Luke 20:8

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 Jesus said unto them,.... Since they would not give him a direct answer to his question: neither tell I you by what authority I do these things; nor was there any need of it; they might easily perceive by what he had said, from whence he professed to have received his authority, from God, and not men; See Gill on Matthew 21:27.

Verse 8. - And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things . Jesus, on hearing their plea of ignorance, now contemptuously declines to answer the Sanhedrists' question in the direct way they desired, but at once proceeds to speak a parable which unmistakably contains the reply. Luke 20:8

[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.

"hanged on him" ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 - Verse 1 ## Verses 1-9. See this passage explained in the Notes on Matthew 21:23-27. See Barnes "Matthew 21:23, also Matthew 21:24-27. {a} "And it came to pass" Matthew 21:23; Mr 11:27 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 - Verse 2 Verse 2. No Barnes text on this verse. {b} "by what authority" Acts 4:7-10; 7:27 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 - Verse 3 Verse 3. No Barnes text on this verse. ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 - Verse 4 Verse 4. No Barnes text on this verse. ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 - Verse 5 Verse 5. No Barnes text on this verse. ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 - Verse 6 Verse 6. No Barnes text on this verse. {c} "for they be persuaded" Matthew 14:5 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 - Verse 7 Verse 7. No Barnes text on this verse. ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 - Verse 8 Verse 8. No Barnes text on this verse. ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 - Verse 9 Verses 9-19. See Barnes "Matthew 21:33, also Matthew 21:34-45. {d} "A certain man" Matthew 21:33; Mr 12:1 {e} "planted a vineyard" So 8:11,12; Isaiah 5:1-7 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 - Verse 10 Verse 10. No Barnes text on this verse. {f} "fruit" John 15:16; Romans 7:4 ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 20 - Verse 11 Verse 11. No Barnes text on this verse.

I fay, haft thou entertain d Jefus Chrift for thy lawyer, to plead thy Caufe ? Viead my Caufr^ O Gsdj faid David, ?fal 3 5.1, and again. Lord, plead thsu'my caufe P/T 43. i. This therefore is the firft tiring that I would propound to thee ; Haftrhou with David entertained him for thy Lawyer, or with good Hes^ekiah cried owr, O Lord, I aw oppieffed, undertake for me, Ifa, 3S. I4.wha: fay'ft thou, Soul ?. Haft thou been with himjand pray'd him4:o plead thy Caufe, and cried viviq \ot\ t^i u^^- dcrtA\efor thee ? This I C2i\\ entertaining hifn tq be thy Advocate. And Ichufe to follow the Similitude, both becaufe the Scripture feenas t;o fmil < upon fuch a way of difcourie, and becaufe the Queftion doth naturally lead me to it. Wherefore I ask again, Haft thou been with him ^ Haft thot entermin'd him, or delirM him to f lead thy Caufe i Anf. I afifwer, Art (hou fenfible that thou bad an A^ion commenced againft thee in that higb Court of Juftice that is above? I fay, Arc thoti fenfible of this ? for the Defendants (and all God's People are Defendants) do not ufe to entertain their Lawyers, but from knowledge that an hdor on either is or may be commenced againft ^em be* &re the God of Heaven. If t;hou fayft yea, ther I ask,who cold thee that choa.ftand^ft accus'd foe TranfgreiTibn befbr:C the Judgment-feat of God ? I fay, who told thee fo ? Hath the Holy Ghoftg hath the World, or hath thy Confcience ? for nothing elfe, as I know of, can bring fuch tidings to thy SouL

Men, when they j)Icad before a Judge, ufe-t0 ■ pic;; d matter of Law. Now fuppoh! there is * = old Law in the Realm, by which Men defervc to - be condemned to death ; and there is a new Law ' in this Realm that fecureth Men from that GMk s demnation which belongs; to them by the oidjcand fuppofe alfo that I am compleaciy cmnptc^ = hended by all the Prowfoes of the new Law, and ^ not by any tittle theteof excluded from a fliift therein ; fuppole again that I have a brangliM 5 Adverfary that purfues me -by the old Law^whioi e yet cannot in right touch me, becaufe I am ime^ ^ re(ted in the new ; my Advocate alfo is one that r f'e^ds by the new Laxp, where only there is ground z of Plea ; Shall not now mine Adverfary feel the power of his Pica to the delivering of me, and : the putting of him to fliame ? Yes verily, fpecial- ; iy iince the Plea is good, the Judge juft, nor can [ the Enemy find any ground for a Demurr to be ^ put in againli: my prcfent difcharge in opcnCourt, ■: and that by Proclamation ; efpecially fincc my ; yidvccate has alfo, by his Blood, fuHy fatisfied the ^ old Law, that he might eftablifli the new, Hct ! of Jdfus Chrift. 5 r