Luke 20 5

Luke 20:5 kjv

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

Luke 20:5 nkjv

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

Luke 20:5 niv

They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe him?'

Luke 20:5 esv

And they discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?'

Luke 20:5 nlt

They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe John.

Luke 20 verses

Luke 20 5 Meaning

Luke 20:5 reveals the private deliberations of the chief priests and scribes, exposing their spiritual blindness, hypocrisy, and prioritizing of human opinion over divine truth. Confronted by Jesus about the authority of John the Baptist's baptism, they do not consider its factual origin but strategically analyze the socio-political consequences of their answer. They calculate that acknowledging John's ministry as "from heaven" (divinely ordained) would compel them to explain their prior unbelief in him, thereby validating Jesus' implied authority and exposing their own spiritual rejection. Their fear of public backlash and the exposure of their true lack of faith guide their decision.

Luke 20 5 Context

Luke 20:5 is part of a direct confrontation between Jesus and the religious establishment of Jerusalem. After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Lk 19:28-40) and His cleansing of the temple, an act asserting His divine authority (Lk 19:45-48), the chief priests, scribes, and elders directly challenged Him, demanding to know the source of His authority (Lk 20:1-2). Instead of answering their direct question, Jesus cleverly posed a counter-question about John the Baptist's authority and baptism (Lk 20:3-4).

Historically and culturally, the Jewish religious leaders (the Sanhedrin members) held significant power and influence. Their authority was intertwined with their public reputation and control over religious interpretation. John the Baptist, though an ascetic figure, had commanded immense popular respect as a prophet, with many viewing his baptism as divinely ordained. This created a dilemma for the leaders. If they affirmed John's divine authority, it would imply that they, as religious leaders, should have believed and submitted to him, thereby condemning their own actions and by extension, their unbelief in Jesus, whom John proclaimed. Conversely, denying John's divine authority would risk inciting the common people, who largely regarded John as a prophet, leading to public unrest and potential loss of influence for the leaders. This internal "reasoning" captured in Luke 20:5 reveals their self-serving calculus: preserving their status and avoiding popular wrath superseded acknowledging the truth or seeking divine guidance.

Luke 20 5 Word analysis

• And they reasoned: Greek: kai die-lo-GI-zon-to (καὶ διελογίζοντο). Dielogizonto is the imperfect middle/passive of dialogizomai, signifying an ongoing internal debate, deliberation, or calculation. It emphasizes a thorough, almost anxious, intellectual processing focused not on truth but on tactical outcomes. This reasoning is presented as a calculating and self-serving internal activity.

• among themselves: Greek: pros he-au-TOUS (πρὸς ἑαυτούς). Literally meaning "towards themselves" or "with themselves." This phrase stresses the private and introspective nature of their discussion, indicating it was confined to their immediate group, distinct from public declaration or honest interaction with Jesus. It underscores a sense of conspiracy and strategic planning.

• saying: Greek: LE-gon-tes (λέγοντες). A present participle, indicating what they were speaking aloud or deliberating internally while they were reasoning. It introduces their internal thought process.

• If we say, "From heaven,": Greek: E-an ei-PO-men ex ou-ra-NOU (Ἐὰν εἴπωμεν “ἐξ οὐρανοῦ”).

  • Ean eipomen: "If we say" – sets up a condition, highlighting their strategic thinking and weighing of hypothetical scenarios.
  • Ex ouranou: "from heaven." In Jewish theological context, "heaven" is a common circumlocution for God. Thus, "from heaven" unequivocally signifies divine origin, divine authority, and a direct mandate from God. For John's baptism to be "from heaven" meant it carried the ultimate, undeniable authority.

• He will say, "Why then did you not believe him?": Greek: e-REI Di-a-TI OUN ouk e-pi-STEU-sa-te au-TO (ἐρεῖ· “Διατί οὖν οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ;”)

  • Erei: "He will say." This anticipates Jesus' direct counter-question, demonstrating their awareness of the logical implication of admitting John's divine authority.
  • Diati oun: "Why then?" A forceful rhetorical question, demanding justification for their inaction despite potential knowledge. It implies that if John's authority was truly from God, their natural response should have been belief and obedience.
  • Ouk episteusate auto: "did you not believe him?" The Greek episteusate is aorist active, pointing to a definite, past failure to believe. This is the crucial point that reveals their hypocrisy and spiritual obstinacy. Their unbelief in John served as evidence of their rejection of God's counsel for themselves (Lk 7:30).

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And they reasoned among themselves, saying": This phrase encapsulates the calculated and fear-driven approach of the religious leaders. Their "reasoning" is not a quest for divine truth or ethical introspection but a careful political maneuvering to avoid entrapment and maintain their power. It reveals an inwardly focused discussion, divorced from true engagement with either divine revelation or the demanding reality of Jesus' challenge.

• "If we say, 'From heaven,'": This condition reveals a tension within the leaders. While not affirming John's divine origin themselves, they recognize the compelling possibility and the widespread popular belief that John was a prophet sent by God. Their framing of it as a conditional choice ("if we say") rather than an acknowledged fact ("it is from heaven") exposes their refusal to accept this divine truth if it costs them. The term "from heaven" raises the stakes, grounding John's ministry in ultimate, non-human authority.

• "He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'": This statement expresses their perfect anticipation of Jesus' crushing counter-argument. It directly connects acknowledgment of divine authority ("from heaven") to the necessary response of faith and obedience. Their failure to believe John would not only condemn them in the eyes of the people (if they admitted John was from God) but also reveal their fundamental spiritual problem: a deep-seated resistance to divine messengers and, by extension, God's will itself. It implicitly prepares for their deeper, more profound unbelief in Jesus.

Luke 20 5 Bonus section

• The entire confrontation in Luke 20 revolves around the issue of authority (exousia). The religious leaders questioned Jesus' authority (Lk 20:2), and Jesus skillfully redirected the challenge by forcing them to declare on John's authority. Their inability to answer reflects not just indecision but a willful refusal to acknowledge God's active working in their midst.
• Their "reasoning among themselves" implies a counsel of war, strategizing against God's Messiah, rather than a spiritual introspection. It highlights the pervasive institutional blindness and hardness of heart prevalent among some religious elites of the time, directly contrasting with the faith of the common people (Lk 20:6).
• The leaders' statement that "He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'" indicates their implicit awareness that rejecting John's divine message (including his testimony about Jesus) was a failure of faith. This self-awareness, though unconfessed, underscores their culpability and deliberate suppression of truth.
• Jesus, by turning their question around, not only silenced His adversaries but also implicitly taught them about the interconnectedness of divine revelation: to reject John was to reject Him; to reject either was to reject the Father who sent them both.

Luke 20 5 Commentary

Luke 20:5 vividly illustrates the profound spiritual deficiency of the Jewish religious leaders. Their internal deliberation, framed as a rational calculation of consequences rather than an honest pursuit of truth, reveals a heart focused on self-preservation and human approval, rather than obedience to God. They were not concerned with the authenticity of John's message or the divine origin of his ministry, but with avoiding an uncomfortable question that would expose their own unbelief. To admit John was "from heaven" would obligate them, morally and logically, to have believed him, an indictment they dared not face publicly, especially as John had implicitly pointed to Jesus. Jesus' question about John’s baptism served as a perfect trap, exposing their hypocrisy and demonstrating their preference for manipulating public perception over embracing divine revelation. This passage serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of spiritual blindness fueled by fear of man, demonstrating how worldly wisdom can utterly miss divine truth and mercy.

• Example 1: A church council prioritizing traditional power structures over prophetic movements from God, fearing that new moves of the Spirit might challenge their control.
• Example 2: An individual refusing to admit a past mistake because acknowledging it would mean having to take responsibility for its implications, illustrating a fear of consequences overriding integrity.