Mark 11:30

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

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

See Poole on "Mark 11:29"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The baptism of John,.... The doctrine of which he was the first preacher, and the ordinance of which he was the first administrator:

was it from heaven, or of men? was it of divine or of human institution?

answer me; directly and plainly, without any shuffling, or evasion: it is a fair question, and may be answered; and the answer to it our Lord suggests would naturally lead to a proper one to their question; See Gill on Matthew 21:25.

Geneva Study Bible

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

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Mark 11:30. ἀποκρίθητέ μοι, answer me; spoken in the confident tone of one who knows they cannot and will not try.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

30. The baptism of John] John was the most recent upholder of the validity of the prophetic order in Israel, and he had distinctly testified to the Messianic authority of our Lord (John 1:29-34; John 1:36); from whom did he receive his commission to baptize? Was it from heaven, or a mere human assumption of his own?

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 30. - The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? By the "baptism of John" our Lord means his testimony concerning himself, his doctrine, and nil his preaching. It is a synecdoche - the part put for the whole. The argument is incontrovertible. It is this: "You ask from whence I derive my authority - from God or from men? I in my turn ask you from whom did John the Baptist derive his authority to baptize and to teach? from heaven or from men? If he had it from God, as all will confess, then I too have the same from God; for John testified of me, saying that he was but a servant, the friend of the Bridegroom; but that I was the Messiah, the Son of God: and this too when you sent messengers to him for his special purpose, that you might know from him whether he was the Messias." (See John 1:20; John 10:41.) Answer me. This is characteristic of St. Mark's style, and of our Lord's dignified earnestness. Mark 11:30