Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Matthew 26:63

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

Jesus therefore kept silent, knowing that their tribunal was unlawful. For how would a verbal defense persuade those whom signs had not persuaded? The high priest asks the question, wanting to induce Him to blaspheme; so that if He should say, "I am the Son of God," He might be condemned as a blasphemer, but if He should deny it, the High priest would have Him as a witness against Himself.

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Western Saints

Jerome

And the high priest said to him, I adjure you by the living God that you tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God. Why do you swear, most wicked of priests, to accuse rather than to believe? If to accuse, others argue: condemn the silent one. If to believe, why did you not want to believe the one confessing?

Commentary on Matthew ↗

Thomas Aquinas

But Jesus held his peace. But why was he silent? For three reasons. To teach us caution: for he knew that whatever he said, they would turn everything to calumny; and in such a case one should be silent before those lying in wait; Psalm 39:2: I set a guard on my mouth when the sinner stood against me. Another reason was that it was then not a time for teaching, but for having patience: and so what is said at Isaiah 53:7 was fulfilled: as a lamb before his shearer he shall be dumb, and shall not open his mouth. …

Commentary on Matthew ↗