“The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?”
The full verse · Mark 11:30 · KJV
The of , it , ? .
Asked by
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, answering the leaders' challenge to His authority with one question of His own (Mark 11:29)
Asked to
Chief Priests, Scribes, Elders
Chief Priests: the leading priests of the temple, who had demanded to know Jesus' authority (Mark 11:27-28); Scribes: experts in the law of Moses, who came with them (Mark 11:27); Elders: leaders of the people, who came with them (Mark 11:27)
The Scene
In the temple, the chief priests, scribes, and elders demand to know Jesus' authority, and He says He will first ask them one question (Mark 11:27-29).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJesus answered their question with a question, but He was not dodging. "From heaven, or of men" asks whether John was sent by God or only by people. Gill puts it this way: "was it of divine or of human institution?" He calls it "a fair question," and says its answer "would naturally lead to a proper one to their question."
The link is John himself. John had preached that one "mightier than I" was coming after him (Mark 1:7). Matthew Henry notes "how near akin" Jesus' doctrine and baptism were to John's. If the leaders admitted that John came from God, they would have their answer about Jesus.
Mark alone records Jesus saying "answer me" twice (Mark 11:29-30). Gill hears in it a demand to answer "directly and plainly, without any shuffling, or evasion."
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe leaders did not answer right away. They "reasoned with themselves," weighing what each answer would cost them (Mark 11:31-32). Then they "answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell." Jesus replied, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things" (Mark 11:33).
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsJohn "did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins," and "all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem" went out to him (Mark 1:4-5). The people still "counted John, that he was a prophet indeed" (Mark 11:32).
"Baptism" here stands for more than the rite. Gill calls it "The doctrine of which he was the first preacher, and the ordinance of which he was the first administrator." In Greek the two choices are ex ouranou, "from heaven," and ex anthropon, "from men." Gill reads the first as divine, the second as human.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyJesus' question shows how God's truth works. The leaders wanted Jesus to prove His authority, but they had already turned away from the prophet God sent to prepare His way. Barnes says Jesus knew "the estimation in which John was held by the people," and "He took the wise in their own craftiness." Their trap became a mirror.
Jesus does not force light on those who refuse the light they already have. He offered them an answer on one condition: be honest about John. Their silence showed that their question had never been about finding the truth.
Look Closer
What two choices did Jesus' question offer about John's baptism?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord, what truth have You already shown me that I have been slow to answer honestly?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Jesus' question was simple, but answering it honestly would have cost the leaders something. What makes it hard to answer a question honestly when you can see where the answer leads?
- Tell about a time someone asked you a question that helped you see the truth more clearly.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Jesus often answers our questions by asking us to respond to what God has already shown us. The leaders wanted a new answer while ignoring an old one. If there is something God has made plain to you, the next step may not be more information, but an honest answer to Him.
This does not mean answering a question with a question is a trick for winning arguments. Jesus' question was fair, and He promised to answer if they did (Mark 11:29). Use questions the way He did: to bring the truth into the open, not to avoid it.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven, or of men? Why did ye not then believe him?”
“The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?”
“By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority to do these things?”
“Why then did ye not believe him?”