ACC ~ Luke 20 v1 - 8

JESUS WAS FROM THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, NOT LEVI, WHICH CONTROLLED ENTRY INTO THE TEMPLE

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The Savior himself admonished them, saying, “Woe to you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” [1] They rise up against Christ as he teaches. They wickedly and despicably shout out, “Tell us, by what authority you do these things? Who gave you this authority?” They say, “The law given by Moses and the commandment that regulates all our institutions commanded that only those who are of the lineage of Levi should approach these sacred duties. They offer the sacrifices. They regulate whatever is done in the divine temple. The office of instructing and the government of the sacred trusts are given to them. Being of another tribe, from Judah, you grab honors that have been set apart for us. Who gave you this authority?” COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 132. [2]

[1] Lk 11:52.

[2] CGSL 523-24*.

THE PHARISEES FEAR HUMAN BEINGS MORE THAN GOD

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: While he was teaching the crowds and evangelizing them, the chief priests and the scribes came and said to him, “By what power are you doing this?” If it were a question of his teaching, how could they have called it a work? It is clear that he referred to his works as testimony to the truth of his words, according to what he said: “If you do not believe in me, believe at least in the works.” [1] “By what power are you doing this?” They interrogated him like inquisitors, but he did not reply to them, since they did not approach him as students out of love in order to be taught but as rebels. He asked them in turn, “From where did the baptism of John come?” [2] His word pressured them in such a way that they were forced to confess that they had not believed in John. He asked, “Was it from heaven or from human beings?” They began to reflect on it in their minds and to say, “If we say that it was from heaven, he will say, ‘Why did you not believe in it?’ If we say, ‘From human beings,’ we are afraid of the crowd.” [3] When they said, “If it is from heaven,” they did not also say, “We are afraid of God.” They were thus afraid of human beings but not of God. COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 16.17. [4]

[1] Jn 10:38.

[2] Mt 21:25.

[3] Mt 21:25-26.

[4] ECTD 251**.

JOHN IS A LAMP THAT SENDS AWAY JESUS’ ENEMIES

AUGUSTINE: The Jews, to discredit him, said to the Lord, “By what authority are you doing these things? If you are the Christ, tell us openly.” They were looking for a pretext, not for faith. They wanted something by which to catch him, not something by which to be liberated. Notice what answer the one who could see their hearts gave to confound them with the lamp. He said, “I will also ask you one question. Tell me, John’s baptism, from where is it? Is it from heaven, or from men?” They were immediately sent staggering backward. Although the daylight was only shining gently, they were forced to fumble and blink, since they were unable to gaze at that brilliance. They took refuge in the darkness of their hearts, and there they began to get very agitated among themselves, stumbling and falling about. We might say that they said this to themselves where they were thinking, yet where he could see. If we say, “They said, ‘It is from heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why did you not believe him? He testified to Christ the Lord.’ If we say, ‘From men,’ the people will stone us, because they regarded John as a great prophet.” They said, “We do not know.” You do not know, because you are in darkness and are losing the light. After all, is not it much better, if darkness is occupying the human heart, to let the light in and not to lose it? When they said, “We do not know,” the Lord said, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. You see, I know in what mind you said ‘We do not know,’ not because you wish to be taught, but because you are afraid to confess.” SERMON 293.4. [1]

[1] WSA 3 8:151**.

THE PHARISEES DO NOT KNOW THE TRUTH

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: They were unworthy to learn the truth and to see the pathway that leads directly to every good work. Christ answered them, “Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things.” The Jews therefore did not know the truth, and they were not taught of God, [1] that is, of Christ. Christ reveals that knowledge to us who have believed in him. We, receiving in mind and heart his divine and adorable mystery, or rather the knowledge of it, and being careful to fulfill those things which are pleasing to him, shall reign with him. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 133. [2]

[1] Is 54:13.

[2] CGSL 527**.