Mark 11:31

11:31-32 Jesus clearly placed his opponents in a bind, for either a “yes” or a “no” would damage their reputation and authority in the eyes of the people. Denying John’s prophetic authority would probably anger the people. Affirming it would mean that they should have accepted what John said, including what he said about Jesus. This answer would also answer their own question (11:28).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Mar 11:31-32 give their inward thoughts as divined by Jesus. Their spoken answer was a simple οὐκ οἴδαμεν (Mar 11:33 ).

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 31. See Clarke on Mr 11:27.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

But if we shall say, of men,.... That John's baptism was an human invention, and he had no authority from God to preach and administer it,

they feared the people; lest being enraged thereby they should, at once, rise up, and destroy them:

for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed; a real prophet, one truly sent from God, and had his commission and credentials from him: this was the general sentiment of the people; See Gill on Mat 21:26.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

31 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?

Ver. 31. {See Trapp on "Mat 21:25"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vers. 31, 32. They reasoned with themselves, like men anxious and perplexed. If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? For he told you I was the promised Messias, and bade you prepare yourselves by repentance to receive my grace and salvation. But should we say, From men they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet. This is a broken sentence, but very expressive. The evangelist leaves his reader to supply what they meant. They deemed it prudent not to finish the sentence; and probably cut it short with some significant gesture. They did not like to confess that they feared the people; although this was the true reason why they hesitated to say that John"s baptism was of men. They knew that all the people held John to be a prophet. They were thus thrown on one or other horn of a dilemma.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

If we say, 'From heaven,'

This refers to the source of the baptism of John. AT: "If we say, 'It was from heaven,'" (See: Ellipsis)

From heaven

Here "heaven" refers to God. See how you translated this in Mark 11:30. AT: "From God" (See: Metonymy)

not believe him

The word "him" refers to John the Baptist.

But if we say, 'From men,'

This refers to the source of the baptism of John. AT: "But if we say, 'It was from men,'" (See: Ellipsis)

From men

"From people"

But if we say, 'From men,' ... .

The religious leaders imply that they will suffer from the people if they give this answer. AT: "But if we say, 'From men,' that would not be good." or "But we do not want to say that it was from men." (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Ellipsis)

They were afraid of the people

The author, Mark, explains why the religious leaders did not want to say that John's baptism was from men. This can be stated clearly. "They said this to each other because they were afraid of the people" or "They did not want to say that John's baptism was from men because they were afraid of the people" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

We do not know

This refers to the baptism of John. This understood information may be supplied. AT: "We do not know where the baptism of John came from" (See: Ellipsis)

translationWords

heaven

believe

fear

John (the Baptist)

prophet

Jesus

authority

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

31. διελογίζοντο πρὸς ἑαυτούς. Does this mean the same as πρὸς ἀλλήλους (Mar 4:41, Mar 8:16), and that they discussed with one another what reply they had better give? Mt. thinks this improbable and substitutes ἐν ἑαυτοῖς: the debate took place in the mind of each with the same general result. Lk. takes the other view with συνελογίσαντο. We have similarly doubtful cases, Mar 14:4, Mar 16:3. Syr-Sin. omits πρὸς ἑ.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

31. Καὶ διελογίζοντο πρὸς ἑαυτούς, λέγοντες—And they deliberated among themselves, saying.

διελογίζοντο, instead of ἐλογίζοντο, Tisch. Treg. WH. RV. אca BCDGKLM Δ Π.

Διατί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ ;—Why then did you not believe him? On this rejection of John by the rulers, see Mat 3:7 sq. 11:18, J. 5:35.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.