Psalm 35 (34):11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Let us hear from our Lord, who proclaimed, "False witnesses have risen up, accusing Me of things which I did not know." (Psalm 34:11). Yet we may ask our Lord: What was it that You were unaware of? Did You truly know nothing? Were You not aware of the intentions of those who brought false accusations against You? Did You not anticipate their deceit? Did You not willingly place Yourself in their grasp? Did You not come to endure their suffering? What is it that You did not know? He was without sin, which is why He was untouched by sin—not because He lacked the ability to discern but because He never committed it. Such expressions are common in daily conversations; you might say of someone, "He knows he cannot stand," meaning he indeed cannot stand.

This verse presents the visage of Christ, who is characterized by false testimony during the magistrate's trial.

The prophet declares that he was falsely accused, charged with intentions he never harbored. Saul, driven by jealousy, believed that David was conspiring to usurp his throne. This fueled his animosity towards David, and his adversaries exploited the situation, relentlessly spreading rumors against him. David refers to these individuals as false witnesses, including the likes of Doeg and Ziba, along with numerous others.

Saul, he claims, along with his associates, served as witnesses against him, yet their testimony was unjust and based on falsehoods. They accused him with malicious intent, questioning whether he had conspired against the kingdom, a scheme they alone claimed knowledge of, while he remained unaware of any such plot, akin to an innocent man. This mirrors the actions of those who falsely testified against the Lord Christ during that period. They interrogated and accused Him of things He did not recognize, as the Gospel narrative reveals.

The prophet moves on to discuss a different form of persecution, specifically false accusations, where the wicked no longer hide their intentions but openly attack the righteous. He intensifies the malice of their slanders by first stating: Having risen, indicating that the accusers acted on their own accord to bring false testimony, without any expectation of being summoned. Next, he asserts I do not know, revealing that the righteous is falsely accused by those who are devoid of law, not only of actions he didn’t commit but also of thoughts he never entertained.

Witnesses against Christ the Lord included unrighteous Jews who claimed, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and in three days raise it up’” (Matthew 26:61). Furthermore, they accused Him of refusing to pay tribute to Caesar. These wicked Jews question Christ as if He were a sinner; yet, He is without sin, and no deceit is found in His speech (1 Pet. 2:22).