And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell. And Jesus answering said unto them,
Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.
All Commentaries on Mark 11:33 Go To Mark 11
Theophylact of Ochrid
AD 1107
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. Wherefore it is said: “And they come again to Jerusalem: and as He was walking in the temple, there come to Him the Chief Priests, and the Scribes, and the elders, and say unto Him, By what authoritydoest thou these things? and who gave thee authority to do these things? "As if they had said, Who art thou thatdoest these things? Dost thou make thyself a doctor, and ordain thyself Chief Priest?.
Further, they said this, thinking to bring Him to judgment, so that if He said, by mine own power, they might lay hold upon Him; but if He said, by the power of another, they might make the people leave Him, for they believed Him to be God. But the Lord asks them concerning John, not without a reason, nor in a sophisticated way, but because John had borne witness of Him. Wherefore there follows: “And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of me? answer me.”As if He had said, He whom you confess to have had his prophecy from heaven bore testimony of Me, and ye have heard from him, by what authority I do these things. It goes on: “But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people. "They saw then that whatever they answered, they should fall into a snare; fearing to be stoned, they feared still more the confession of the truth. Wherefore it goes on: “And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell.”
