27 And 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, 28 and they say to him, 'By what authority dost thou these things? and who gave thee this authority that these things thou mayest do?' 29 And 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; 30 the baptism of John—from heaven was it? or from men? answer me.' 31 And they were reasoning with themselves, saying, 'If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him? 32 But if we may say, From men,'—they were fearing the people, for all were holding John that he was indeed a prophet; 33 and 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.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 11:27-33
Commentary on Mark 11:27-33
(Read Mark 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.