Luke 22 67

Luke 22:67 kjv

Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

Luke 22:67 nkjv

"If You are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe.

Luke 22:67 niv

"If you are the Messiah," they said, "tell us." Jesus answered, "If I tell you, you will not believe me,

Luke 22:67 esv

"If you are the Christ, tell us." But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe,

Luke 22:67 nlt

and they said, "Tell us, are you the Messiah?" But he replied, "If I tell you, you won't believe me.

Luke 22 verses

Luke 22 67 Meaning

This verse captures the pivotal moment during Jesus' trial before the Sanhedrin where the Jewish high council directly challenges His identity. They ask Him to unequivocally state if He is "the Christ," which means "the Anointed One" or the Messiah. Their question, however, is not a genuine inquiry for belief, but rather a deliberate attempt to extract a statement they could use as a legal accusation, particularly one of blasphemy, punishable by death, or sedition against Roman rule. It highlights the central point of contention between Jesus' self-revelation and the Sanhedrin's understanding and expectations of the Messiah.

Luke 22 67 Context

Luke 22 describes the final hours of Jesus' life before His crucifixion, specifically focusing on the Last Supper, the betrayal by Judas, His arrest in Gethsemane, and the beginning of His trials. Verse 67 falls within the narrative of Jesus' informal preliminary examination by the Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court) after His arrest. Though conducted at night and initially unofficial, it sets the stage for the formal morning session (Lk 22:66) and the charges brought against Him. The Jewish leaders, specifically the elders, chief priests, and scribes, were desperate to find a valid charge against Jesus, but earlier attempts to find false witnesses failed. Now, they seek to corner Him directly regarding His claim to Messiahship, knowing that an affirmation, especially coupled with His other implicit divine claims, could be interpreted as blasphemy from their perspective, justifying a death sentence under Jewish law. This question is a critical turning point, aiming to provoke Jesus into a self-incriminating statement about His identity.

Luke 22 67 Word analysis

• If (Εἰ, Ei): This is a conditional particle, suggesting a premise or a supposition. In this context, it implies a challenge or a skeptical attitude rather than a genuine, open-minded inquiry. The Sanhedrin is not asking if He is the Christ with an eagerness to believe, but if He will dare to claim it, so they can use His words against Him.
• you (σὺ, sy): This is the singular pronoun for "you," pointedly addressing Jesus Himself. It emphasizes the direct, personal nature of the challenge from the entire council.
• are (εἶ, ei): A simple present tense form of "to be." It expresses existence or state of being. The combination with "you" (σὺ εἶ) creates a direct interrogation of His identity.
• the Christ (ὁ Χριστός, ho Christos):
  • `Χριστός` (Christos): The Greek transliteration of the Hebrew term `Mashiach` (מָשִׁיחַ), meaning "Anointed One" or "Messiah." This was not merely a name but a profound title, carrying deep theological, national, and political significance for ancient Israel.
  • The definite article "the" (ὁ): "The" is crucial here. It points to the specific, expected, prophesied deliverer—the unique Anointed One. It is not asking if Jesus is "a Christ" (i.e., just an anointed person) but the awaited one.
  • Significance: For Jewish expectation, the Messiah was prophesied to be a descendant of King David (2 Sam 7:12-16; Jer 23:5), a deliverer who would restore Israel's sovereignty, expel oppressors, and inaugurate an era of peace and righteousness. While primarily seen as a king, prophetic traditions also linked the Messiah to prophetic and priestly roles (Isa 61:1; Zec 6:12-13; Ps 110:4). The Sanhedrin largely viewed this through a political and nationalist lens, making a claim to Messiahship highly charged, especially under Roman occupation. They feared a "false Messiah" leading a revolt that would provoke Roman reprisal and threaten their power.
• tell (εἶπον, eipon): This is an aorist imperative verb, a command ("tell!" or "speak!"). It is an instruction from those in authority demanding a direct answer. They are pressing Him for a confession.
• us (ἡμῖν, hēmin): This is the dative plural of "we" or "us," referring to the entire collective of the Sanhedrin, emphasizing the collective weight of their authority in putting this question to Him.

Words-group analysis

• "If you are the Christ, tell us.": This is a leading question designed to trap Jesus. It seeks a verbal affirmation of His identity, not out of belief, but to secure grounds for condemnation. If He said "yes" without qualification, they could accuse Him of blasphemy (for claiming divine status if they believed He was merely human) or sedition (for claiming kingship potentially against Roman authority). If He said "no," they might try to dismiss Him as a fraud or admit He was innocent, which they did not desire. This query underlines the tension between Jesus' divine mission and the human misunderstanding and opposition. The Sanhedrin's intent was to force Him into a legal predicament.

Luke 22 67 Bonus section

• Distinctiveness in Luke: While Matthew and Mark include similar questions from the High Priest, Luke's account provides a slightly different nuance in Jesus' immediate response in the following verses (22:68). Luke emphasizes that even if Jesus told them, they "would not believe," and if he questioned them, "they would not answer." This highlights their fixed unbelief and the futility of engaging with them on their terms. Luke's version leads directly into the Sanhedrin asking, "Are you the Son of God, then?" and Jesus replying, "You say that I am," more explicit about the divine sonship accusation.
• Political vs. Spiritual Messiah: The Sanhedrin largely sought a political Messiah to free Israel from Rome. Jesus, as "the Christ," indeed claims kingship (Jn 18:36-37) but defines it as a spiritual, heavenly kingdom not of this world. This fundamental difference in understanding was a primary cause of His rejection by the religious leadership. They perceived Him as a threat to their established order and status, rather than as their promised deliverer.
• The Weight of "I Am": Though not directly stated "I Am" here as in John's Gospel (Jn 8:58), Jesus' ultimate affirmation in Luke 22:70 ("You say that I am") combined with His declaration about the Son of Man at the right hand of power (22:69) carries an implicit "I Am" that was unmistakable to the Jewish leaders, confirming their blasphemy accusation. They understood this not just as claiming to be a prophet or even Messiah in a humble sense, but aligning Himself with divine power and authority.

Luke 22 67 Commentary

Luke 22:67 is the critical question posed by the Sanhedrin, attempting to solidify charges against Jesus. They demand a declaration: "Are you the Anointed One, the Messiah?" Their motive is not sincere theological inquiry, but legalistic maneuvering. Having failed to find reliable false witnesses for other accusations, they directly challenge Jesus on His central identity. To claim to be the Christ, especially for someone not meeting their earthly, political expectations, carried significant implications for both blasphemy (if divine claims were attached) and sedition (if it implied a rival king to Caesar). Jesus' forthcoming answer (Luke 22:68-70), though nuanced, effectively affirms His identity as both Christ and the Son of Man, drawing upon heavenly authority, which they immediately deemed blasphemous, solidifying their path to condemn Him to death. This exchange epitomizes the profound divide between human religious authority and divine truth, demonstrating how the very truth could be twisted into a capital offense.