Jesus answered and said to them, “I will also ask you one thing. Answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Christ does not avoid the truth; rather, by His question He exposes the falsehood of their heart. He sets before them a question whose answer would show whether they are ready to accept God’s testimony. If they were honest concerning John the Baptist, they would also be able to recognize Jesus’ authority, because John had testified about Him. The Lord often answers with a question not from lack of knowledge, but so that a person may stand before his own dishonesty. This question becomes a spiritual test for them.