Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 11:31

"And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him?" — Mark 11:31 (ASV)

This question of Jesus proved too much for them. Either alternative —“from heaven” or “from men”—would place them in a difficult position. An admission of John’s divine authority would compel them to believe in Jesus; a denial would place them in an unfavorable position with the people who accepted John as a true prophet. So to save face they pleaded ignorance, which was tantamount to a refusal to answer Jesus’ question. Jesus’ reply was that he too would refuse to answer their question—at least directly. He had given them a veiled answer in his counterquestion (cf. v.30).