MARK 11:28 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?”
By what authority are you doing these things? they asked. And who gave you authority to do this? — the authority question is asked twice for emphasis: what authority, and who gave it. The temple cleansing requires authorization: only someone with legitimate authority over the temple can disrupt its operations. The question is designed to force Jesus to either claim divine authority (which could be charged as blasphemy) or acknowledge human authorization (which he cannot demonstrate). It is the same trap structure as the tribute-to-Caesar question.
Church Fathers on Mark 11:28
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.
And, indeed, when they say, 'By what authority doest thou these things,' they doubt its being the power of God, and wish it to be understood that what He did was the devil’s work. When they add also, 'Who gave thee this authority,' they evidently deny that He is the Son of God, since they believe He works miracles, not by His own but by another’s power.
They envied the Lamp, and were in the dark, wherefore it is said, 'I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed; his enemies will I clothe with shame.' [Ps 131:17-18]
Read all 6 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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