We Cannot Tell - Luke 20:7

The beloved physician Luke wrote as Jesus, “taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, And spoke unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority do you these things? or who is he that gave you this authority? And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed you him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet”, and in chapter twenty and verse seven of his book Luke shared how the religious leaders answered, “they could not tell from where it was” where we read:

And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

The verse reads, “And they answered, ...” Luke began with the words, “and they” or “and the chief priests, scribes and elders” “answered” which means “responded and began to speak” the following words. Luke shared how the “religious leaders” began to respond to Jesus' question.

The verse goes on to say, “... that they could not tell whence it was.” Luke continued with the words, “that they could not tell” or “that they, the religious leaders, were unable and incapable of perceiving, noticing, discerning and discovering” “whence it was” which means “from where the baptism of John came”. Luke shared how the “chief priests, scribes and elders” were unable to answer Jesus' question about the source of the “baptism of John”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how the “religious leaders” responded to Jesus with “we don't know” as their answer. Jesus knew His question concerning the “baptism of John” would cause them to be in a dilemma, and either way they answered, they would be caught in their words and actions. This “foolish” questioning initiated by the “chief priests, scribes and elders” was directed to the only “One” who was capable of “saving” them from their sins, and He is the Creator of the earth. People who examine the life of Jesus will not only find Him much wiser than any of His opponents, but they will understand He desires to forgive them of their sins and grant them everlasting life. .

Next time Luke share how the religious leaders say, “neither tell I you by what authority I do these things”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".