Church Fathers Commentary Luke 20:1-8

"And it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders; and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why did ye not believe him? But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered, that they knew not whence [it was]. And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." — Luke 20:1-8 (ASV)

St. Augustine of Hippo: After relating the casting out of those who bought and sold in the temple, Luke omits Christ’s going to Bethany, His return to the city, the details of the fig tree, and the answer given to the astonished disciples concerning the power of faith.

Having omitted all these things, and not pursuing the events of each day in order as Mark does, he begins with these words: And it came to pass, that on one of those days.... By this, we can understand that the event took place on the same day that Matthew and Mark recorded it.

Eusebius of Caesarea: But the rulers, who should have been struck with wonder at one who taught such heavenly doctrines and been convinced by His words and deeds that this was the Christ whom the Prophets had foretold, came to hinder Him, thereby advancing the destruction of the people. For it follows: Tell us, by what authority do you these things? It is as if they were saying, “By the law of Moses, only those descended from Levi have authority to teach and power over the sacred buildings. But you, who are from the line of Judah, are usurping the offices assigned to us.” Yet, O Pharisee, if you had known the Scriptures, you would have recalled that this is the Priest after the order of Melchizedek, who offers to God those who believe in Him through a worship that is above the law. Why then are you troubled? He cast out from the sacred house things that seemed necessary for the sacrifices of the law because He calls us by faith to true righteousness.

The Venerable Bede: Or, when they ask, By what authority do you these things? they are doubting the power of God and want to imply that He does this by the power of the devil. They add, moreover, And who is he that gave you this authority? They most plainly deny the Son of God when they think He performs miracles not by His own power, but by another's. Now our Lord could have refuted such slander with a simple answer, but He wisely asks a question so that they might condemn themselves by either their silence or their words. And He answered and said to them, I will also ask you one thing...

Theophylact of Ohrid: To show that they had always rebelled against the Holy Spirit—and that besides Isaiah, whom they did not remember, they had also refused to believe John, whom they had recently seen—He now, in turn, asks them a question. He was proving that if they had disbelieved so great a prophet as John (who was considered the greatest among them) when he testified about Him, they would in no way believe Him, even if He answered by what authority He did these things.

Eusebius of Caesarea: His question concerning John the Baptist is not about where he came from, but from where he received his authority to baptize. But they did not hesitate to shun the truth. For God sent John as a voice crying, Prepare you the way of the Lord. Yet they dreaded to speak the truth, lest they be asked, “Why did you not believe him?” And they hesitated to blame the forerunner, not from fear of God, but of the people. As it follows, they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed you him not?

The Venerable Bede: It is as if Christ were saying, “The one you confess had his gift of prophecy from heaven also gave testimony about Me. And you heard from him by what authority I do these things.”

It follows, But if we shall say, Of men; the whole people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. Therefore, they perceived that whichever way they answered, they would fall into a trap, fearing the stoning, but fearing the confession of the truth even more.

And so it follows, And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was. Because they would not confess what they knew, they were baffled, and the Lord would not tell them what He knew. As it is written, And Jesus said to them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

For there are two main reasons to conceal the truth from those who ask: first, when the questioner is incapable of understanding what he asks, and second, when his hatred or contempt makes him unworthy of an answer.