Answering a question with a question is quite a common practice in a Jewish setting. But Jesus, of course, would not play with words. Evidently, behind the counter-question He asks lies something important, something on which depends...
Answering a question with a question is quite a common practice in a Jewish setting. But Jesus, of course, would not play with words. Evidently, behind the counter-question He asks lies something important, something on which His interlocutors' very ability to understand Him depends. And it apparently concerns John the Baptist. Jesus' interlocutors begin thinking hard: what can they say so as not to lose out? They clearly did not want to acknowledge John as a prophet; they probably still doubted his prophetic calling. On the other hand, the people saw John precisely as a prophet, while the Pharisees always played the role of spiritual leaders and teachers, so it was obviously not in their interest to come into conflict with public opinion. Hence the answer in the finest tradition of political manoeuvring: no comment, “we do not know,” although, of course, given the stature of John's personality, it was entirely impossible in Judea not to “know” or have an opinion about his activity.
And Jesus, of course, understands all this perfectly. In turn, He refuses to answer the question asked by the Pharisees. This is not because He wants to conceal anything, but because it is obvious to Him that answering is pointless: these people will not hear Him anyway; they want a predetermined answer that would confirm their own ideas. If the answer is different, it, just like the question that has just been asked, will remain without comment and without consequence.
In essence, it is not so important exactly what answer Jesus would have heard to His question. The main thing is that an answer should be given, an honest, sincere, and unambiguous one, whatever it might be. Any such step could have become the beginning of further discussion, perhaps a very tense one. But evading it immediately and completely cuts off every possibility of further communication.
The point is not even that Jesus' interlocutors are dissembling before Him; after all, it is not particularly difficult for Him to understand what they really think and mean. The point is that they are dissembling first of all before themselves: about the fact that what they need is not an answer but confirmation, and that what interests them is not the truth but their own preservation as spiritual leaders. This is a genuine spiritual dead end, and all discussion is useless here.
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21:20 The disciples seeing it - As they went by, the next day.
21:21 Jesus answering, said, If ye have faith - Whence we may learn, that one great end of our Lord in this miracle was to confirm and increase their faith: another was, to warn them against unfruitfulness. Mat 17:20.
21:23 When he was come into the temple, the chief priests came - Who thought he violated their right: and the elders of thepeople - Probably, members of the sanhedrim, to whom that title most properly belonged: which is the more probable, as they were the persons under whose cognizance the late action of Christ, in purging the temple, would naturally fall. These, with the chief priests, seem purposely to have appeared in a considerable company, to give the more weight to what they said, and if need were, to bear a united testimony against him. As he was teaching - Which also they supposed he had no authority to do, beingneither priest, nor Levite, nor scribe. Some of the priests (though not as priests) and all the scribes were authorizedteachers. By what authority dost thou these things - Publicly teach the people! And drive out those who had our commission to traffic in the outer court? Luk 20:1; Mar 11:27.
21:24 I will ask you one thing - Who have asked me many: The baptism, that is, the whole ministry of John, was it from heaven or from men? - By what authority did he act and teach? Did man or God give him that authority? Was it not God? But if so, the consequence was clear. For John testified that Jesus was the Christ.
21:25 Why did ye not believe him - Testifying this.
21:27 Neither tell I you - Not again, in express terms: he had often told them before, and they would not believe him.
21:30 He answered, I go, sir: but went not - Just so did the scribes and Pharisees: they professed the greatest readiness and zeal in the service of God: but it was bare profession, contradicted by all their actions.
21:32 John came in a way of righteousness - Walking in it, as well as teaching it. The publicans and harlots - The most notorious sinners were reformed, though at first they said, I will not.And ye seeing the amazing change which was wrought in them, though at first ye said, I go, sir, repented not afterward - Were no more convinced than before. O how is this scripture fulfilled at this day!