After Jesus cleansed the temple of the merchants and money changers who had defiled it, the Jewish leaders challenged Him asking by what authority He performed the works He had done and taught the things He had taught. By this, they hoped to catch Him in what they and the people would deem as blasphemy. But Jesus turned the tables on them asking whether they believed John the Baptist had been a true prophet. When they refused to answer Him, He refused to answer them.