Mark 11:27-33
A Question They Would Not Answer
Read the passage
27After their return to Jerusalem, Jesus was walking in the temple courts, and the chief priests, scribes, and elders came up to Him.
28“By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You the authority to do them?”
29“I will ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
30John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!”
31They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’
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.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Back in the temple courts, Jesus is approached by chief priests, scribes and elders. They ask what authority He has for His actions and who gave it to Him. He offers to answer if they first answer a question about John’s baptism: did it come from heaven or from people?
Their deliberation considers the consequences. If they say heaven, Jesus will ask why they did not believe John. If they say people, they fear the crowd, which regards John as a prophet. They answer that they do not know.
Mark lets us see the calculation behind that answer. The leaders avoid both the challenge to their unbelief and the danger of offending the people. Their stated uncertainty functions as a way out of a question they do not want to answer.
Jesus then declines to tell them by what authority He acts. The promised exchange stops at their refusal. Their challenge to Him has exposed their unwillingness to respond honestly to the witness that came before Him.
There is a difference between needing more understanding and using uncertainty to protect ourselves. This account concerns the latter. Receiving truth may have consequences, but calculating those consequences cannot replace the question of what is true.
Questions
1 What do the leaders ask Jesus?
AnswerBy what authority He acts and who gave Him that authority. They challenge Him in the temple courts after His actions there.
2 What question does He ask in return?
AnswerWhether John’s baptism came from heaven or from people. He says He will answer their question if they answer His.
3 What concerns appear in their discussion?
AnswerThe challenge they would face for not believing John and their fear of the crowd. Those consequences lead them to avoid either answer.
4 How can we distinguish honest uncertainty from evasion?
AnswerAsk whether we are willing to seek the truth and respond when it becomes clear. Admitting what we do not know should open the way to learning rather than protect a refusal to change.
What This Means for Us
The cost of an answer can tempt us to avoid a truth we need to face. We may worry about losing approval, admitting a mistake or changing a settled practice. Those concerns are real, but they cannot decide what is true.
When a difficult question arises, separate what you know from what you fear will happen if you admit it. Seek understanding honestly and ask Christ for courage to act on it. His authority deserves a response deeper than protecting our position.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, free us from answers chosen only to protect ourselves. Give us honesty about what we know and humility about what we still need to learn. Help us receive Your authority with trust. Amen.