Luk 20:7 | KingComments | STEP | The Lord wants to make it clear to them that they are blind, that they may acknowledge their blindness and then receive sight. Therefore He has as answer a question to them. With the words “tell Me” He commands them to answer Him. His counter-question must make it clear whether they are capable of forming a real judgment about His authority. Their answer will bring their mind to light. His question concerns the baptism of John. John was His forerunner and herald. John announced Him and preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins ( ). Many have come to his baptism ( ) and have even wondered, as to whether he was the Christ ( ). However, the reaction of John was clear that he was not himself, but that it was He Who came after him. The answer to the question about John’s baptism therefore determines their view of the Lord. He presents them with two possibilities: the baptism of John was from heaven or from men. It is one of two. Let them say it. In their falsehood and insincerity, the religious leaders consult with each other. They don’t discuss what the right answer is, but what He will answer to a particular answer. They are so corrupt that they only look at the result of their answer and not at its truth. They discuss what His answer will be when they say that John’s baptism was from heaven. They know His answer: He will say: “Why did you not believe him?” They cannot deny that John’s baptism was from heaven, but they do not want to admit it. The other option is also being considered. They refrain from that because they know the great admiration of the people for John. Instead of joining the people and acknowledging that John was a prophet, they consider that an answer that John would bring down could cost them their life. They are afraid to lose the people’s favor and to get the people against them, even fearing for their life. Both answers turn around themselves. Because they think they will suffer the least loss of sight if they say they don’t know where John’s baptism is from, they give that answer. With this answer they indicate that they do not deserve an answer to their question from the Lord. He has made it clear that they have reprehensible intentions. It is tragic that they do not want to repent, but rather, as His declared opponents, are becoming increasingly murderous. They can be stopped by nothing. The Lord shows in the following parable how they consciously want to kill Him.

‏ Luke 20:7

The Answer of the Lord

The Lord wants to make it clear to them that they are blind, that they may acknowledge their blindness and then receive sight. Therefore He has as answer a question to them. With the words “tell Me” He commands them to answer Him. His counter-question must make it clear whether they are capable of forming a real judgment about His authority. Their answer will bring their mind to light.

His question concerns the baptism of John. John was His forerunner and herald. John announced Him and preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Lk 3:3). Many have come to his baptism (Lk 3:7) and have even wondered, as to whether he was the Christ (Lk 3:15). However, the reaction of John was clear that he was not himself, but that it was He Who came after him.

The answer to the question about John’s baptism therefore determines their view of the Lord. He presents them with two possibilities: the baptism of John was from heaven or from men. It is one of two. Let them say it.

In their falsehood and insincerity, the religious leaders consult with each other. They don’t discuss what the right answer is, but what He will answer to a particular answer. They are so corrupt that they only look at the result of their answer and not at its truth. They discuss what His answer will be when they say that John’s baptism was from heaven. They know His answer: He will say: “Why did you not believe him?” They cannot deny that John’s baptism was from heaven, but they do not want to admit it.

The other option is also being considered. They refrain from that because they know the great admiration of the people for John. Instead of joining the people and acknowledging that John was a prophet, they consider that an answer that John would bring down could cost them their life. They are afraid to lose the people’s favor and to get the people against them, even fearing for their life.

Both answers turn around themselves. Because they think they will suffer the least loss of sight if they say they don’t know where John’s baptism is from, they give that answer. With this answer they indicate that they do not deserve an answer to their question from the Lord. He has made it clear that they have reprehensible intentions. It is tragic that they do not want to repent, but rather, as His declared opponents, are becoming increasingly murderous. They can be stopped by nothing. The Lord shows in the following parable how they consciously want to kill Him.