Luke 20:3

20:1-8 Men often pretend to examine the evidences of revelation, and the truth of the gospel, when only seeking excuses for their own unbelief and disobedience. Christ answered these priests and scribes with a plain question about the baptism of John, which the common people could answer. They all knew it was from heaven, nothing in it had an earthly tendency. Those that bury the knowledge they have, are justly denied further knowledge. It was just with Christ to refuse to give account of his authority, to those who knew the baptism of John to be from heaven, yet would not believe in him, nor own their knowledge.

And he answered and said unto them,.... That is, Jesus replied to them, as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Persic versions express it: I will also ask you one thing, and answer me; when he also promised, that if they would give him an answer to his question, he would satisfy them in the point they interrogated him about: and as this was a prudent decline to avoid the snare they laid for him, so it was not an impertinent reply to them; since it led on to a proper answer to their question, as appears by the case proposed; See Gill on Matthew 21:24.

Verses 3-6. - 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 ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. The reply of Jesus was one of strange wisdom. He - Jesus - as was well known, had been introduced to the people by this very John. If the Sanhedrin acknowledged John the Baptist as a divinely accredited messenger, then surely they could not question the claims of one borne special witness to by him, brought forward and introduced to public notice by him! If, on the other hand, the Sanhedrin refused to acknowledge the authority of John as a Heaven-sent messenger, which would have been the course they would have preferred, then the popularity and influence of the Sanhedrin would have been sorely imperilled, for the people generally held firmly that John the Baptist was really a prophet of the Lord. They even feared - as we read, "All the people will stone us" - personal violence on the part of the people whose favour they so zealously courted. Luke 20:3

3 . I will also ask you one thing ] Rather, a question. The divine readiness and (if we may be allowed the expression) presence of mind of Jesus was most conspicuously shewn on this perilous day and the next day. and answer me ] We see from St Mark ( Luke 11:30 ) that this emphatic expression came after His question—as though to hasten their delay, and break up a whispered colloquy of perplexity.

Ver. 3-8. See Poole on "Matthew 21:24" , and following verses to Matthew 21:27 . See Poole on "Mark 11:29" , and following verses to Mark 11:33 . The substance of our Saviour’s answer is this: From whence had John his authority? He preached and baptized; who gave him his authority? They had sent much such another message to John, John 1:19-22 . Was John’s authority ordinary or extraordinary? It is plain that he had no authority from them, for then they would not have sent to him to know who he was. He must therefore have it from heaven. Now if they had allowed John’s call extraordinary, why should not they allow Christ’s to be such, to whom John gave so large a testimony, and who confirmed his extraordinary mission by miraculous operations, which we do not read that John ever did? Besides, the Pharisees saw that if they allowed John’s mission to be extraordinary, and from heaven, they had obviously exposed themselves to a check for not believing what he said; they therefore refuse to make any answer, and Christ refuseth also to satisfy them.

[Bible] 19:44. And beat thee flat to the ground, and thy children who are in thee. And they shall not leave in thee a stone upon a stone: because thou hast not known the time of thy visitation. 19:45. And entering into the temple, he began to cast out them that sold therein and them that bought. 19:46. Saying to them: It is written: My house is the house of prayer. But you have made it a den of thieves. 19:47. And he was teaching daily in the temple. And the chief priests and the scribes and the rulers of the people sought to destroy him. 19:48. And they found not what to do to him: for all the people were very attentive to hear him. Luke Chapter 20 The parable of the husbandmen. Of paying tribute to Caesar and of the resurrection of the dead. 20:1. And it came to pass that on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes, with the ancients, met together, 20:2. And spoke to him, saying: Tell us, by what authority dost thou these things? Or, who is he that hath given thee this authority? 20:3. And Jesus answering, said to them: I will also ask you one thing. Answer me: 20:4. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? 20:5. But they thought within themselves, saying: If we shall say, From heaven: he will say: Why then did you not believe in him? 20:6. But if we say, of men: the whole people will stone us. For they are persuaded that John was a prophet. 20:7. And they answered that they knew not whence it was. 20:8. And Jesus said to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. 20:9. And he began to speak to the people this parable: A certain man planted a vineyard and let it out to husbandmen: and he was abroad for a long time. 20:10. And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard. Who, beating him, sent him away empty.

[Bible] 21:20. And the disciples seeing it wondered, saying: How is it presently withered away? 21:21. And Jesus answering, said to them: Amen, I say to you, if you shall have faith and stagger not, not only this of the fig tree shall you do, but also if you shall say to this mountain, Take up and cast thyself into the sea, it shall be done. 21:22. And all things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer believing, you shall receive. 21:23. And when he was come into the temple, there came to him, as he was teaching, the chief priests and ancients of the people, saying: By what authority dost thou these things? And who hath given thee this authority? 21:24. Jesus answering, said to them: I also will ask you one word, which if you shall tell me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 21:25. The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven or from men? But they thought within themselves, saying: 21:26. If we shall say, from heaven, he will say to us: Why then did you not believe him? But if we shall say, from men, we are afraid of the multitude: for all held John as a prophet. 21:27. And answering Jesus, they said: We know not. He also said to them: Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things. 21:28. But what think you? A certain man had two sons: and coming to the first, he said: Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 21:29. And he answering, said: I will not. But afterwards, being moved with repentance, he went. 21:30. And coming to the other, he said in like manner. And he answering said: I go, Sir. And he went not. 21:31. Which of the two did the father's will? They say to him: The first. Jesus saith to them: Amen I say to you that the publicans and the harlots shall go into the kingdom of God before you. 21:32. For John came to you in the way of justice: and you did not believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him: but you, seeing it, did not even afterwards repent, that you might believe him.