John 1:22 – Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

They were not really seeking proper information or the truth about the matter, but rather desired that he claimed something of which they could accuse him. John was telling the people to repent of their sins whereas the Jewish leaders had not confronted them of their sins neither were they pointing them to Jesus who came to save the lost and redeem them from sin. Only through Jesus could their sins be forgiven.

When asked who is he, John replies that who he is matters less  than what he says. The committee sent to examine him pressed for a positive answer, urging the authority of those that sent them. John was looked upon as a man of sincerity, and therefore they believed he would be fair and would give an answer to a plain question. The question, “What sayest thou of thyself”, they wanted to know was he the prophet that was foretold, who had given him this authority, or was he the Messiah.