Church Fathers Commentary Mark 11:27-33

"And they come again to Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders; and they said unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? or who gave thee this authority to do these things? And Jesus said unto them, I will ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men? answer me. And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; He will say, Why then did ye not believe him? But should we say, From men--they feared the people: for all verily held John to be a prophet. And they answered Jesus and say, We know not. And Jesus saith unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." — Mark 11:27-33 (ASV)

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

Therefore it is said: And they come again to Jerusalem: and as He was walking in the temple, there come to Him the Chief Priests, and the Scribes, and the elders, and say unto Him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee authority to do these things? (Mark 11:27-28).

It was as if they had said, "Who are you that you do these things? Do you make yourself a teacher and ordain yourself Chief Priest?"

The Venerable Bede: Indeed, when they ask, By what authority doest thou these things?, they doubt that it is the power of God and wish it to be understood that what He did was the devil's work. When they also add, Who gave thee this authority?, they are clearly denying that He is the Son of God, since they believe He works miracles not by His own power, but by another's.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Furthermore, they said this, thinking to bring Him to judgment. If He said, "By my own power," they could seize Him; but if He said, "By the power of another," they could make the people abandon Him, for they believed Him to be God. But the Lord asks them about John, not without reason or in a deceptive way, but because John had borne witness to Him.

Therefore, what follows is: And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me. (Mark 11:29-30).

The Venerable Bede: The Lord could indeed have refuted the objections of His tempters with a direct answer, but He prudently asks them a question so that they might be condemned either by their silence or by their answer. This is evident from what is added: And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? (Mark 11:31).

It was as if He had said, "He whom you would confess to have had his prophecy from heaven testified about Me, and you have heard from him by what authority I do these things."

It continues: But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people. (Mark 11:32).

They saw then that whatever they answered, they would fall into a snare. Fearing being stoned, they feared confessing the truth even more.

Therefore, it continues: And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. (Mark 11:33).

Pseudo-Jerome: They envied the Lamp and were in the dark; therefore it is said, I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed; his enemies will I clothe with shame. (Psalm 132:17-18).

Then follows: And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. (Mark 11:33).

The Venerable Bede: It was as if He had said, "I will not tell you what I know, since you will not confess what you know."

Furthermore, we must observe that knowledge is hidden from those who seek it for two primary reasons: either the seeker lacks the capacity to understand what he is looking for, or, because of his contempt for the truth or some other fault, he is unworthy of having it revealed to him.