Luke 20:7

And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, For the exposition, see the notes at Matthew 21:23....

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....

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 21:23....

EXPOSITION LUKE 20:1 _Question of the priests and scribes as to the nature of the authority under which Jesus was acting._ LUKE 20:1, LUKE 20:2 AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT ON ONE OF THOSE DAYS, AS HE TAUGHT THE PEOPLE IN THE TEMPLE, AND PREACHED THE GOSPEL. We are now in the midst of the so-called Passion week. Probably the events related in this chapter took place on the Tuesday. The first day of the week, Palm Sunday, was the day of the public entry into the city. The purification of the temple took place on the Monday, on which day also the barren fig tree was cursed. We are now considering the eve

Ver. 7 AND THEY ANSWERED, THAT THEY COULD NOT TELL WHENCE IT WAS. Whether from heaven, or of men; in this, no doubt, they told an untruth: but they chose rather to sacrifice their consciences than their interest, and pretend ignorance rather than profess the truth, when they saw they should be put to confusion, or be exposed to the resentments of the people....

CHAPTER 20 _ 1. His Authority Demanded and His Answer.(Luke 20:1)_ 2. Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. (Luke 20:9) 3. Question about Tribute to Caesar. (Luke 20:20) 4. The Question Concerning Resurrection. (Luke 20:27) 5. The Question Christ Asked. (Luke 20:41) 6. Beware of the Scribes! (Luke 20:45 .) The events in this chapter are found in both Matthew's and Mark's Gospels. The parable of the vineyard foretells His death. He is the so

THE QUESTION OF AUTHORITY (Mark 11:27 *, Matthew 21:23 *). The only additional point to notice in Lk. is that Jesus was not only teaching but preaching the Gospel, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom....

One day, while Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple and telling them the good news, the chief priests and scribes with the elders came up and said to him, "Tell us, by what authority do you do these things? Or, who is it who gives you this authority?" He said to them, "I, too, will ask you for a statement. Tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?" They discussed it with each other. "If," they said to each other, "we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe in him?' But, if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are convinced that John was a prophet." So they answered that they did not know where it was from. Jesus said to them, "Neither do I tell you by what authority I do these things." This chapter describes what is usually called the Day of Questions. It was a day when the Jewish authorities, in all their different sections...

COULD NOT TELL. did not know. App-132. NOT. Greek. _me._ App-105....

_they could not tell_ Rather, did not know. A wise answer in cases of real uncertainty, as the Hebrew proverb taught "_Learn to say I do not know;"_but a base answer when they _had_an opinion but did not dare to avow it; and doubly base in the matter of a question on which it was their plain duty to have arrived at a judgment. To be reduced to this ignominious necessity of confessing ignorance (though _"we know_" was one of their favourite phrases, John 9:24, &c.) was a public humiliation which they had brought upon themselves....