Luke 20:8 Meaning and Explanation
“And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus declines to tell them by what authority he does these things.
What Does Luke 20:8 Mean?
The exchange ends where their dishonesty left it. They refused to answer his question, so he declines theirs — not from wounded pride, but on a just principle: they had already rejected the witness God gave them through John.
Jesus never withholds himself from honest seekers; he gives a whole evening to one questioning Pharisee and a noon hour to one Samaritan woman. But he will not hand ammunition to interrogators who want answers only to destroy him. Light received opens the way to more light; light refused closes it. His silence here is itself a word — a mercy that waits for the heart to turn, and a verdict on the heart that will not.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 20:8
What does Luke 20:8 mean?
Jesus declines to tell them by what authority he does these things.