Mark 11:29

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} and said {G2036} unto them {G846}, I will {G1905} also {G2504} ask {G1905} of you {G5209} one {G1520} question {G3056}, and {G2532} answer {G611} me {G3427}, and {G2532} I will tell {G2046} you {G5213} by {G1722} what {G4169} authority {G1849} I do {G4160} these things {G5023}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yeshua said to them, "I will ask you just one question: answer me, and I will tell you by what s'mikhah I do these things.

Berean Standard Bible

“I will ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

American Standard Version

And Jesus said unto them, I will ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 11:29 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, where He masterfully responds to the religious leaders' challenge to His authority. Instead of directly answering their accusatory demand, Jesus employs a brilliant rabbinic teaching method by posing a counter-question about the origin of John the Baptist's authority. This strategic move forces His interrogators into a dilemma, exposing their hypocrisy and revealing their true motives, while simultaneously asserting His own divine wisdom and control over the confrontation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a highly confrontational sequence in Mark's Gospel, occurring immediately after Jesus' dramatic cleansing of the Temple in [Mark 11:15-19](/mark/11-15-19 "Mark 11:15-19 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple") and the symbolic withering of the fig tree in [Mark 11:20-25](/mark/11-20-25 "Mark 11:20-25 - The Withered Fig Tree and Faith"). These actions directly challenged the established religious order and its practices, prompting the chief priests, scribes, and elders to demand, "By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?" ([Mark 11:28](/mark/11-28 "Mark 11:28 - The Challenge to Jesus' Authority")). Jesus' response in [Mark 11:29](/mark/11-29 "Mark 11:29 - Jesus' Counter-Question") is not a direct answer but a strategic counter-question that turns the tables on His accusers, setting the stage for further parables and teachings that expose their spiritual blindness, such as the [Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers](/mark/12-1-12 "Mark 12:1-12 - The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers") in the following chapter.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jesus' interaction takes place in the Temple courts, the epicenter of Jewish religious and national life in Jerusalem. The religious leaders (chief priests, scribes, and elders) represented the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish governing council, and held significant religious and political power. Their question about Jesus' authority (Greek: *exousia*) was a formal challenge, aimed at discrediting Him and potentially accusing Him of blasphemy or sedition if His authority was not recognized by their institutions. Rabbinic tradition often involved answering a question with a question, particularly when the interrogator's motives were suspect or when a direct answer might be misconstrued. Jesus' use of this method was culturally astute, forcing His opponents to confront their own position regarding John the Baptist, a prophet widely revered by the people, thereby trapping them between popular opinion and their own institutional bias.

* **Key Themes:** The central theme of [Mark 11](/mark/11 "Mark 11 - Authority and Faith") and this specific verse is **Divine Authority**. The religious leaders' challenge directly questions the source and legitimacy of Jesus' power, particularly after His authoritative actions in the Temple. Jesus' counter-question about John the Baptist's baptism ([Mark 11:30](/mark/11-30 "Mark 11:30 - Jesus' Question about John's Baptism")) implicitly links His own authority to a divine origin, much like John's, thereby asserting that His *exousia* comes from God, not from human institutions. Another prominent theme is **Wisdom in Confrontation**. Jesus consistently demonstrates divine wisdom in His encounters, often using parables, rhetorical questions, or paradoxes to expose the hearts and motives of His adversaries, as seen in His response here. This tactic highlights the **Exposing of Hypocrisy**, as the leaders' unwillingness to answer Jesus' question about John reveals their fear of the crowds and their prioritisation of self-preservation over acknowledging divine truth, a recurring motif throughout Jesus' ministry, for instance, in His denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees in [Matthew 23](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **answered (Greek, _apokrínomai'_):** From ἀπό and κρίνω, meaning "to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism... to begin to speak (where an address is expected)." This highlights Jesus' deliberate and strategic response, not merely a simple verbal reply but a carefully considered counter-move in a confrontational setting. It implies a considered judgment and a decisive turn in the dialogue.
* **question (Greek, _lógos'_):** From λέγω, meaning "something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive... specifically, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ)." In this context, it refers to a specific topic or matter of discourse that Jesus presents for their consideration, designed to expose their reasoning and motives rather than merely seeking information.
* **authority (Greek, _exousía'_):** From ἔξεστι (in the sense of ability), meaning "privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery... delegated influence." This word signifies not just permission, but an inherent right, power, and jurisdiction. The religious leaders questioned the source of Jesus' inherent right to act, and Jesus' counter-question about John's baptism implicitly challenged their recognition of divine authority, thereby turning their own query back on them.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jesus answered and said unto them,"**: This phrase establishes Jesus' deliberate and direct engagement with His challengers. It signifies that His subsequent words are not impulsive but a measured, strategic response to their prior demand for His authority. The dual verbs "answered and said" emphasize the solemnity and intentionality of His address.
* **"I will also ask of you one question,"**: Jesus immediately shifts the dynamic of the confrontation. By stating "I will also ask," He asserts His own prerogative to interrogate, placing the burden of response back onto the religious leaders. The "one question" is singular and focused, designed to be a decisive test of their integrity and spiritual discernment concerning John the Baptist.
* **"and answer me,"**: This is a direct command, laying down a condition for further discourse. Jesus demands a clear and honest reply from them, highlighting that their willingness to answer His question will determine His willingness to answer theirs. This underscores the reciprocal nature of truth-seeking and the necessity of intellectual honesty.
* **"and I will tell you by what authority I do these things."**: This clause presents Jesus' conditional promise. He offers to reveal the source of His authority, but only if they first demonstrate their own position on John's ministry. This effectively traps the religious leaders, as their answer regarding John would either alienate the people (if they denied John's divine origin) or acknowledge a divine source of authority outside their own control (if they affirmed it), which would then validate Jesus' similar claims.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 11:29 is rich in literary devices that underscore the intensity and strategic nature of this confrontation. The primary device is the **Rhetorical Question**, where Jesus poses a question not to gain information but to make a point and expose the true nature of His interrogators. This is a classic rabbinic teaching method, demonstrating Jesus' mastery of debate. There is also significant **Irony** at play: the religious leaders, who pride themselves on their wisdom and authority, are rendered speechless and unable to answer a seemingly simple question, while the one whose authority they question proves to be the true master of wisdom. The entire exchange functions as a **Test** or **Trial**, where Jesus turns the tables, making His accusers the ones on trial. This passage also exemplifies **Confrontation**, a recurring motif in Mark's Gospel where Jesus directly challenges the hypocrisy and spiritual blindness of the religious establishment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 11:29 profoundly illustrates the nature of divine authority versus human authority and the spiritual blindness that often accompanies institutional power. Jesus' refusal to directly answer the religious leaders' challenge, instead posing a counter-question about John the Baptist's authority, highlights that true authority originates from God, not from human recognition or ecclesiastical appointment. The leaders' dilemma—unable to affirm John's divine authority for fear of the people, and unwilling to deny it for fear of God—exposes their self-serving motives and their rejection of God's messengers. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that acknowledging God's truth often requires humility and a willingness to transcend human traditions and popular opinion, even when it is inconvenient or threatens one's established position.

* [Matthew 21:23-27](/matthew/21-23-27 "Matthew 21:23-27 - Jesus' Authority Challenged")
* [Luke 20:1-8](/luke/20-1-8 "Luke 20:1-8 - The Authority of Jesus Questioned")
* [John 5:19](/john/5-19 "John 5:19 - Jesus' Dependence on the Father")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 11:29 offers profound insights into how believers can navigate challenges to their faith and convictions in a world often hostile to divine truth. Jesus models a response rooted in wisdom and discernment, rather than defensiveness or anger. When our faith or actions are questioned, we are called to respond with integrity and reliance on God's guidance, much like Jesus redirected the focus from His own person to the source of truth itself. This passage encourages us to cultivate spiritual discernment, enabling us to understand the underlying motives behind challenges and to respond in ways that honor God and expose hypocrisy, rather than merely engaging in fruitless arguments. It also serves as a poignant reminder that genuine spiritual authority is derived from God, not from human approval or institutional power, urging us to align our lives and beliefs with divine truth above all else, even when it means standing against popular opinion or established norms.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I discern between genuine spiritual authority and human-derived authority in my own life and in the church today?**
* **In what situations do I tend to prioritize human approval or convenience over acknowledging uncomfortable truths, similar to the religious leaders?**
* **How can I cultivate the kind of divine wisdom Jesus displayed, allowing me to respond to challenges with grace and strategic insight rather than emotion?**
* **What "questions" might Jesus be asking me today to expose my own motives or areas where I am unwilling to fully embrace His authority?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus answer a question with a question instead of directly stating His authority?**

Answer: Jesus' decision to answer a question with a question was a brilliant strategic and pedagogical move, common in rabbinic debate. Directly stating "My authority comes from God" would have immediately been dismissed or used as a charge of blasphemy by the religious leaders, who were already seeking to condemn Him. By posing a counter-question about John the Baptist's authority, Jesus forced His interrogators into a dilemma ([Mark 11:31-32](/mark/11-31-32 "Mark 11:31-32 - The Leaders' Dilemma")). If they admitted John's authority was from heaven, they would implicitly validate Jesus' similar claims, as John testified about Him ([John 1:29-34](/john/1-29-34 "John 1:29-34 - John Testifies about Jesus")). If they denied John's divine authority, they would alienate the people, who widely regarded John as a prophet ([Mark 11:32](/mark/11-32 "Mark 11:32 - The People Held John to Be a Prophet")). This tactic exposed their hypocrisy, their fear of man over God, and their unwillingness to acknowledge divine truth, thereby demonstrating Jesus' own divine wisdom and authority without explicitly declaring it in a way they could easily reject.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 11:29, with Jesus' masterful handling of the religious leaders' challenge to His authority, points directly to His unique and inherent divine authority as the Christ. The leaders sought to confine Jesus' power within their human systems of accreditation, but Jesus' counter-question about John the Baptist's authority implicitly links His own *exousia* to a heavenly origin, just as John's was. This foreshadows the ultimate revelation of Jesus' authority not merely as a prophet or teacher, but as the Son of God, to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus")). His wisdom in this confrontation, exposing the hearts of His adversaries, is a manifestation of His divine omniscience and His role as the ultimate Judge, who knows the thoughts and intentions of all ([Hebrews 4:12-13](/hebrews/4-12-13 "Hebrews 4:12-13 - The Word of God is Living and Active")). Furthermore, Jesus' willingness to engage in such confrontations, even knowing they would lead to His crucifixion, demonstrates His ultimate authority over life and death, and His sovereign purpose to lay down His life and take it up again ([John 10:18](/john/10-18 "John 10:18 - Jesus' Authority Over His Life")). Thus, this passage, while seemingly about a mere debate, subtly yet powerfully affirms Jesus' identity as the Christ, the one true source of all legitimate authority.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 20:3

And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

Luke 20:8

And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Matthew 21:24

And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

Isaiah 52:13

¶ Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.