The Question about Jesus's Authority (Matthew 21:23–27; Mark 11:27–33; Luke 20:1–8)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 67 (on Matthew 21:23–27) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110/npnf110.iii.LXIV.html

On why the Lord answers their challenge with a question of His own:

What then saith He? He doth not answer them directly, to show that, if they had been willing to see His authority, they could; but He asks them again, saying, "The baptism of John, whence is it? From heaven, or of men?"

On the unbelief in John that their own question exposed:

For if they had said, from heaven, He would have said unto them, why then did ye not believe him? For if they had believed, they would not have asked these things.

On the craft that asks not to learn, and the justice that answers it with silence:

After this, because they, dealing craftily, said, "We know not," He said not, neither know I, but what? "Neither tell I you." For if indeed they had been ignorant it would have been requisite for them to be instructed; but since they were dealing craftily with good reason He answers them nothing.

On their fear of the people:

And how was it they did not say that the baptism was of men? "They feared the people" it is said. Seest thou a perverse heart? In every case they despise God and do all things for the sake of men.

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Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 21:23–27) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxi.html

On the many powers at work, and why the Lord withheld the mystery from those unworthy to hear it:

There are in the general two opposite powers, one on the side of God, the other on the side of the Devil; but of particular powers there are many; for it was not one and the same power that wrought in all the Prophets to enable them to do miracles, but one in these, another in those ... The Chief Priests had seen Jesus working many miracles, whereupon they desired to know the special degree and properties of that power which wrought in Him. ... But because they were not worthy to hear such mysteries, therefore He gives them no answer, but on the contrary put a question to them.

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Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Mark (on Mark 11:27–33) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2.iii.xi.html

On the anger that drove them to question Him:

They were angry with the Lord, for having cast out of the temple those who had made it a place of merchandize, and therefore they come up to Him, to question and tempt Him.

On the trap they laid, and why the Lord asked them of John:

Further, they said this, thinking to bring Him to judgment, so that if He said, by mine own power, they might lay hold upon Him; but if He said, by the power of another, they might make the people leave Him, for they believed Him to be God. But the Lord asks them concerning John, not without a reason, nor in a sophisticated way, but because John had borne witness of Him.

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Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 5 (on Matthew 21:23–27) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxi.html

On the baptism of John as a gift given to no other, a witness to the Lord:

John received his authority to baptize from Him, whom he afterwards baptized; and that baptism which was committed to him is here called the baptism of John. He alone received such a gift; no righteous man before or after him was entrusted with a baptism to be called from himself. For John came to baptize in the water of repentance, to prepare the way for the Lord, not to give inward cleansing, which mere man cannot do.

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St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 21:23–27) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxi.html

On the question so contrived that they must be condemned by their silence or their knowledge:

The Lord could have confuted the calumny of His tempters by a simple answer, but He put a question to them of such skilful contrivance, that they must be condemned either by their silence or their knowledge.

On the dilemma their own malice had prepared:

For had they replied that it was from heaven, the question was inevitable, Why then were ye not baptized by John? But should they reply that it was an invention of human device, and had in it nothing divine, they feared a tumult among the people.

On the lie "We know not," and the justice of the Lord's answering silence:

In saying that they knew not, they lied; and it might have followed upon their answering thus, that the Lord also should say, I know not; but truth cannot lie, and therefore it follows, "And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." This shews that they knew, but would not answer, and that He also knew, but would not answer, because they would not speak what they knew.

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St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Commentary on Mark (on Mark 11:27–33) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Mark. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena2.iii.xi.html

On why the Lord withheld what He knew, and the two reasons the truth is hidden from some who ask:

As if He had said, I will not tell you what I know, since ye will not confess what ye know. Further, we must observe that knowledge is hidden from those who seek it, principally for two reasons, namely, when he who seeks for it either has not sufficient capacity to understand what he seeks for, or when through contempt for the truth, or some other reason, he is unworthy of having that for which he seeks opened to him.