Teks -- Mark 11:32-33 (NET)

11:32 But if we say, ‘From people–’” (they feared the crowd, for they all considered John to be truly a prophet). 11:33 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Mar 11:32 - But should we say

But should we say ( alla eipōmen ).

Deliberative subjunctive with aorist active subjunctive again. It is possible to supply ean from Mar 11:31 and treat it as a condition as there. So Mat 21:26 and Luk 20:6. But in Mark the structure continues rugged after "from men"with anacoluthon or even aposiopesis - "they feared the people"Mark adds. Matthew has it: "We fear the multitude."Luke puts it: "all the people will stone us."All three Gospels state the popular view of John as a prophet. Mark’ s "verily"is ontōs really, actually. They feared John though dead as much as Herod Antipas did. His martyrdom had deepened his power over the people and disrespect towards his memory now might raise a storm (Swete).

Robertson: Mar 11:33 - We know not

We know not ( ouk oidamen ).

It was for the purpose of getting out of the trap into which they had fallen by challenging the authority of Jesus. Their self-imposed ignorance, refusal to take a stand about the Baptist who was the Forerunner of Christ, absolved Jesus from a categorical reply. But he has no notion of letting them off at this point.

Clarke: Mar 11:27-33

See on Mat 21:23-27 (note).

Clarke: Mar 11:32

They feared the people - Or rather, We fear, etc. Instead of εφοβουντο, they feared; the Codex Bezae, seven others, later Syriac, Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and all the Itala, read φοβουμεν, or φοβουμεθα . The common reading appearing to me quite improper

We fear the people. Εαν, if, before ειπωμεν, we shall say, is omitted by ABCEFGHLS, and more than fifty others. Bengel leaves it out of the text, and puts a note of interrogation after Εξ ανθρωπων ; and then the whole passage reads thus: But shall we say, Of men? They feared the people, etc. This change renders the adoption of φοβουμεν, we fear, unnecessary. Several critics prefer this mode of distinguishing the text. However the critics may be puzzled with the text, the scribes, chief priests, and elders were worse puzzled with our Lord’ s question. They must convict themselves or tell a most palpable falsehood. - They told the lie, and so escaped for the present

1.    Envy, malice, and double dealing have always a difficult part to act, and are ultimately confounded by their own projects and ruined by their own operations. On the other hand, simplicity and sincerity are not obliged to use a mask, but always walk in a plain way

2.    The case of the barren fig-tree which our Lord cursed has been pitifully misunderstood and misapplied. The whole account of this transaction, as stated above, I believe to be correct; it is so much in our Lord’ s usual manner that the propriety of it will scarcely be doubted. He was ever acting the part of the philosopher, moralist, and divine, as well as that of the Savior of sinners. In his hand, every providential occurrence and every object of nature, became a means of instruction: the stones of the desert, the lilies of the field, the fowls of heaven, the beasts of the forest, fruitful and unfruitful trees, with every ordinary occurrence, were so many grand texts, from which he preached the most illuminating and impressive sermons, for the instruction and salvation of his audience. This wisdom and condescension cannot be sufficiently admired. But shall the example of the fruitless fig tree be lost on us as well as on the Jews? God forbid! Let us therefore take heed, lest having been so long unfruitful, God should say, Let no fruit appear on thee hereafter for ever! and in consequence of this, we wither and die away! See Clarke on Mar 11:27 (note).

TSK: Mar 11:32 - they // for

they : Mar 6:20, Mar 12:12; Mat 14:5, Mat 21:46; Luk 20:19, Luk 22:2; Act 5:26

for : Mat 3:5, Mat 3:6, Mat 21:31, Mat 21:32; Luk 7:26-29, Luk 20:6-8; Joh 10:41

TSK: Mar 11:33 - We // Neither

We : Isa 1:3, Isa 6:9, Isa 6:10, Isa 29:9-14, Isa 42:19, Isa 42:20, Isa 56:10; Jer 8:7-9; Hos 4:6; Mal 2:7, Mal 2:8; Mat 15:14, Mat 23:16-26; Joh 3:10; Rom 1:18-22, Rom 1:28; 2Co 3:15; 2Co 4:3, 2Co 4:4; 2Th 2:10-12

Neither : Job 5:13; Pro 26:4, Pro 26:5; Mat 16:4, Mat 21:27; Luk 10:21, Luk 10:22, Luk 20:7, Luk 20:8, Luk 22:66-69; Joh 9:27

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Mar 11:29-33 - A prophet // From heaven

Ver. 29-33. See Poole on "Mat 21:24" , and following verses to Mat 21:27 , where are the same passages opened.

A prophet here, Mar 11:32 , signifieth, one extraordinarily inspired and sent of God to reveal his will, so as his baptism must needs be from heaven. This reputation John it seems universally had, so as to have denied his baptism to have been from heaven, had been to have exposed themselves to the mockings, if not the rage, of the people, which they were loath to do. If they had said,

From heaven they had accused themselves for not believing him, Joh 7:48 . This makes them choose rather to make themselves doubtful in the case, and giveth our Saviour a fitting occasion to deny them satisfaction as to what they asked of him.

Haydock: Mar 11:33 - Neither do I tell you

Neither do I tell you, &c. I do not tell you what I know, because you refuse to own what you know. We should observe, there are here two reasons for concealing the truth from inquirers: 1st, when he that inquireth after the truth is incapable of understanding it; 2d, when on account of some contempt of the truth, or some other evil indisposition, the person is not deserving of having the truth laid open to him. (Ven. Bede)

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Gill: Mar 11:32 - But if we shall say, of men // they feared the people // for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed

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.

Gill: Mar 11:33 - And they answered and said unto Jesus // we cannot tell // and Jesus answering, saith unto them, neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things

And they answered and said unto Jesus,.... Being reduced by this dilemma to the greatest streight and difficulty;

we cannot tell: they could, if they would, but they did not care to tell; they knew if they did, they should expose themselves one way or other:

and Jesus answering, saith unto them, neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things; See Gill on Mat 21:27.