Luke 22:67

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

{G1487} Art {G1488} thou {G4771} the Christ {G5547}? tell {G2036} us {G2254}. And {G1161} he said {G2036} unto them {G846}, If {G1437} I tell {G2036} you {G5213}, ye will {G4100} not {G3364} believe {G4100}:

Complete Jewish Bible

where they said, “If you are the Mashiach, tell us.” He answered, “If I tell you, you won’t believe me;

Berean Standard Bible

“If You are the Christ, tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe.

American Standard Version

If thou art the Christ, tell us. But he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 22:67 captures a pivotal moment during Jesus' trial before the Sanhedrin, where the Jewish high council directly challenges His identity, asking, "Art thou the Christ? tell us." Jesus' profound and revealing response, "If I tell you, ye will not believe," immediately exposes the deep-seated unbelief and hardened hearts of His accusers, highlighting that their inquiry was not a genuine search for truth but a calculated attempt to secure His condemnation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the dramatic narrative of Jesus' passion, immediately following His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and His initial mistreatment by those who seized Him. He has been brought before the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish judicial and religious council, for an illegal nighttime trial. The preceding verses detail Peter's denial and Jesus' suffering, setting a somber tone. The question posed in [Luke 22:67](/luke/22-67 "Luke 22:67 - Jesus Before the Sanhedrin") is the central inquiry of the trial, leading directly to Jesus' more explicit affirmation of His divine identity in [Luke 22:69](/luke/22-69 "Luke 22:69 - Son of Man at the Right Hand of God"), which the council interprets as blasphemy. This scene is paralleled in [Matthew 26:63-64](/matthew/26-63-64 "Matthew 26:63-64 - Jesus' Confession Before the High Priest") and [Mark 14:61-62](/mark/14-61-62 "Mark 14:61-62 - Jesus' Testimony Before the Sanhedrin"), underscoring its critical importance in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' final hours.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Sanhedrin, composed of chief priests, scribes, and elders, held significant religious and some civil authority under Roman occupation. Their primary goal in this trial was to find a charge against Jesus that would warrant the death penalty, which they could then present to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, as they lacked the authority to execute capital punishment themselves. The question, "Art thou the Christ?" was highly charged. If Jesus claimed to be the Messiah (the Anointed One), it could be interpreted as blasphemy (claiming equality with God, a capital offense under Jewish law) or as sedition against Roman rule (claiming to be a king in opposition to Caesar). The council's proceedings were fraught with legal irregularities, including the nighttime trial, the lack of proper witnesses, and the predetermined verdict, all of which violated their own legal traditions.

* **Key Themes:** The exchange in [Luke 22:67](/luke/22-67 "Luke 22:67 - The Sanhedrin's Question") contributes to several major themes within Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the pervasive **unbelief and rejection** of Jesus by the religious authorities, a motif present throughout His ministry (e.g., [Luke 11:14-20](/luke/11-14-20 "Luke 11:14-20 - Jesus and Beelzebul")). Jesus' response reveals His awareness that their hearts were hardened, and no amount of evidence would convince them. Secondly, it underscores the central theme of **Jesus' true identity** as the Christ, the promised Messiah. Despite their malicious intent, their question forces Jesus to confront His messianic claim directly, which He does more fully in the subsequent verses. Thirdly, the entire trial sequence exemplifies **judicial injustice**, where legal processes are perverted to achieve a desired outcome rather than to discover truth. Finally, even in this moment of profound human rejection, the verse subtly points to **divine sovereignty**, as Jesus willingly submits to this unjust process, knowing it is part of God's redemptive plan for humanity, echoing prophecies like those found in [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Christ (Greek, _Christós'_):** From G5547, meaning "anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus." The council's question directly challenges Jesus' claim to this title, which signifies the divinely appointed King and Deliverer promised throughout the Old Testament. It was the most significant messianic claim one could make.
* **tell (Greek, _épō'_):** From G2036, a primary verb meaning "to speak or say (by word or writing)." In this context, it is a direct command, demanding a clear and unambiguous answer from Jesus regarding His identity.
* **believe (Greek, _pisteúō'_):** From G4100, meaning "to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ)." Jesus' use of this word indicates that their issue was not a lack of information, but a fundamental unwillingness to trust Him or accept the truth about His identity, a spiritual rather than intellectual problem.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Art thou the Christ? tell us."**: This opening question from the Sanhedrin is a direct challenge to Jesus' identity. It is not a sincere inquiry seeking understanding, but a loaded question designed to trap Him. A "yes" could be used to charge Him with blasphemy (claiming to be God's Anointed) or sedition (claiming to be a king in opposition to Caesar). The demand "tell us" indicates their desire for a definitive statement they could use against Him.
* **"And he said unto them,"**: This simple conjunction and statement introduces Jesus' response, highlighting the direct confrontation between the divine truth and human hardened hearts.
* **"If I tell you, ye will not believe:"**: Jesus' profound and poignant response reveals His omniscience and understanding of their hearts. He knows that their unbelief is not due to a lack of evidence or clarity on His part, but a predetermined rejection rooted in spiritual blindness and hostility. His statement underscores the futility of providing further testimony to those who have already decided not to accept the truth, regardless of how clearly it is presented.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 22:67 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound meaning. The Sanhedrin's question, "Art thou the Christ? tell us," functions as a **Rhetorical Question**, not truly seeking information but rather aiming to elicit a self-incriminating response from Jesus. Jesus' reply, "If I tell you, ye will not believe," is a powerful example of **Irony**, as the very act of asking for truth is met with the recognition that they are incapable or unwilling to receive it. This also serves as **Foreshadowing**, indicating the predetermined outcome of the trial and the ultimate rejection of Jesus by the religious establishment. Furthermore, there is a stark **Contrast** presented between the council's feigned search for truth and their actual hardened unbelief, which Jesus immediately exposes. This exchange encapsulates the spiritual blindness that prevents many from recognizing and accepting divine truth.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 22:67 stands as a stark testament to the human condition of unbelief when confronted with divine truth, particularly when that truth challenges established power structures or deeply held preconceptions. Jesus' response reveals that faith is not merely intellectual assent to facts, but a matter of the heart and will—a willingness to trust and submit to God's revelation. The Sanhedrin's rejection of Jesus, the very Christ they claimed to await, underscores a recurring biblical theme: humanity's tendency to reject God's chosen messengers and His ultimate self-revelation. This moment foreshadows the broader pattern of Israel's rejection of their Messiah and highlights the profound spiritual blindness that can accompany religious zeal devoid of genuine humility and faith.

* [John 3:19](/john/3-19 "John 3:19 - Men Loved Darkness Rather Than Light")
* [Romans 10:16](/romans/10-16 "Romans 10:16 - Not All Have Obeyed the Gospel")
* [Hebrews 3:12](/hebrews/3-12 "Hebrews 3:12 - Beware of an Unbelieving Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 22:67 offers a profound mirror for self-reflection, challenging us to examine the posture of our own hearts when confronted with the claims of Christ and the truths of God's Word. Are we genuinely seeking truth with an open and receptive spirit, or do we approach spiritual matters with hardened hearts, predetermined conclusions, or a desire for information that merely confirms our existing biases? Jesus' words to the Sanhedrin serve as a solemn warning: intellectual understanding alone is insufficient for true belief. Genuine faith involves a willingness to trust, to surrender, and to allow the truth of Christ to transform our lives, even when it demands a radical shift in perspective or challenges our comfort zones. This verse calls us to cultivate a humble and believing heart, ready to receive and act upon God's revelation, rather than to resist it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be approaching God's truth with a "will not believe" attitude, rather than a "willing to believe" heart?**
* **How does my willingness to trust and obey God's Word reflect the depth of my belief in Jesus as the Christ?**
* **What preconceived notions or desires for control might be hindering my full acceptance of Christ's claims on my life?**
* **How can I cultivate a more open and receptive heart to the Holy Spirit's leading and the truths of Scripture?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jesus respond by saying they would not believe, instead of directly answering "yes" or "no"?**

Answer: Jesus' response in [Luke 22:67](/luke/22-67 "Luke 22:67 - Jesus' Response to the Sanhedrin") was not evasive but profoundly insightful, revealing His divine knowledge of the Sanhedrin's true intentions and the condition of their hearts. He knew that a simple "yes" would be twisted into a charge of blasphemy or sedition, and that their inquiry was not born of a genuine desire for truth or a willingness to believe. Their minds were already made up; they sought a pretext for condemnation, not revelation. By stating, "If I tell you, ye will not believe," Jesus exposed their spiritual blindness and the futility of engaging in a genuine theological debate with those determined to reject Him. His later, more direct affirmation in [Luke 22:69](/luke/22-69 "Luke 22:69 - Son of Man at the Right Hand of God") ("Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God") confirms His identity, even as He acknowledges their inability to accept it.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 22:67, though a moment of profound rejection, stands as a crucial point in the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Jesus' identity as "the Christ" (the Anointed One, the Messiah) is the central tenet of the gospel, and His trial before the Sanhedrin is where this claim is explicitly confronted and rejected by the religious authorities. Yet, this rejection, far from thwarting God's purpose, was precisely the path through which Christ would accomplish salvation. The very "unbelief" Jesus identifies in His accusers ([Luke 22:67](/luke/22-67 "Luke 22:67 - The Sanhedrin's Unbelief")) ultimately led to His crucifixion, which, paradoxically, was the means by which He became the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - Christ Died for Us")). His suffering and death, though orchestrated by human malice, were part of God's predetermined plan ([Acts 2:23](/acts/2-23 "Acts 2:23 - God's Deliberate Plan")). Thus, Jesus' confrontation with the Sanhedrin fulfills Old Testament prophecies of a suffering Messiah who would be rejected by His own people ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - Despised and Rejected by Men")) but would ultimately triumph through resurrection, establishing His eternal kingdom and inviting all who believe to partake in His new covenant ([Hebrews 9:15](/hebrews/9-15 "Hebrews 9:15 - Mediator of a New Covenant")). This pivotal moment underscores that Christ's identity and mission were not contingent on human acceptance, but on the sovereign will of God, culminating in His glorious victory over sin and death.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 12:37

¶ But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

John 12:43

For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Matthew 11:3

And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

Matthew 11:5

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

John 9:27

He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear [it] again? will ye also be his disciples?

John 9:28

Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples.

John 10:24

Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.