27 And 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, 28 and they say to him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority, that thou shouldest do these things? 29 And 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: 30 The baptism of John, was it of heaven, or of men? answer me. 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why [then] have ye not believed him? 32 but should we say, Of men—they feared the people; for all held of John that he was truly a prophet. 33 And 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.
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.