Luke 20:7

they could not tell Rather, did not know. A wise answer in cases of real uncertainty, as the Hebrew proverb taught "Learn to say I do not know;"but a base answer when they hadan opinion but did not dare to avow it; and doubly base in the matter of a question on which it was their plain duty to have arrived at a judgment. To be reduced to this ignominious necessity of confessing ignorance (though "we know" was one of their favourite phrases, John 9:24, &c.) was a public humiliation which they had brought upon themselves.