye why then dyd ye not beleve him?
And they thought in them selves sayinge: yf we shall saye from heven: he will saye why then dyd ye not beleve him?
Young's Literal Translation
And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?
And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And they thought in them selues: yf we saye, it was from heauen, then shal he saye: Why dyd ye not then beleue him?
And they thought in them selues: yf we saye, it was from heauen, then shal he saye: Why dyd ye not then beleue him?
Mace New Testament (1729)
answer me that. upon this they reasoned thus with themselves; if we should say, it was divine, he will urge, why then did you not believe him?
answer me that. upon this they reasoned thus with themselves; if we should say, it was divine, he will urge, why then did you not believe him?
Simplified Cowboy Version
The huddled together like squabblin' birds at a bird bath. "If we say it was from heaven, he'll ask us why didn't we believe in what John was doing.
The huddled together like squabblin' birds at a bird bath. "If we say it was from heaven, he'll ask us why didn't we believe in what John was doing.
Contextual Overview
27Then when they were back in Jerusalem once again, as they were walking through the Temple, the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders came up and demanded, "Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to speak and act like this?" 29Jesus responded, "First let me ask you a question. Answer my question and then I'll present my credentials. About the baptism of John—who authorized it: heaven or humans? Tell me." 31They were on the spot, and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, "If we say ‘heaven,' he'll ask us why we didn't believe John; if we say ‘humans,' we'll be up against it with the people because they all hold John up as a prophet." They decided to concede that round to Jesus. "We don't know," they said. Jesus replied, "Then I won't answer your question either."
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Why: Matthew 11:7-14, Matthew 21:25-27, Matthew 21:31, Matthew 21:32, John 1:15, John 1:29, John 1:34, John 1:36, John 3:29-36
Reciprocal: John 3:27 - from John 8:46 - why
Cross-References
Genesis 11:3
They said to one another, "Come, let's make bricks and fire them well." They used brick for stone and tar for mortar.
They said to one another, "Come, let's make bricks and fire them well." They used brick for stone and tar for mortar.
Genesis 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city and a tower that reaches Heaven. Let's make ourselves famous so we won't be scattered here and there across the Earth."
Then they said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city and a tower that reaches Heaven. Let's make ourselves famous so we won't be scattered here and there across the Earth."
Genesis 11:5
God came down to look over the city and the tower those people had built.
God came down to look over the city and the tower those people had built.
Genesis 11:26
When Terah was seventy years old, he had Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
When Terah was seventy years old, he had Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
Genesis 12:4
So Abram left just as God said, and Lot left with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot with him, along with all the possessions and people they had gotten in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan and arrived safe and sound. Abram passed through the country as far as Shechem and the Oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites occupied the land.
So Abram left just as God said, and Lot left with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his nephew Lot with him, along with all the possessions and people they had gotten in Haran, and set out for the land of Canaan and arrived safe and sound. Abram passed through the country as far as Shechem and the Oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites occupied the land.
Genesis 15:7
God continued, "I'm the same God who brought you from Ur of the Chaldees and gave you this land to own."
God continued, "I'm the same God who brought you from Ur of the Chaldees and gave you this land to own."
Genesis 24:10
The servant took ten of his master's camels and, loaded with gifts from his master, traveled to Aram Naharaim and the city of Nahor. Outside the city, he made the camels kneel at a well. It was evening, the time when the women came to draw water. He prayed, "O God , God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day; treat my master Abraham well! As I stand here by the spring while the young women of the town come out to get water, let the girl to whom I say, ‘Lower your jug and give me a drink,' and who answers, ‘Drink, and let me also water your camels'—let her be the woman you have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I'll know that you're working graciously behind the scenes for my master."
The servant took ten of his master's camels and, loaded with gifts from his master, traveled to Aram Naharaim and the city of Nahor. Outside the city, he made the camels kneel at a well. It was evening, the time when the women came to draw water. He prayed, "O God , God of my master Abraham, make things go smoothly this day; treat my master Abraham well! As I stand here by the spring while the young women of the town come out to get water, let the girl to whom I say, ‘Lower your jug and give me a drink,' and who answers, ‘Drink, and let me also water your camels'—let her be the woman you have picked out for your servant Isaac. Then I'll know that you're working graciously behind the scenes for my master."
Genesis 24:15
It so happened that the words were barely out of his mouth when Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel whose mother was Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with a water jug on her shoulder. The girl was stunningly beautiful, a pure virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up. The servant ran to meet her and said, "Please, can I have a sip of water from your jug?"
It so happened that the words were barely out of his mouth when Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel whose mother was Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with a water jug on her shoulder. The girl was stunningly beautiful, a pure virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up. The servant ran to meet her and said, "Please, can I have a sip of water from your jug?"
Hebrews 11:8
By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.
By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations—the City designed and built by God.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And they reasoned with themselves saying,.... Privately; perhaps, they withdrew at a little distance for a short time, and consulted among themselves what answer to return; and the amount of their reasonings were this;
if we shall say from heaven, he will say, why then did ye not believe him? that is, should they say that John had a divine commission for what he said and did, they were aware that Christ would reply, why did not ye give credit to him? and had you done so, seeing he testified of me, you would have had no occasion to have put the above question; :-.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
See the notes at Matthew 20:23-27.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 31. Mark 11:27; Mark 11:27.
