Don’t Answer
Mark 11:28-33 (KJV)
And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things.
The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?
But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.
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.
There are some conversations it’s just not worth having. Jesus established by His question that He and the chief priests and scribes could have no meaningful conversation concerning the question they asked of Him. Does it seem rude that He answered them with a question and conditioned further conversation upon their answer? Does it bristle your hair that, when they chose not to answer Him, He chose not to answer them?
The lesson is simple and, I think, two-fold
We should not feel obligated to carry on conversations about fables and foolish questions.
It’s not reasonable to carry on endless conversations with little profit. It is better to offend one because you won’t speak with them than to offend the same because you have said an inappropriate thing.
There is no basis for conversation unless both parties understand each other
I understand that a principle in debate is that the one who defines the terms wins the debate. If conversing parties disagree on the definition of terms or on the basis of the conversation, the conversation is fruitless. If there is no agreement set forth for instance, on authority- the subject between Jesus and these people – then the best course of action is to refuse their course of action. (Don’t answer their question.)
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Mark 11:28-33 (KJV) Don’t Answer
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