Introduction.

  25 The baptism of John, whence was it? ^b Was it from heaven, or from men? answer me.

  31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, ^a unto us, Why then did ye not believe him? [When he testified to the Messiahship of Jesus ( John 1:7 John 1:15 John 1:34 ; 3:26-36 ; 10:40-42 ). The Sanhedrin could not admit that the messenger was heaven-sent and yet deny his testimony.]

  26 But if we shall {^b should we} say, From men-- ^c all the people will stone us: ^a we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet. ^c for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. ^b they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet.

Jesus ^c that they knew not whence it was. ^a and said, {^b say,} We know not. [It should be noted in their consultation there was no effort either to ascertain or to speak the truth. The question as to whether John really was or was not a prophet was in no sense the subject of their investigation. They were merely deciding what to say. They were seeking for the most expedient answer, and as neither truthful answer was expedient, they resolved to falsely deny any knowledge of the case. Men of such brazen dishonesty could not be dealt with openly and fairly as could sincere seekers after truth.]

And Jesus, ^a also said {^b saith} unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. [Their spoken lie was, "We know not," but their inward and true answer was, "We will not tell," and Jesus answered the suppressed truth saying, "Neither tell I." How readily the subtle minds of the Jewish people would justify Jesus in thus declining to submit the question of his authority to judges who at that very moment publicly confessed their inability to even hazard an opinion, much less render a decision, as to the authority of John the Baptist, who claims were in popular estimation so obvious. It was plain that however well these men might judge human credentials, the divine testimonials of a prophet or of the Messiah were above their carnal sphere. Thus Jesus put his enemies to confusion in the first of man conflicts of that perilous Tuesday. But we may well imagine that they were rendered more bitter by the evidence of a wisdom so much beyond any which they possessed.]