Mark 11:27-33 · Bible study

Mark 11:27-33 Commentary: The Question of Jesus' Authority

Greek · 7 what the commentators say

Meaning in one sentence

Analyze Jesus' counter-question about John's baptism in Mark 11:27-33. Explore walking, authority, and the religious leaders' dilemma.

Research Summary

Meaning: Jesus’ authority is revealed through his wisdom when confronted by hostile leaders.
Key words: ἐξουσία (exousia, authority), βάπτισμα (baptisma, baptism), περιπατέω (peripateō, walk).
Main debate: Why does Jesus answer a question with a question? Is it evasion or wise pedagogy?
Theological theme: Divine authority is recognized by those who accept God’s prior messengers.
Best use: Lent, Holy Week, or any study on Jesus’ confrontation with religious leadership.

Translation Comparison

BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020

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.”

WEB World English Bible 2000

²⁷They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him,

²⁸and they began saying to him, “By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”

²⁹Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

³⁰The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me.”

³¹They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

³²If we should say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.

³³They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

KJV King James Version 1769

²⁷And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

²⁸And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

²⁹And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

³⁰The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.

³¹And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

³²But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.

³³And 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.

ASV American Standard Version 1901

²⁷And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders;

²⁸and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things?

²⁹And Jesus said unto them, I will ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

³⁰The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me.

³¹And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

³²But should we say, From men—they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet.

³³And they answered Jesus and say, We know not. And Jesus saith unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898

²⁷And they come again to Jerusalem, and in the temple, as he is walking, there come unto him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders,

²⁸and they say to him, `By what authority dost thou these things? and who gave thee this authority that these things thou mayest do?'

²⁹And Jesus answering said to them, `I will question you--I also--one word; and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things;

³⁰the baptism of John--from heaven was it? or from men? answer me.'

³¹And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?

³²But if we may say, From men,' --they were fearing the people, for all were holding John that he was indeed a prophet;

³³and 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.'

Darby Darby Bible 1890

²⁷And they come again to Jerusalem. And as he walked about in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders come to him,

²⁸and they say to him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority, that thou shouldest do these things?

²⁹And Jesus answering said to them, I also will ask you one thing, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things:

³⁰The baptism of John, was it of heaven, or of men? answer me.

³¹And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why [then] have ye not believed him?

³²but should we say, Of men — they feared the people; for all held of John that he was truly a prophet.

³³And they answering say to Jesus, We do not know. And Jesus [answering] says to them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899

²⁷And they come again to Jerusalem. And when he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests and the scribes and the ancients.

²⁸And they say to him: By what authority dost thou these things? And who hath given thee this authority that thou shouldst do these things?

²⁹And Jesus answering, said to them: I will also ask you one word. And answer you me: and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

³⁰The baptism of John, was it from heaven or from men? Answer me.

³¹But they thought with themselves, saying: If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did you not believe him?

³²If we say, From men, we fear the people. For all men counted John that he was a prophet indeed.

³³And 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.

Verse in Context

25 Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may also forgive you your transgressions.

26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your transgressions.”

27 They came again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him,

28 and they began saying to him, “By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority to do these things?”

29 Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

30 The baptism of John—was it from heaven, or from men? Answer me.”

31 They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we should say, ‘From heaven;’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’

32 If we should say, ‘From men’”—they feared the people, for all held John to really be a prophet.

33 They answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Original Language (Koine Greek)

New Testament · Koine Greek · Mark 11:27

Καὶ Kai G2532 And

ἔρχονται erchontai G2064 they come

πάλιν palin G3825 again

εἰς eis G1519 to

Ἱεροσόλυμα· Hi'erosoluma G2414 Jerusalem;

καὶ kai G2532 And

ἐν en G1722 in

τῷ tō G3588 the

ἱερῷ hi'erō G2411 temple

περιπατοῦντος peripatountos G4043 when is walking

αὐτοῦ autou G0846 He

ἔρχονται erchontai G2064 they come

πρὸς pros G4314 to

αὐτὸν auton G0846 Him

οἱ hoi G3588 the

ἀρχιερεῖς archiereis G0749 chief priests

καὶ kai G2532 and

οἱ hoi G3588 the

γραμματεῖς grammateis G1122 scribes

καὶ kai G2532 and

οἱ hoi G3588 the

πρεσβύτεροι presbuteroi G4245 elders

Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.

Scholars' Consensus

Commentators agree that this passage records a deliberate confrontation between Jesus and the ruling council (the Sanhedrin) in the temple courtyard. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges notes that the chief priests, scribes, and elders formed a formal delegation seeking to hold Jesus accountable for his recent actions, particularly the cleansing of the temple and his unauthorized teaching. Jesus, rather than being intimidated, redirects the question to a subject that exposes their true motives: the ministry of John the Baptist. Both Gill and Matthew Henry observe that Jesus’ counter-question about John’s baptism forces the leaders into a dilemma. If they admit John’s authority came from heaven, they would have to explain why they rejected him; if they deny it, they risk the crowd’s anger. Their response, "We don't know", is not an honest confession but a political evasion. Jesus matches their refusal with his own, implying that those who reject God's messenger (John) cannot recognize God's Son.

How settled is the interpretation?

Interpretive difficulty: Low

What is clear: The central confrontation is clear: Jesus' authority comes from God, and his wisdom exposes the leaders' unbelief.

What Scholars Agree and Debate

Topic	Agreed	Debated
The delegation's composition and purpose	Chief priests, scribes, and elders formed a formal delegation from the Sanhedrin (Cambridge Bible).	Whether "walking" is merely vivid description (Cambridge) or hints at Jesus’ authoritative presence (Matthew Henry).
The meaning of John's baptism	It refers to John’s entire ministry as a prophet sent from God.	Whether Jesus equates his own authority directly with John’s or uses John as a test case for the leaders’ honesty (Gill vs. Cambridge).
The leaders' response 'We don't know'	It was a dishonest evasion, not an expression of ignorance.	Whether their primary sin was cowardice (fearing the people) or hardness of heart (rejecting known truth).
Jesus' refusal to answer	Jesus matches their refusal, holding them accountable.	Some see this as a withdrawal of revelation (judgment), others as a simple refusal to engage in a dishonest game (prudence).

Historical & Cultural Context

This scene takes place during Passion Week, the day after Jesus cleansed the temple. Mark tells us Jesus was walking in the temple courts (v.27). The verb peripatountos (walking) suggests a calm, deliberate presence, likely teaching as he moved. The delegation that approached him represented the full Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish council composed of chief priests (mostly Sadducees), scribes (Pharisees and others), and elders (lay leaders). Their question, "By what authority do you do these things?" was not casual. In rabbinic tradition, only licensed teachers could instruct in the temple, and any act of reform, especially overturning tables, required official sanction. They expected Jesus to claim divine authority, which they could then prosecute as blasphemy.

Jesus’ counter-question about John the Baptist was shrewd. John had been executed by Herod Antipas, but the people universally regarded him as a true prophet (v.32, the adverb ontōs, "truly", underscores this). The leaders knew that any public answer would cost them, either they would convict themselves of rejecting God’s prophet, or they would lose the support of the crowd. Their whispered reasoning (v.31, dielogizonto, they reasoned with themselves) reveals a political calculus, not a search for truth. The temple setting itself is significant: Malachi 3:1 promised that the Lord would "suddenly come to his temple." Jesus’ walking there, days before his arrest, quietly echoes that prophecy.

Textual Notes

The supplied commentaries note a textual variant in verse 32. Adam Clarke reports that some manuscripts read “they feared” (ἐφοβοῦντο) while others read “we fear” (φοβουμεθα) or similar. The majority of Greek manuscripts support the third-person plural reading, which fits Mark’s narrative style. The variant does not change the meaning, only whether the fear is reported or expressed as direct speech. No other significant textual issues are noted for this passage.

Reception History

Throughout church history, Mark 11:27-33 has been read as a demonstration of Christ’s wisdom under pressure. Early church fathers like Irenaeus and Augustine cited it to show that Jesus did not submit to human judicial authority when it was used to trap him. Medieval interpreters such as Thomas Aquinas used it to discuss the proper response to hostile questioning. Reformation commentators like John Calvin emphasized that Christ’s refusal to answer was a judgment on the leaders’ hardened hearts. In modern scholarship, the passage is often studied as an example of rabbinic debate and a key moment in Mark’s narrative of conflict. Across traditions, Christians see in this exchange a call to recognize God’s messengers and to answer honestly when pressed about the source of authority.

Preaching This Verse

Three-point outline

The Question of Human Authority (v.28). The leaders demand to know who authorized Jesus. Their question assumes authority flows from their institution, not from God directly.
The Counter-Question of Divine Witness (v.29-30). Jesus redirects to John the Baptist, whose ministry the people widely accepted as from heaven. This challenges the leaders to acknowledge God’s work when they see it.
The Dilemma of Unbelief (v.31-33). The leaders cannot answer without exposing their refusal to believe John. Their final “We don’t know” is not ignorance but dishonesty. Jesus honors their refusal with his own.

Five-point outline

Setting: Jesus walking in the temple (v.27). A posture of calm authority, he is teaching when the delegation arrives.
Challenge: “By what authority?” (v.28). The leaders’ trap: they want him to declare divine authority so they can charge him.
Wisdom: Jesus’ one question (v.29-30). He asks about John’s baptism, which ties his own authority to a recognized prophet.
Reasoning: The leaders’ internal debate (v.31-32). They weigh options and fear the crowd more than God.
Result: Mutual refusal (v.33). “Neither do I tell you” closes the exchange, leaving their unbelief exposed.

Illustration hooks

A police officer who asks for your driver’s license but refuses to show his badge when challenged.
A chess player who turns an opponent’s attack into checkmate by sacrificing a knight.
A job interviewer who asks, “Who told you that you could apply?” but cannot answer when asked for her own credentials.

Questions your congregation is asking

Why didn’t Jesus just answer them directly?
How does John’s baptism prove Jesus’ authority?
Why does their fear of the people matter so much to the story?

Leading a Discussion

This passage shows that authority is not just a legal question but a spiritual one. Jesus’ counter-question forces us to examine our own response to God’s messengers. The leaders knew the truth about John but refused to act on it. Where might we recognize God’s voice and hesitate?

Discussion questions

What do the leaders hope to achieve by asking, “By what authority do you do these things?” (v.28)
Why does Jesus answer a question with a question instead of giving a direct answer?
What does Jesus’ question about John’s baptism reveal about John’s role in God’s plan?
The leaders fear the people (v.32). What does this fear tell us about their hearts?
Their answer is “We don’t know.” Is that ignorance, cowardice, or both? Explain.
Jesus says, “Neither will I tell you.” What does this teach us about how God responds to those who reject the truth they already have?
In what areas of your life are you asking God for a sign while ignoring what he has already shown you?

What the Commentators Say

4 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.

Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599

The Geneva annotators highlight the leaders’ hypocrisy: they refused to answer Jesus about John’s baptism because neither option suited their self-interest. By silencing themselves, they revealed their dishonesty, and Jesus justly declined to answer their question about his own authority.

Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857

Lange notes that Jesus counters the Sanhedrin's question by appealing to John the Baptist as the most recent prophetic witness in Israel. Since John had authenticated Jesus as the Messiah, acknowledging John's divine mission would force the leaders to accept Jesus' authority as well. Their evasive answer exposed their unwillingness to submit to God's genuine prophetic voice.

Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710

Henry notes that the religious leaders were not asking for information but trying to trap Jesus by questioning his legal ordination. Their aim was to discredit him before the people, claiming authority to examine prophets. They were vexed by his popularity and wanted to embarrass him.

Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887

Vincent observes that Mark alone includes the detail that the servants were "walking" when sent to the tenants. This small addition gives the action a more vivid, step-by-step feel in Mark's account compared to Matthew's parallel version.

Word Study

The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.

ἀρχιερεύς archiereus high-priest G0749 · Greek → αὐτός autos it/s/he G0846 · Greek → γραμματεύς grammateus scribe G1122 · Greek → εἰς eis toward G1519 · Greek → ἐν en in/on/among G1722 · Greek → ἔρχομαι erchomai to come/go G2064 · Greek → ἱερόν hieros temple G2411 · Greek → Ἱεροσόλυμα Hierosoluma Jerusalem G2414 · Greek → καί kai and G2532 · Greek → ὁ ho the/this/who G3588 · Greek → πάλιν palin again G3825 · Greek → περιπατέω peripateō to walk G4043 · Greek → πρεσβύτερος presbuteros elder: Elder G4245 · Greek → πρός pros to/with G4314 · Greek →

Cross-References

Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)

Psalms 2:1	Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot a vain thing?
Psalms 2:5	Then he will speak to them in his anger, and terrify them in his wrath:
Malachi 3:1	“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me! The Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple. Behold, the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, is coming!” says Yahweh of Armies.
Matthew 21:23	When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?”
Matthew 21:27	They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
Mark 14:1	It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might seize him by deception and kill him.
Luke 20:1	On one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, the priests and scribes came to him with the elders.
Luke 20:8	Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.

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