Luke 7:29

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

And {G2532} all {G3956} the people {G2992} that heard {G191} him, and {G2532} the publicans {G5057}, justified {G1344} God {G2316}, being baptized {G907} with the baptism {G908} of John {G2491}.

All the people who heard him, even the tax-collectors, by undergoing Yochanan's immersion acknowledged that God was right;

All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.

And all the people when they heard, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

Context

Luke 7:29 immediately follows Jesus' discourse concerning John the Baptist, where He extols John as more than a prophet and the greatest born among women. This verse describes the public's reaction to John's ministry and, implicitly, to Jesus' affirmation of it. It sets up a stark contrast with the group mentioned in the subsequent verse (Luke 7:30), highlighting who accepted God's message and who rejected it.

Key Themes

  • Acceptance of God's Righteousness: The phrase "justified God" means they acknowledged and affirmed God's righteous character and His plan as revealed through John's ministry. They recognized that God was just and right in sending John to prepare the way.
  • Repentance and Transformation: The "publicans" (tax collectors) were often reviled by society for their perceived corruption and collaboration with Roman authorities. Their willingness to be baptized with the baptism of John signified a public act of repentance and a desire to align themselves with God's will, a stark contrast to the self-righteous.
  • John's Preparatory Ministry: This verse underscores the effectiveness of John's call to repentance, which prepared many hearts for the coming of Jesus Christ. John's baptism was a symbol of turning from sin and towards God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "justified God" (Greek: edikaiōsan ton Theon) is significant. It does not mean they made God righteous, for God is inherently righteous. Rather, it means they declared Him righteous, acknowledged His justice, and affirmed the rightness of His actions and plan, especially in sending John. Their submission to John's baptism was an outward sign of their inward agreement with God's divine counsel for their lives, as opposed to those who rejected God's counsel against themselves.

Practical Application

Luke 7:29 offers several contemporary lessons:

  • Humility to Receive Truth: Those who were considered outcasts (the publicans) were often more open to God's message than the religious elite. This teaches us the importance of humility in acknowledging our need for God and accepting His truth, regardless of our social standing or past.
  • Genuine Repentance: The people's willingness to be baptized by John demonstrated a public commitment to repentance. True faith involves acknowledging sin and turning towards God's righteous path.
  • Affirming God's Plan: To "justify God" today means to affirm His sovereignty, wisdom, and justice in all circumstances, trusting in His perfect plan for salvation and life. It means aligning our lives with His revealed will.
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.

  • Luke 3:12

    Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

  • Luke 7:35

    But wisdom is justified of all her children.

  • Romans 10:3

    For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

  • Psalms 51:4

    Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done [this] evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, [and] be clear when thou judgest.

  • Revelation 16:5

    And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.

  • Matthew 3:5

    Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

  • Matthew 3:6

    And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back