27 And 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, 28 And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things? 29 And 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. 30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? 32 But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed. 33 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. (Mark 11:27-33 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
The Pharisees having often questioned our Saviour’s doctrine before, they call in question his mission and authority now, although they might easily have understood his divine mission by his daily miracles; for Almighty God never empowered any to work miracles that were not sent by him.
Our blessed Saviour understanding their design, answers them one question by asking them another: says Christ, The baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men? Was it of divine institution, or of human invention? Implying very plainly, that the calling of such as call themselves the ministers of God: ought to be from God: No man ought to take that honour upon himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron Heb 1:1
The Pharisees reply, They could not tell whence John had his mission and authority; this was manifest untruth. By refusing to tell the truth, they fall into a lie against the truth; one sin ensnares and draws men into the commission of many more. Such as will not speak the exact truth, according to their knowledge, fall into the sin of lying against their knowledge and their conscience.
Our Saviour answers them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. He doth not say, I cannot, or I will not tell you, but I do not, I need not tell you; because the miracles which I work before you are a sufficient demonstration of my divine commission, that I am sent of God amongst you; for God never set the seal of his omnipotence to a lie, nor empowered an impostor to work real miracles.