Luke 20:7

Luke 20:7 KJV: "And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was."

Context

Luke 20:7 is a pivotal verse in a confrontation between Jesus and the religious establishment in Jerusalem. Following His triumphant entry and cleansing of the temple, Jesus was teaching the people. The chief priests, scribes, and elders, challenged His authority, asking, "By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?" (Luke 20:2). Instead of directly answering, Jesus posed a counter-question about the baptism of John the Baptist: "The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?" (Luke 20:4). This put the religious leaders in an impossible dilemma. If they said "from heaven," Jesus would ask why they didn't believe John. If they said "of men," they feared the people, who widely regarded John as a prophet (Luke 20:6). Their response in verse 7—that they "could not tell whence it was"—was a strategic evasion born out of self-preservation, not ignorance.

Key Themes

• Evasion and Hypocrisy: The leaders' refusal to state the origin of John's baptism was a clear act of evasion. They knew the truth, but chose to hide it for political and social reasons, revealing their deep-seated hypocrisy. Their concern was not truth, but reputation and power.
• Fear of Man vs. Fear of God: This verse starkly illustrates the religious leaders' greater fear of the people (and loss of status) than their fear of God or commitment to divine truth. This contrasts sharply with the boldness required for spiritual leadership. Proverbs 29:25 warns against the snare of the fear of man.
• Jesus' Divine Wisdom: Jesus' brilliant counter-question exposed the true motives and spiritual bankruptcy of His accusers. By refusing to answer, the leaders implicitly admitted their own lack of integrity and inability to judge spiritual matters honestly. This enabled Jesus to justly refuse to answer their original question about His authority (Luke 20:8).
• Authority: The core issue was Jesus' authority. While the leaders sought to undermine it, their own inability to answer a straightforward theological question implicitly highlighted their lack of true spiritual authority.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "could not tell whence it was" (KJV) simply means they could not say "from where it came." The Greek phrase ouk oidasin pothen translates to "they did not know from where." While they claimed ignorance, their preceding discussion (Luke 20:5-6) clearly shows they understood the implications of either answer, indicating their statement was a deliberate falsehood rather than genuine uncertainty.

Practical Application

Luke 20:7 offers important lessons for believers today:

• Integrity in Truth: This verse challenges us to prioritize truth and integrity, even when it is uncomfortable or costly. We are called to stand for what is right, rather than evading truth out of fear of consequences or desire for approval.
• Discerning Motives: It reminds us to examine our own motives when faced with spiritual questions or challenges. Are we genuinely seeking understanding, or are we trying to justify a preconceived notion or protect our own interests?
• Recognizing True Authority: Just as the leaders failed to recognize divine authority in John and Jesus, we must be careful not to dismiss truth simply because it challenges our comfort zone or established views. True spiritual authority often speaks with clarity and conviction.