5. CHRIST'S Mark 11:27-33 (Matthew 21:23-32; Luke 20:1-8) 27 And they come again to Jerusalem:--This was Tuesday, April 12. On Sunday the Lord entered the city officially. Monday he cleansed the temple and dried up the fig tree. On Tuesday his disciples call his attention to the withered fig tree after which he and they again enter the city. and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders;--These three classes constitute the Sanhedrin, which was the highest civil and ecclesiastical council of the Jews. 28 And they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things?--Cleansing the temple, working miracles, teaching and taking charge of things in general. or who gave thee this authority to do these things?--As he was neither a priest nor a civil ruler, and had not been commissioned either by Caesar or the Sanhedrin, they denied that he had rightful claim to the authority which he exercised. 29 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.--They had propounded to him two questions, but Jesus proposes but one to them. He does not evade them, but he brings them face to face with a fundamental fact in this discussion, the admission of which would lead them to an irresistible conclusion that God had sent him. 30 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me.--They saw, when they considered the question, that if they answered it they would convict themselves. This is a fundamental question. Did John act by the authority of God, or by his own? Was he a true or false prophet? 31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?--They saw immediately that if they took this road they would be in a trap so they turned aside from it. 32 But should we say, From men--they feared the people for all verily held John to be a prophet.--Luke (Luke 20:6) says "All the people will stone us." They really preferred this answer, and doubtless would have given it, but for fear of the people. They feared to come out against popular opinion and probably a popular tumult. So Jesus had them in a dilemma either way they went. Jesus put the matter clearly before them and left them to take either horn of the dilemma they wished. 33 And they answered Jesus and say, We know not.--This was a falsehood. They did know. And Jesus saith unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.--Since they turned his question aside unanswered, he felt he was under no obligation to answer them. He exposed their hypocrisy and at the same time made it clear to the people that his authority was the same as John's.