Luke 20:5 - They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’
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What does "Luke 20:5" mean?
This verse is part of a larger exchange in Luke 20:1-8, where Jesus' authority is being questioned by the chief priests and scribes. Let's break down what it means in the context of the story:
The Setup: Jesus is teaching in the temple, and the religious leaders (chief priests and scribes) challenge him. They ask, "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things, or who it is that gave you this authority?"
Jesus' Counter-Question: Instead of directly answering them, Jesus poses a question of his own: "I will also ask you one question. Tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?" (Luke 20:3-4)
The Dilemma: This is where the verse you quoted comes in. The religious leaders are now in a bind. They realize that neither answer to Jesus' question about John the Baptist is safe for them.
"They reasoned with themselves, saying, 'If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'" This is the core of the verse. It means:
"If we say, 'From heaven'": If they admit that John the Baptist's authority was from God...
"he will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'": ...then Jesus will immediately point out that they didn't accept John's message, which included bearing witness to Jesus as the Messiah. This would expose their hypocrisy and make them look bad in the eyes of the people who did accept John.
"But if we say, 'From man,' all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” (Luke 20:6)
This means if they admit John the Baptist's authority was merely human...
...they risk the wrath of the crowd, who largely believed John was a true prophet sent by God.
The Cowardly Answer: Knowing they are caught in a trap, the religious leaders choose the safest, though dishonest, option. They reply to Jesus, "We do not know where it came from." (Luke 20:7)
Jesus' Response: Because they refuse to answer honestly, Jesus also refuses to answer their initial question about his authority. (Luke 20:8)
In essence, the verse reveals the religious leaders' hypocrisy, their fear of the people, and their lack of genuine concern for truth. They are more interested in maintaining their own power and prestige than in honestly seeking to understand Jesus' authority. The verse highlights the political and social considerations that influenced their response to Jesus' ministry.
Luke 20:5 - They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’
What does "Luke 20:5" mean?
This verse is part of a larger exchange in Luke 20:1-8, where Jesus' authority is being questioned by the chief priests and scribes. Let's break down what it means in the context of the story:
The Setup: Jesus is teaching in the temple, and the religious leaders (chief priests and scribes) challenge him. They ask, "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things, or who it is that gave you this authority?"
Jesus' Counter-Question: Instead of directly answering them, Jesus poses a question of his own: "I will also ask you one question. Tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?" (Luke 20:3-4)
The Dilemma: This is where the verse you quoted comes in. The religious leaders are now in a bind. They realize that neither answer to Jesus' question about John the Baptist is safe for them.
"They reasoned with themselves, saying, 'If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'" This is the core of the verse. It means:
"If we say, 'From heaven'": If they admit that John the Baptist's authority was from God...
"he will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'": ...then Jesus will immediately point out that they didn't accept John's message, which included bearing witness to Jesus as the Messiah. This would expose their hypocrisy and make them look bad in the eyes of the people who did accept John.
"But if we say, 'From man,' all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” (Luke 20:6)
This means if they admit John the Baptist's authority was merely human...
...they risk the wrath of the crowd, who largely believed John was a true prophet sent by God.
The Cowardly Answer: Knowing they are caught in a trap, the religious leaders choose the safest, though dishonest, option. They reply to Jesus, "We do not know where it came from." (Luke 20:7)
Jesus' Response: Because they refuse to answer honestly, Jesus also refuses to answer their initial question about his authority. (Luke 20:8)
In essence, the verse reveals the religious leaders' hypocrisy, their fear of the people, and their lack of genuine concern for truth. They are more interested in maintaining their own power and prestige than in honestly seeking to understand Jesus' authority. The verse highlights the political and social considerations that influenced their response to Jesus' ministry.