Mark 11:29

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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:27-33 Our Saviour shows how near akin his doctrine and baptism were to those of John; they had the same design and tendency, to bring in the gospel kingdom. These elders did not deserve to be taught; for it was plain that they contended not for truth, but victory: nor did he need to tell them; for the works he did, told them plainly he had authority from God; since no man could do the miracles which he did, unless God were with him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 20:23-27.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Mr 11:27-33. The Authority of Jesus Questioned—His Reply. ( = Mt 21:23-27; Lu 20:1-8).

See on [1480]Mt 21:23-27.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Ver. 29-33. See Poole on "Matthew 21:24", and following verses to Matthew 21:27, where are the same passages opened.

A prophet here, Mark 11:32, signifieth, one extraordinarily inspired and sent of God to reveal his will, so as his baptism must needs be from heaven. This reputation John it seems universally had, so as to have denied his baptism to have been from heaven, had been to have exposed themselves to the mockings, if not the rage, of the people, which they were loath to do. If they had said,

From heaven, they had accused themselves for not believing him, John 7:48. This makes them choose rather to make themselves doubtful in the case, and giveth our Saviour a fitting occasion to deny them satisfaction as to what they asked of him.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Jesus answered and said unto them,.... Being not in the least intimidated by such a body of men:

I will also ask of you one question; or "one word", or "one thing"; here answers to the Hebrew word which signifies both "word" and "thing":

and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things; See Gill on Matthew 21:24.

Geneva Study Bible

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.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 11:29. The grammatical structure of this sentence, compared with that in Matthew 21:24, is crude—καὶ ἀποκρίθητέ μοι instead of ὃν ἐὰν εἴπητέ μοι. It is colloquial grammar, the easy-going grammar of popular conversation.—ἕνα λόλον, vide at Matthew 21:24.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

29. And Jesus answered] They doubtless hoped that He would have claimed Divine authority, and then they would have had matter for accusation against Him, but He answered their question by another.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 29. - I will ask of you one question (ἐπερωτήσω ὑμᾶς ἕνα λόγον). The verb justifies the translation, one question, for "one word." The question which our Lord put to them was one on which hung the solution of that proposed by the scribes. It is as though he said, "You do not believe me when I say that I have received power from God. Believe then John the Baptist, who bare witness of me that I was sent from God to do these things." Mark 11:29