MARK 14:63 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?”
The high priest tore his clothes. Why do we need any more witnesses? he asked — the tearing of clothes is the formal expression of hearing blasphemy in the Jewish legal tradition. The why do we need any more witnesses communicates that the failed witness strategy has been superseded by the accused's own self-testimony. The blasphemy charge is based on Jesus' claim to be the Messiah and Son of God who will be enthroned at the Father's right hand.
Church Fathers on Mark 14:63
The more Jesus remained silent before the false witnesses who were unworthy of His answer, and the impious priests, the more the High Priest, overcome with anger, endeavoured to provoke Him to answer, that he might find room for accusing Him, from any thing whatever which He might say.
But our God and Saviour Himself, Who brought salvation to the world, and assisted mankind by His love, is led as a sheep to the slaughter, without crying, and remained mute and 'kept silence yea even from good words.'
But He remained silent because He knew that they would not attend to His words, wherefore He answered according to Luke, 'If I tell you, ye will not believe.' [Luke 22:67]
Read all 15 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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