“Why then did ye not believe him?”
The full verse · Mark 11:31 · KJV
they , , we shall , ; he will , did ?
Asked by
Chief Priests, Scribes, Elders
Chief Priests: the leading priests of the temple, reasoning among themselves and voicing the question they expected Jesus to ask (Mark 11:27, 31); Scribes: experts in the law of Moses, reasoning with them (Mark 11:27, 31); Elders: leaders of the people, reasoning with them (Mark 11:27, 31)
Asked to
Chief Priests, Scribes, Elders, Each Other
Chief Priests: the leading priests of the temple, who had challenged 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
Faced with Jesus' question whether John's baptism was from heaven or of men, the chief priests, scribes, and elders talk it over among themselves (Mark 11:30-31).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionThis is the question the leaders were afraid of. They put it into Jesus' mouth as they talked among themselves. Gill pictures it: "perhaps, they withdrew at a little distance for a short time, and consulted among themselves what answer to return."
They knew that if they said "From heaven," Jesus would ask why they had not believed John. Gill explains why that would be so damaging: had they believed John, "seeing he testified of me, you would have had no occasion to have put the above question." Their reasoning never asked which answer was true. They weighed only what each answer would cost them, and the other answer, "Of men," was blocked because "they feared the people" (Mark 11:32).
The Response
What Scripture recordsJesus never had to ask this question out loud; the leaders' own reasoning answered it. They would not say "From heaven," and they dared not say "Of men." So 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 words"Reasoned" translates dielogizonto, in a tense that pictures an ongoing discussion: they kept talking it through among themselves.
The parallel accounts show how much was at stake. Matthew records, "we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet" (Matthew 21:26). Luke records their fear that "all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet" (Luke 20:6). John had drawn "all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem" to his baptism (Mark 1:5).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyTheir question to themselves exposes the real problem. They did not lack evidence about John. They lacked the willingness to believe. Matthew Henry says it was plain "that they contended not for truth, but victory."
Barnes calls their answer "We cannot tell" "a direct falsehood," adding, "They could have told; and it should have been, we will not tell." Jesus would not give more light to men who had refused the light God had already sent through John. Barnes adds that "Jesus was under no obligation to give them an answer." The question "Why then did ye not believe him?" still stands as one every hearer of God's messengers must face.
Look Closer
What were the leaders weighing as they reasoned together?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord, when I already know what is true, what fears keep me from believing and following it?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- The leaders weighed what each answer would cost them instead of asking which was true. In what situations are you tempted to do the same?
- Tell about someone you know who chose the truth even when it cost them something.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
It is possible to know the truth and still refuse it because of what it would cost. The leaders could see where "From heaven" would lead, and they would not go there. Fear of people and fear of losing face kept them from the answer they already knew.
Thinking about consequences is not wrong in itself. The problem comes when the cost decides what you will call true. When God's word presses a question on you that you would rather not answer, bring that fear to Him honestly instead of saying, "I cannot tell."
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?”
“Why then believed ye him not?”
“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?”