The Lord might indeed have confuted the cavils of his tempters by a direct answer, but prudently puts them a question, that they might be condemned either by their silence or their speaking, which is evident from what is added, “And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him?”
As if He had said, He whom you confess to have had his prophecy from heaven bore testimony of Me, and ye have heard from him, by what authority I do these things.
It goes on: “But if we shall say, Of men; they feared the people.”
They saw then that whatever they answered, they should fall into a snare; fearing to be stoned, they feared still more the confession of the truth.
Wherefore it goes on: “And they answered and said unto Jesus, We cannot tell.”
Reproduced in full. Translation: Oxford 1841 (Newman), public domain (Public domain).