Hi everyone. Welcome back to Daily Gospel Exegesis, where we do a verse by verse exegesis of the gospel

reading from today's Mass. We're currently moving through the Gospel of Mark,

and we're getting towards the end of our weekday exploration of Mark.

Today's reading is from Mark chapter 11 verses 27 to 33.

So as always, we will read out the text that you would hear at today's Mass,

and then we're trying to pull it apart.

What did it mean in its original context?

Jesus and his disciples came to Jerusalem, and as Jesus was walking in the temple,

the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him.

And they said to him, what authority have you for acting like this, or who gave you authority to do these things?

Jesus said to them, I will ask you a question, only one.

Answer me, and I will tell you my authority for acting like this.

John's baptism, did it come from heaven or from man? Answer me that.

And they argued it out this way amongst themselves.

If we say from heaven, he will say, then why did you refuse to believe him?

But dare we say from man?

They had the people to fear for everyone held that

John was a real prophet. So their reply to Jesus was, we do not know. And Jesus said to them,

nor will I tell you my authority for acting like this.

So it's an interesting interaction we have here today in Mark Chapter 11.

The Pharisees and the chief priest, they asked Jesus a question, and Jesus basically says,

I'll answer your question if you can answer mine.

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