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Dishonest Hearts - Luke 20
Dishonest Hearts - Luke 20
Jesus asks the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders a simple question: "Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?" (Luke 20:4).
They take the time to discuss how they will answer, ‘reasoning’ among themselves. BUT, their reasoning was NOT about what was true, but rather what their social standing would be depending upon how they answer!
Then, they respond: “So they answered that they did not know where it came from”
(Luke 20:7).
Their disobedience to John’s preaching was not a one-time event. John had preached and preached. The crowds of people throughout Judea and Galilee had gathered and many had been baptized by him. He had even called them out on their hypocrisy. Yet, they refused to obey.
At the heart of such rebellion was their desire for popularity among men. They desired the praises of men more than the approval from God. Even Pilate would take note that they had delivered Jesus to him ‘because of envy’ (cp. Mark 15:10, Matt. 27:18).
Luke would add this comment: “But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John” (Luke 7:30).
The same situation poses the same problem for us each time we decide if a belief we hold is from God or from men! So many people respond the same way – they reason on how the different answers will affect their social standing. Let God be true and every man a liar.
Such a question was faced by Paul, but his response was different: “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10).
Our turn: Jesus’ teachings – from God or man?
Hugh DeLong
