And he answered, &c.— The great sanhedrim seems to have been established after the failure of prophesy; and concerning the members of this body the rabbies tell us there was a tradition, that they were bound to be skilled in the sciences. So far is certain, that they extended their jurisdiction to the judging of doctrines and opinions. (see on Matthew 21:23.) as appears by their deputation to Jesus, to know by what authority he did his works. We are not to suppose the answer of Christ to this deputation, to be a captious evasion of the question made by those whose authority he did not acknowledge; on the contrary, it was a direct reply to an acknowledged institution, (as Jesus was obedient to all the institutions of his country,) convincing them, that the question needed not any precise answer, even on the principles of that jurisdiction. They sent to him to know his authority: he asked them, whether they had yet determined of John's? They acknowledged that they had not. "Then, (replies Jesus) I need not tell you of my authority, since the sanhedrim's not having determined of John's, shews such a determination unnecessary: or, at least, since both by John's account and mine he is represented as the forerunner of my mission, it is fit to begin with his pretensions first." The address and reason of this reply are truly divine.
Related Commentaries of Luke 20:3
Luke 20:3-8
3 And he answered and said unto them,I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
7 And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
8 And Jesus said unto them,Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.