Luke 20:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord found it straightforward to respond by stating, "thus it is said," and to convey that the command came from the prophet, or rather, from God Himself. However, to confront their persistent resistance against the Holy Spirit and their refusal to believe not only in the ancient prophet Isaiah, who may have faded from memory, but also in John, who had recently emerged and seemed almost transcendent, He posed to them a genuine and unexpected inquiry.

God the Father appointed the blessed John the Baptist as the precursor to Christ, proclaiming, "Prepare the way of the Lord, and make straight the paths of our God." The insightful evangelist John also noted this, declaring, "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came to bear witness, to testify of the light; he was not that light, but he came to bear witness to that light," referring to Christ.

The same chapter provides an explanation.

Matthew 21:24-26

The Lord took heed of the suggestion, yet, consistent with His practice, He refrained from offering a direct response. “I will pose a question to you,” He replied, “and I will provide you with one word if you engage with Me, and I will reveal the source of the authority by which I perform these acts.” The scribes remained silent in acknowledgment, as responding to a question with another question, as the Lord had done, was a common practice among the Jewish scribes of that era and also served to elevate the one who replied in this manner.

The Sanhedrin, having already resolved to condemn Him, sought merely to create an illusion of fairness and looked for an opportunity to bring charges against Him on theological or political grounds. They aimed to find some statement of His that could be construed as religious misconduct or could suggest political motivations. When they encountered the Lord again in the temple, they quickly seized the chance to ask through their members, "By what authority does He perform such acts?" This inquiry likely extended beyond His actions in the temple to encompass all that pertained to His role as the Messiah.

When Jesus Christ arrived at the temple on Tuesday to teach, His discussions with the crowd were disrupted by the chief priests and scribes. They approached Him as representatives of the Sanhedrin, similar to the delegation that came to John the Baptist (John 1:19). They inquired about the authority by which He operated—whether it was divine or merely human—and wished to know who conferred this authority upon Him, asking by whom He had received this commission. In response, Jesus posed a question of His own: Was John a prophet or a deceiver? Since it was undeniable that John was a prophet sent by God, this query indirectly revealed Christ's own identity. John had borne witness to Jesus as the Messiah.

Aware of their intentions, Jesus posed a question to the Pharisees regarding John the Baptist instead of responding directly to their inquiry, much like He had done in the past. He presented a query that would lead them to answer their own question. He said, I will also ask you one thing; answer Me, and then I will reveal by what authority I act. Was the baptism of John from heaven, meaning from God, or from men? Answer me.

Anticipating their malicious intentions, Christ, in His divine wisdom, proposed that He would respond to their inquiries if they would first provide an answer to His question: “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” This inquiry instantly perplexed those who questioned Him, leading to a brief silence. “Answer Me,” the Saviour urged, interrupting their hushed discussions. Yet, they remained silent; they fully grasped the implications and intentions behind His question.