But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
LUKE 20:6KJVWhat does Luke 20:6 mean?
Luke 20:6 shows that the religious leaders were afraid to say that John the Baptist’s authority came from people, because the crowd was convinced John was a real prophet and might react violently if they felt he was being disrespected. The leaders are caught between their fear of the people and their unwillingness to accept John’s authority.
In this scene, Jesus is being questioned by the chief priests, scribes, and elders in the temple about his own authority. They are trying to trap him, but when he asks them about John the Baptist, they realize any answer could get them in trouble. The verse highlights their concern for public opinion and their lack of genuine conviction.
The Greek behind Luke 20:6
- ὁ λαός (ho laos, G2992): This word means "the people" or "the crowd." In this context, it emphasizes that it is not just a few individuals, but the whole gathered crowd whose reaction the leaders fear.
- λιθάζωσιν (lithazōsin, G2642): This verb means "to stone." The threat of stoning shows how seriously the people regarded John as a prophet, and how dangerous it would be for the leaders to deny his authority.
- πείθω (peithō, G3982): This word means "to persuade" or "to be convinced." The verse uses it to show that the people were fully convinced about John’s prophetic status, not just mildly supportive.
Why Luke 20:6 matters
- Luke 20:6 clarifies the real reason the religious leaders hesitate to answer Jesus: they are motivated by fear of the people, not by a search for truth.
- The verse highlights the strong influence John the Baptist had on the general population, showing his importance in the story of Jesus.
- This moment sets up Jesus’ response and exposes the leaders’ lack of integrity, which is a key theme in the surrounding passage.