Luke 7 30

Luke 7:30 kjv

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

Luke 7:30 nkjv

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

Luke 7:30 niv

But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

Luke 7:30 esv

but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

Luke 7:30 nlt

But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God's plan for them, for they had refused John's baptism.

Luke 7 verses

Luke 7 30 Meaning

Luke 7:30 states that the religious elite of Jesus' day – the Pharisees and lawyers – actively rejected God's divinely appointed plan for them. Their specific act of defiance was their refusal to be baptized by John the Baptist, an act of repentance that the common people readily embraced. This rejection demonstrated their self-sufficiency and blindness to God's new work, leading them to miss the very purpose God had prepared for their spiritual wellbeing.

Luke 7 30 Context

Luke 7:30 is nestled within a broader passage where Jesus is speaking about John the Baptist (Luke 7:24-35). Prior to this verse, Jesus has affirmed John's unique prophetic role, even calling him "more than a prophet" (v. 26). Verse 29 provides a direct contrast, noting that "all the people and the tax collectors," when they heard John, "declared God just, having been baptized with John’s baptism." This highlights the widespread popular acceptance of John's ministry. Verse 30 then directly follows, showing the opposite reaction from the religious elite.

Historically and culturally, the Pharisees and lawyers represented the established religious authority of Judaism. Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the Law and oral traditions, viewing themselves as spiritually superior and righteous. Lawyers (or scribes) were experts in interpreting and teaching the Mosaic Law. John's baptism, a public act of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, was a challenge to their self-perceived righteousness. They believed they were already righteous and thus did not need a "baptism of repentance." Furthermore, John was a prophet who arose outside their established religious institutions, thus posing a threat to their authority and status. Their rejection stemmed from pride, a sense of self-sufficiency, and resistance to any new movement that might undermine their traditional power structures and interpretations of God's will. They struggled to see God's plan unfolding in ways that didn't align with their pre-conceived notions or their role within it.

Luke 7 30 Word analysis

• But (Δέ - De): This is a strong adversative conjunction. It marks a clear contrast and sets up a dichotomy between the preceding verse (the people's acceptance) and this one (the leaders' rejection). It signals a crucial shift in who Jesus is describing.
• the Pharisees (οἱ Φαρισαῖοι - hoi Pharisaioi): Refers to a prominent and influential Jewish religious sect known for their zealous commitment to the Mosaic Law and the oral traditions (halakhah). In the Gospels, they often embody legalism and are depicted as opponents of Jesus.
• and the lawyers (καὶ οἱ νομικοί - kai hoi nomikoi): These were experts in Jewish law, often associated with or interchangeable with "scribes" (grammateis). They were scholars who interpreted and applied the Law, holding considerable authority in Jewish society. Their inclusion emphasizes that the rejection came from the educated religious elite.
• rejected (ἠθέτησαν - ethetēsan): From the verb atheteō. This word carries significant weight. It means to "nullify," "make void," "despise," "disregard," "set aside," or "treat as nothing." It implies a deliberate and scornful act of annulling something, rather than just a passive oversight. It's a forceful rejection, not mere neglect.
• God’s purpose / counsel of God (τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ - tēn boulēn tou Theou): "Boulē" denotes a "plan," "will," "deliberate intention," "counsel," or "design." This is not just a suggestion from God, but His authoritative, pre-ordained plan. The rejection was therefore directed squarely against God's own will and agenda, which included John's preparatory ministry.
• for themselves (εἰς ἑαυτούς - eis heautous): This phrase indicates that God's purpose was intended specifically for their benefit or directed towards them. The religious leaders missed out on something vital that God had purposed for them personally, leading to their own spiritual detriment. It wasn't God's plan in general they rejected, but the part that applied directly to their own lives and salvation.
• not having been baptized by him (μὴ βαπτισθέντες ὑπ' αὐτοῦ - mē baptisthentes hup' autou): This is a participial phrase indicating how the rejection occurred. The Greek "mē" (not) highlights a qualitative or conditional negation—their non-baptism was the specific means by which they rejected God's purpose. The aorist participle "baptisthentes" signifies an action completed prior to or as a result of the main verb ("rejected"). John's baptism symbolized repentance and preparing for the coming Messiah. By refusing this external sign, they demonstrated their inward refusal of God's call to repentance and His plan for their salvation. Their action (or inaction) was the visible manifestation of their inward defiance.

Luke 7 30 Bonus section

• The term "counsel/purpose of God" (βουλὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ) emphasizes the divine sovereignty behind John's ministry. It was not a random human invention but an integral part of God's deliberate and ordered plan for salvation history.
• This verse serves as a pivot point for Jesus' subsequent parable about the children in the marketplace (Luke 7:31-35), where He explicitly critiques those who rejected both John (who came austere) and Himself (who came feasting), demonstrating their consistent refusal to respond to God's overtures, regardless of the messenger's method.
• The opposition of the religious leaders to John mirrors their later, even greater, opposition to Jesus, confirming a consistent pattern of resistance to divine revelation that challenged their human systems. This foreshadows their ultimate rejection of the Messiah.

Luke 7 30 Commentary

Luke 7:30 powerfully illustrates a core tension in the Gospels: the human tendency to reject God's immediate plan when it doesn't align with personal expectations, perceived righteousness, or established traditions. The Pharisees and lawyers, ironically the custodians of God's Law, chose to nullify God's boulē – His specific counsel or divine will. Their refusal to undergo John's baptism was not a trivial omission; it was a defiant act demonstrating their lack of repentance and humility. They felt no need for the "baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Luke 3:3) because they considered themselves already righteous under the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. Their pride and self-sufficiency prevented them from embracing the divine path laid out through John, a path designed to prepare hearts for the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Himself. In rejecting John, they unwittingly rejected God's loving purpose for their own salvation and spiritual good, setting themselves on a trajectory of increasing opposition to Christ. This serves as a sober warning: spiritual stagnation often results from valuing self-righteousness or human traditions above God's fresh movement and call to humility.