Luke 20:6

But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

But and {G1161} if {G1437} we say {G2036}, Of {G1537} men {G444}; all {G3956} the people {G2992} will stone {G2642} us {G2248}: for {G1063} they be {G2076} persuaded {G3982} that John {G2491} was {G1511} a prophet {G4396}.

But if we say, ‘From a human source,’ all the people will stone us, because they’re convinced that Yochanan was a prophet.”

But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.”

But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

Luke 20:6 is part of a tense exchange between Jesus and the religious leaders in the temple, highlighting their hypocrisy and fear of popular opinion.

Context

Following Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his actions in the temple, the chief priests, scribes, and elders confront him, demanding to know by what authority he does these things (Luke 20:1-2). Jesus responds by posing a question of his own: Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men? The religious leaders realize they are in a dilemma. If they say "from heaven," Jesus will ask why they didn't believe John. If they say "from men," they face the reaction described in this verse.

Key Themes

  • The Dilemma of the Religious Leaders: The verse reveals the difficult position the leaders found themselves in, caught between acknowledging divine truth (which would condemn them) and denying popular belief (which would endanger them).
  • The Authority of John the Baptist: It underscores the widespread public acceptance of John as a genuine prophet sent by God.
  • Fear of Man: The primary motivation for the leaders' hesitation and internal debate is their fear of the people's reaction, specifically the threat of violence ("the fear of man bringeth a snare," Proverbs 29:25).
  • Public Opinion: The verse demonstrates the significant influence public opinion held, even over those in positions of religious authority.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "But and if" is an older English construction, simply meaning "But if." The word "persuaded" (Greek: peithō) indicates that the people were firmly convinced and deeply believed that John was indeed a prophet from God.

Reflection

This verse serves as a stark reminder of the danger of prioritizing human approval or avoiding discomfort over speaking and acknowledging divine truth. The religious leaders, who should have been concerned with God's will and the truth about John's ministry, were instead paralyzed by their fear of being stoned by the very people they were meant to guide. It challenges us to consider whether our own stances on faith and truth are influenced more by the potential reactions of others or by a sincere conviction rooted in God's word. The people's strong conviction that John was a prophet stood in contrast to the leaders' calculated political maneuvering.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 21:26

    But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

  • Matthew 11:9

    But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

  • Matthew 14:5

    And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

  • Luke 1:76

    And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

  • John 10:41

    And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

  • Luke 7:26

    But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

  • Luke 7:29

    And all the people that heard [him], and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

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