MARK 11:32 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that he was a prophet indeed.”
But if we say, of human origin — they feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet — the second horn of the dilemma: acknowledging John as merely human would provoke the crowd, who universally regarded John as a genuine prophet. The fear of the people is the Sanhedrin's primary operating principle throughout the passion narrative. They are not seeking truth; they are managing political risk.
Church Fathers on Mark 11:32
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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