Luke 20:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Through this inquiry, He silences their voices and reveals that if they could not accept the testimony of a prophet like John, whom they regarded as esteemed, how could they trust His explanation regarding the authority behind His actions? Regardless of what He proclaimed, they would find a way to misinterpret and mock His words, just as they had disregarded the esteemed declarations of John, who was held in high regard among them.

Observe the profound unrighteousness of the Pharisees: they turn away from the truth; they spurn the light; they possess no fear of sin. They are, in fact, hesitant to proclaim the truth, anxious that they might be questioned, ‘Why did you not have faith in Him?’ Yet, they do not rebuke the Forerunner, lacking reverence for God and instead fearing the opinions of the people. Consequently, they mask the truth, responding, 'We do not know.'

The Sanhedrin had already resolved to execute Him and sought to cloak their actions in a semblance of justice. They aimed to find grounds on which to accuse Him either on spiritual or political matters, hoping to extract statements from His teachings that could imply ecclesiastical misconduct or raise suspicions about His political views. When they encountered the Lord again in the temple, the members of the Sanhedrin quickly challenged Him, asking by what authority He performed such actions. This inquiry likely concerned not only His conduct in the temple but also His overall mission as the Messiah. The Lord discerned their hidden motives and chose not to provide a direct response.

When Jesus Christ entered the temple on Tuesday and began teaching, His interactions with the crowd were interrupted by the chief priests and scribes. They approached Him as representatives of the Sanhedrin, similar to how a group had approached John the Baptist (John 1:19, etc.), and inquired about the source of His authority—whether it was divine or merely human—specifically who conferred this authority upon Him, such as who ordained Him for this role. In response, Jesus posed a question of His own: Was John a prophet or a fraud? Since it was evident that John was a prophet sent by God, Jesus’ query indirectly revealed His own identity, for John had testified of Jesus as the Messiah. The chief priests and scribes recognized this implication but were unwilling to confirm it. They feared admitting John's prophetic status, as they would do so in front of the crowd that revered John. Thus, they responded, "We do not know!" Consequently, Jesus declined to provide them with a direct answer to their inquiry.

The Sanhedrin dispatched the priests and Levites affiliated with the Pharisees to inquire about John’s identity. John clarified that he was not the Messiah, indicating that the Messiah was already present among them (John 1:26). After a period of fasting and temptation lasting forty days, Jesus arrived at the Jordan, where John was explaining his mission to the Sanhedrin's envoys. John then pointed to Jesus and proclaimed, “Behold, He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He also shared with them how the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus during His baptism and how a voice from heaven proclaimed Him as the Son of God. The members of the Sanhedrin were well aware of these events.

There was no way to dismiss it as unimportant. John openly testified about Jesus, acknowledging Him before the highest authorities of the Sanhedrin, not just as a prophet, but as the greatest prophet, the Messiah. Did they accept this testimony or deny it? It is evident that Christ was justified in seeking a response from them before providing His own. However, they could neither provide an answer nor were they willing to do so. He had them in a difficult position. They would not declare, “from heaven,” as they had rejected this idea; nor could they assert, “from men,” since their faith in John, as even noted by Josephus Flavius, was so robust and unanimous that openly contradicting it would have endangered their safety.