Jesus said to them, “Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Jesus was not being elusive with “the chief priests and elders of the people” in refusing to answer their question about his authority. He was trying to find a common frame of reference out of which to answer the question. For example, whenever I hear something from the doctor about my health I immediately consult my sister who is a nurse. She can translate what they are saying into a vocabulary that I can understand. Jesus was seeking a vocabulary that would communicate effectively with those seeking answers. If they could not think in spiritual terms his answer would make no sense to them similar to the way that Orthostatic Hypotension or Muscae Volitantes makes no sense to me. To talk of God and the things of God requires finding a way of communicating where everyone is on the same page.
