MARK 11:30 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me.”
John's baptism — was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me — the John question is the perfect trap reversal. John's authority was either from heaven (divine) or from human origin (not divine). The answer to John's authority question is the same as the answer to Jesus' authority question — the same divine source, the same prophetic commission. The question also carries its own implication: if John's baptism was from heaven, then John's testimony about Jesus (Mark 1:7–8) settles the authority question.
Church Fathers on Mark 11:30
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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