MARK 11:31 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, if we say, from heaven, he will ask, then why didn't you believe him? — the Sanhedrin's private calculation reveals that their concern is political, not theological. If they acknowledge John's divine authority, they must explain their failure to respond to John's testimony — including his testimony about Jesus. The theological trap is of their own construction: if John was from God, Jesus is from God.
Church Fathers on Mark 11:31
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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