Church Fathers Commentary Luke 22:63-71

"And the men that held [Jesus] mocked him, and beat him. And they blindfolded him, and asked him, saying, Prophesy: who is he that struck thee? And many other things spake they against him, reviling him. And as soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying, If thou art the Christ, tell us. But he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I ask [you], ye will not answer. But from henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God. And they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth." — Luke 22:63-71 (ASV)

St. Augustine of Hippo: The temptation of Peter, which occurred during the mocking of our Lord, is not related by all the Evangelists in the same order. For Matthew and Mark first mention the mocking, then Peter’s temptation; but Luke first described the temptations of Peter, and then the mocking of our Lord, saying, And the men that held Jesus mocked him...

St. John Chrysostom: Jesus, the Lord of heaven and earth, endures and suffers the mocking of the ungodly, giving us an example of patience.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Likewise, the Lord of prophets is derided as a false prophet. It follows, And they blindfolded him. They did this to dishonor Him who wished to be regarded by the people as a prophet. But He who was struck by the blows of the Jews is also struck now by the blasphemies of false Christians. They blindfolded Him, not to prevent Him from seeing their wickedness, but so they could hide His face from themselves.

But heretics, Jews, and wicked Catholics provoke Him with their vile actions, as if mocking Him and saying, “Who struck you?” while they flatter themselves that their evil thoughts and works of darkness are not known by Him.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Our Lord is understood to have suffered these things until morning in the house of the High Priest, where He was first taken. Hence it follows, And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Are you the Christ?

The Venerable Bede: They did not wish for truth, but were devising slander. Because they expected that the Christ would come only as a man from the root of David, they asked this of Him so that if He said, “I am the Christ,” they could falsely accuse Him of claiming royal power for Himself.

Theophylact of Ohrid: He knew the secrets of their hearts—that those who had not believed His works would be far less likely to believe His words. Hence it follows, And he said to them, If I tell you, you will not believe...

The Venerable Bede: For He had often declared Himself to be the Christ, as when He said, I and my Father are one, and other similar things. And, If I also ask you, you will not answer me. For He had asked them how they could say the Christ was the Son of David, when David in the Spirit called Him his Lord. But they wished neither to believe His words nor to answer His questions.

However, because they sought to falsely accuse the seed of David, they heard something further, as it follows: Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

Theophylact of Ohrid: It is as if He said, “There is no time left for you for discussions and teaching. Hereafter will be the time of judgment, when you will see the Son of man, sitting on the right hand of the power of God.”

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Whenever sitting and a throne are spoken of in relation to God, His royal and supreme majesty is signified. We do not imagine a physical judgment-seat being placed, on which we believe the Lord of all takes His seat. Nor, again, do we believe that a right or left hand in any way belongs to the Divine nature, for shape, location, and sitting are properties of physical bodies.

But how can the Son be seen to have equal honor and to sit on the same throne if He is not the Son by nature, possessing in Himself the natural property of the Father?

Theophylact of Ohrid: When they heard this, they should have been afraid, but after these words they became even more frantic, as it follows: Then said they all...

The Venerable Bede: They understood that in these words, The Son of man shall sit on the right hand of the power of God, He was calling Himself the Son of God.

St. Ambrose of Milan: The Lord would rather prove Himself a King than call Himself one, so that they would have no excuse for condemning Him when they confess the truth of the charge they bring against Him. It follows, And he said, You say that I am.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: When Christ said this, the company of the Pharisees became very angry, uttering shameful words, as it follows: Then said they, What need we any further witness?

Theophylact of Ohrid: By this it is made clear that the disobedient gain no advantage when the more secret mysteries are revealed to them, but instead incur a heavier punishment. Therefore, such things ought to be concealed from them.