Why did the chief priests refuse to answer Jesus in Luke 20:7? The Scene in Focus — Luke 20:1-8 • Jesus is teaching in the temple when the chief priests, scribes, and elders demand, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things” (v. 2). • Instead of answering directly, Jesus asks, “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?” (v. 4). • Luke 20:7 records their reply: “So they answered that they did not know where it was from.” Why They Refused to Answer • Fear of the Crowd – “All the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet” (v. 6). – Their popularity mattered more than truth (cf. John 12:42-43). • Protection of Their Power – Admitting John’s ministry was “from heaven” would validate John’s witness to Jesus (John 1:29-34), undermining their own authority in the temple (John 11:48). • Rejection of Repentance – Luke 7:29-30: “But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.” – A heart that refuses repentance naturally resists acknowledging God’s messengers. • Hypocrisy Exposed – They prided themselves on spiritual expertise, yet claimed ignorance about a nationally known prophet. – Their “We don’t know” masked willful unbelief, fulfilling Isaiah 29:13. • Fear of Divine Accountability – If they said “from heaven,” Jesus’ next question would be, “Why did you not believe him?” (v. 5). – Refusal allowed them to dodge immediate accountability—though not the final one (Hebrews 4:13). Take-Home Truths • Fear of man can silence truth in our hearts (Proverbs 29:25). • Refusing to answer Jesus’ probing questions is itself an answer of unbelief (John 3:19-20). • Spiritual authority flows from heaven; rejecting it leaves leaders hollow and powerless (Matthew 21:43). Living It Out 1. Examine motives: Do I value approval over obedience? 2. Respond to revealed truth immediately; delayed obedience hardens the heart (Hebrews 3:15). 3. Acknowledge Christ’s authority now to avoid the shame of compelled confession later (Philippians 2:10-11). |
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