Luke 20:5
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
Original Language Analysis
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
1 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
συνελογίσαντο
they reasoned
G4817
συνελογίσαντο
they reasoned
Strong's:
G4817
Word #:
3 of 17
to reckon together (with oneself), i.e., deliberate
πρὸς
with
G4314
πρὸς
with
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
4 of 17
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
ἑαυτούς,
themselves
G1438
ἑαυτούς,
themselves
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
5 of 17
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
λέγοντες,
saying
G3004
λέγοντες,
saying
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
6 of 17
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
ὅτι
G3754
Ἐὰν
If
G1437
Ἐὰν
If
Strong's:
G1437
Word #:
8 of 17
a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty
Ἐξ
From
G1537
Ἐξ
From
Strong's:
G1537
Word #:
10 of 17
a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct
οὐρανοῦ,
heaven
G3772
οὐρανοῦ,
heaven
Strong's:
G3772
Word #:
11 of 17
the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of god); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the gospel (christianity)
ἐρεῖ
he will say
G2046
ἐρεῖ
he will say
Strong's:
G2046
Word #:
12 of 17
an alternate for g2036 in certain tenses; to utter, i.e., speak or say
Historical Context
Luke 7:29-30 records that "all the people that heard [John], and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." The religious establishment's rejection of John was deliberate and public. They couldn't now claim he was God's prophet without admitting they'd rejected God's messenger—an intolerable admission for those claiming to represent God's authority on earth.
Questions for Reflection
- How does political calculation about religious truth reveal a heart that has already rejected God?
- What does the leaders' reasoning process teach about the difference between seeking truth and protecting position?
- In what ways do believers today sometimes reject clear divine authority because accepting it would require uncomfortable change?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? The leaders' private deliberation (συνελογίσαντο, synelogisanto, "they reasoned together") reveals political calculation, not pursuit of truth. They recognize the logical trap: acknowledging John's divine commission requires explaining why they rejected his ministry and refused his baptism of repentance.
The phrase "believed ye him not" (οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε, ouk episteusate) exposes the heart issue. Belief (πιστεύω, pisteuō) means trust, commitment, acceptance—not mere intellectual acknowledgment. They didn't believe John because accepting his message would require repentance, and repentance would mean admitting their religious system needed fundamental reform. Their rejection of John wasn't theological but moral—they loved their position more than truth. This same resistance now blinds them to Jesus, whom John testified about.