Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 21:24

"And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things." — Matthew 21:24 (ASV)

Yes, Jesus answered. His answers are always complete, but seldom what His foes expect. The quibblers of our day need not be in too great a hurry to call their statements unanswerable. Jesus will answer for Himself in due time.

He says to these chief priests and elders, I also will ask you one thing. Their question was met by another question, even as the rods of the Egyptian magicians, when turned into serpents, were met by Aaron’s rod, which, as a serpent, swallowed up their rods.

Frequently it will be wisdom not to reply to the quibblings of the enemies of the Gospel, but to pose them with some mystery too deep for them. Our Lord’s conditions were fair and reasonable: If ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. Apparently, the questioners raised no objection, for Jesus at once stated His question to them.