Matthew 21:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the meantime, the arrogant and self-important Jews, eager to disrupt the dialogue with the disciples, confronted Him with their inquiry, "By what authority do You perform these actions?" Unable to discredit Him through His miracles, they pointed to His actions within the temple where merchants operated. A similar inquiry arises in the Gospel of John, though it is phrased differently yet carries the same implication. There they question Him, "What sign do You show us that gives You authority for these things?" (John 2:18). In response, Christ challenged them by stating, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19), which caught them off guard and left them in a state of confusion. This indicates that the event recounted by John occurred early in Jesus’ ministry, when He had just begun performing miracles, while Matthew’s account describes a moment closer to the culmination of His mission. The underlying intention behind the Jews’ question was to ascertain whether He had received formal teaching or priestly ordination to wield such authority. Despite Jesus demonstrating no arrogance and simply promoting the proper order of the temple, the Jews, lacking any valid accusations against Him, faulted Him nonetheless. They hesitated to confront Him directly when He expelled the merchants, yet reproached Him later upon encountering Him.

The foundation of human salvation lies in reverence for God, and the essence of goodness within us arises from His commandments. However, the law devoid of reverence is ineffective, and reverence without the law is equally unfulfilling. The law serves as a foundation of obedience, where the fear of divine commands acts as the judge. Therefore, one who approaches both the law and the Divine Lawgiver with fear joins the ranks of the holy and becomes part of the righteous assembly, while one who approaches with pride, rejecting reverence, remains estranged from grace and righteousness. Those who come to divine regulations with a humble heart grow in faith and comprehension, learning true piety from the Source of all truth that proclaims, "Blessed are You, O Lord; teach me Your statutes" (Psalm 118:12). Hence, the holy and devoted individuals obtain understanding directly from the Truth, while adversaries of truth, or rather enemies of their own existence, prefer simplicity over arrogance and present themselves insolently to the righteous Teacher. Such was the approach of the Jews noted in the recently read Gospel. They approached Jesus—our Lord and King within the temple—without due reverence, not as servants addressing a Master, nor as disciples before a Teacher. Instead, they, followers of iniquity and unmasking their own corruption, sought to ensnare the embodiment of wisdom with their cunning. "The chief priests and elders approached Jesus in the temple and asked, 'By what authority are You doing these things?'" (Matt. 21:23). O heart devoid of fear! What audacity arises, what arrogance is displayed! Oh, the folly of the wicked! The creation challenges the Creator, and the Benefactor is subjected to inquiry; they demand answers from the Word of God, seeking authority from the very Source of autonomy. Should we not echo the wise reflection, "What is man that he should be proud, since he is but dust and ashes" (Sir. 10:9)? You dare question God, seeking accountability for His creations, instead of delving into the very essence of His works? Inquire earnestly—within the depths of your soul—into the nature of these actions, whether they stem from human invention or showcase divine authority unique to the Lord. Ask the laws of nature, and the limits of human governance; by what authority can the dead rise, if not by divine command? Who can cleanse lepers, expel diseases, and eradicate all afflictions of spirit and body with a single word? Then, who can give sight to the blind, God or man? Why do you not consider the nature of the works themselves, yet boldly question the one responsible for them, saying, "By what authority do You perform these deeds?" Again, I reiterate the words of those whose impudence drives them to question the Word of God, attempting to ensnare Him who knows all deceptions: "the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile" (1 Cor. 3:19). What power does human rhetoric hold before the Word of God, and how does deceit compare to immortal Wisdom? "By what authority do You perform these things?" Inquire of the healed paralytic how he stands upright; question the miracles, but do not seek to understand the source of miraculous power. The divine goodness remains silent to those whose inquiries are malicious, rendering them unworthy of a response. Thus, the Word of God, recognizing a deceitful and corrupt soul, leaves it devoid of grace, often neglecting to reveal truth to those who seek knowledge for malicious intent. The Jews frequently posed inquiries yet received no answers, for they asked with evil intentions. The silence of the Savior so troubled their souls that they collectively asked, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly" (John 10:24). Yet He provided no answer, for they were unworthy of one: “I told you, and you do not believe; the works I do in My Father's name bear witness of Me" (John 10:25). He invited them to question His works rather than dispute His authority. When the Jews asked, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly," He did not remove their confusion, for they sought knowledge not to believe, but to condemn. But Caiaphas, the high priest, incensed by their deliberation, cried out, "I adjure You by the living God, tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God" (Matthew 26:63). The Savior, teaching us to regard such pronouncements with reverence, responded in a manner that, while acknowledging the solemn oath, did not dispel the confusion. The high priest implored, "I adjure You by the living God, tell us: are You the Christ, the Son of God?" The Lord replied, “It is as you said” (Matt. 26:63-64). He upheld the sanctity of the oath by breaking His silence, yet He did not appease the malice of their inquiry. The Jews approached with malice and received no response—justly so, as deceitful thoughts separate humanity from God. He does not share His wisdom with those who malignantly question His wisdom, for "wisdom does not enter a wicked soul" (Prem. 1:4). While many who asked lacked understanding of their questions, there emerged a woman who approached with purity and sincere faith, untempted by the unfathomable might of God, but rather came to the Lord in simplicity, saying, "I know that the Messiah is coming, who is called Christ. When He comes, He will tell us all things" (John 4:25). To her, who cherished simplicity, the one who embodies wisdom replied, "I who speak to you am He" (John 4:26). She had not yet outright inquired, yet she intuitively understood; the fruit of her steadfast faith had already been harvested. The Holy One, who resides with the humble and pious, recognizes the simplicity of the one approaching and offers the gifts of wisdom; but when He encounters souls marked by wickedness, He withdraws His kindness and refrains from imparting His teaching. Listen to His words conveyed through Moses: "If you walk in My statutes and observe My commandments, I will come to you; but if you do not repent and oppose Me, I will come against you in fury" (Leviticus 26:23-24). He speaks this not because His justice changes, but because the truth does not flow readily to those who are cunning in their ways. "By what authority do You do this? And who granted you such authority?" Yet the Savior imparts wisdom to guide us: He teaches us not to answer every malicious inquiry posed by heretics, Jews, Gentiles, or any others disconnected from godliness. Some questions are simply unworthy of a response and must be met with equity; thus, Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question, and if you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I do these things" (Matthew 21:24-25). Behold the fountain of wisdom, dismantling falsehood with a question, see how the Word of God combats wickedness with righteous judgement, observing evil as it turns against itself. "Where did John's baptism come from? Was it from heaven or from man?" And they, deliberating among themselves, acknowledged, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will ask us, 'Why did you not believe him?'" (Matthew 21:25). Evil recognizes its own demise; it sees that by the very means of its existence, it is also on the verge of destruction. Their disobedience to John made them hesitant to assert that his baptism was of divine origin, for fear of prompt rebuke. "If we say, 'Of man,' all the people will stone us" (Luke 20:6); the opinion of this righteous man would expose us to fierce condemnation, as "all hold John as a prophet" (Matt. 21:26). Thus, they refrained from revealing the truth that John's baptism was from God, having turned away from divine truth; yet they would not dare to lie because fear ruled over their shame—not that of God, but of men. Indeed, many devoid of the fear of God are often enslaved by the fear of humanity. They feared the crowds; what if they had instead feared God? The former invites divine favor, while the latter leads to ruin. "And they answered Jesus, 'We do not know'" (Matthew 21:27). Witness their deceitful intent hidden away; observe how malice reveals ignorance. Like a hidden echidna, or any other cunning creature, they creep out without full revelation, remaining cloaked in their wickedness. Thus, the Lord said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things" (Matt. 21:27). See how His silence reprimanded them for their inappropriate question, see how He did not gratify their malice, but struck at the heart of their schemes. (Num. 22:21-26). Just as Balaam’s donkey could not turn to the right or left, blocked by an angel, so too was the malice of the Jews constrained, afraid to acknowledge either the truth from the Savior or to embrace falsehood for fear of man. Therefore, we, beloved, who receive such guidance from the Lord, must not entertain every question from heretics. When a heretic maliciously inquires, dismiss their unwanted query with a righteous question. The heretic often poses questions like, "Do you know God?" If you reply, "I do know," they will retort, insisting that you should understand what you honor. Yes, replies the faithful, since who would contend they are unaware of what they honor? They may then further ask, "Do you know the essence of God?" Should you say, "I do not know," they will protest, claiming that you do not truly know that which you honor. Observe how insidious these words are; recognize the deceitful intentions of such serpentine adversaries. But we must remain undeterred. Know, dear friends, that there are different levels of knowledge. Someone may acknowledge God's existence without comprehending how He exists. In a similar manner, among humans, we possess various forms of knowing. For instance, I might know a person resides in a certain city, yet I do not know their occupation; another person may have a specific trade, but I am unaware of their origin. Hence, I possess partial knowledge and full ignorance simultaneously; overall knowledge of the whole does not discount partial understanding. It follows that I may know God exists, that He is good, immortal, incorruptible, boundless, incomprehensible, incorporeal, and unchanging. While I recognize these truths and honor Him for them, I do not grasp how He exists. I am not commanded to explore the nature of His existence but rather what He is. There is no greater teacher than the Apostle, who, with a resounding voice, instructs us: "It is necessary that he who comes to God must believe that He is" and that "He rewards those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Thus, I honor what I know, having been instructed to believe rather than investigate the divine being. Remember, heretic, your confession made at the hidden and reverent sacrament.

The religious leaders, envious of His power, with which He expelled the merchants from the temple, approached Him with their inquiry: ‘Who are You to drive out the merchants from the temple? Did You act by the authority of a priest? Yet You are not a priest. Or do You perform the role of a king? But You are not a king. Even if You were a king, such an act would still be beyond Your right, as kings have no dominion within the temple.

They approached Him and inquired, "By what authority do You perform these actions?" This occurred while He was instructing and proclaiming to the multitude. If He was teaching, why refer to teaching as doing? It is undoubtedly because He validated the veracity of His message through the evidence of His deeds, as He stated: "If you do not believe Me, believe in the works" (cf. John 10:38). "By what authority do You engage in this?" they pressed Him, much like investigators.

In essence, they construct the same accusation as before, asserting that He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of demons. When they question, By what authority do You perform these acts? they show skepticism towards God's authority, insinuating that the devil is the source of His actions. They further question, Who has granted You such power? thereby denying the Son of God outright, believing that His miracles arise not from His own power, but from another's.

In order to clarify the parable further, our Lord enters His Father’s house and, upon arriving in the temple, He encounters evildoers—religious leaders occupying Moses' seat—hypocrites resembling wolves in sheep's clothing. These are the ones, much like the fruitless fig tree, who bear no good fruit but only present themselves with superficial appearances. Observe the severity of their inquiry: By what authority are you carrying out these actions? And who grants you this authority? (Matthew 21:23). Can you recognize the emptiness of those who lack faith?

Unable to discredit the miracles, they object to the removal of the merchants from the temple, questioning, "By what authority are You doing these things?" They challenge what we did not prohibit. And who granted You the right to drive them out, considering You were not given any authority over the temple? Indeed, He performed a righteous act in purifying the temple; yet, it is often jealousy that criticizes what is good.

Previously, the Pharisees had witnessed numerous acts that could certainly be described as astonishing miracles, yet now they were deeply troubled and questioned Jesus about the authority by which He performed these deeds. The profound mystery of what lies ahead is intertwined with the occurrences they were observing. This compels them to seek answers, for within this situation lies the essence of all peril. The Lord responds, stating He would disclose the source of His authority, provided they first clarify whether they believed John the Baptist originated from heaven or was merely a man. They were hesitant, considering the implications of their response. If they confessed that he was from heaven, they would be held accountable for not recognizing the truth of the heavenly witness.

The triumphant arrival of the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem left the chief priests and scribes in a state of alarm. Not long before, they had resolved to put Him to death and had instructed that anyone who was aware of Jesus' whereabouts should inform them immediately. Yet, to their astonishment, Jesus, whom they had condemned, entered the city in a majestic way. This act served as a stark rebuke to them, as He expelled the merchants and money changers from the temple, demonstrating their lack of reverence for God's house. Clearly, He was beginning to fulfill His role as the Messiah. Faced with this situation, they contemplated apprehending Him and bringing Him to trial, knowing He was surrounded by throngs of devoted followers who might react with unrest.

When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and made His way to the temple, a delegation from the Sanhedrin, comprising the chief priests, scribes, and elders of the community, approached Him. The question posed by the Pharisees was, "Who granted Him the authority to act in this manner?" The prevailing view held that the Sanhedrin had the mandate to investigate prophets and offer their judgments. An inquiry regarding the Galilean prophet Jesus had yet to take place, and the populace anticipated its repercussions since this prophet proclaimed Himself as the Son of God, thus signifying the Messiah.

The news of the recent removal of merchants from the Temple reached the Sanhedrin. Once the members had regained some composure from their earlier discomfort, they approached the Temple to question the preacher, asking, "By what authority are you acting? Who granted you this authority?" With these inquiries, they intended to provoke him into making a statement that would, as in previous instances, provide them with reason to accuse him of blasphemy and justify his stoning.

"To the temple": to a section of the temple where crowds often assembled, particularly during feast days. The inquiry regarding authority pertains first to the essence of that authority and second to the individual who bestowed it. Jesus was not from a priestly descent with the right to govern in the temple, prompting the chief priests and elders to question Him, ‘Have you received a teaching pulpit, or have you been ordained a priest, that you demonstrate such authority?’ He possessed the authority of the Son of God, along with that of a prophet and miracle worker; however, the Jewish leaders failed to recognize Him as the Son of God and prophet, attributing His miracles to Beelzebub.

The Lord Jesus Christ's grand entrance into Jerusalem and the subsequent ousting of merchants from the temple left His adversaries in utter disarray. The members of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish council with authority over religious matters, had recently conspired to put the Savior to death and issued orders that anyone who knew His location should report it (John 11:53, 57). Yet, the one they had condemned reemerged as the Messiah, garnering the people's reverence and taking on the rightful governance within God's house. Given the large crowds surrounding the Divine Teacher, any attempt to seize Him or bring Him to trial seemed unwise and premature. As a result, they postponed their murderous plot.