And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.
LUKE 22:68KJVWhat does Luke 22:68 mean?
Luke 22:68 shows Jesus telling the religious leaders that even if He were to ask them questions, they would not answer Him or release Him. Jesus is pointing out their unwillingness to engage honestly or consider letting Him go, no matter what He says or asks.
In this scene, Jesus is standing before the Jewish council after His arrest. He has just been questioned about His identity as the Messiah. By saying this, Jesus highlights the council’s closed-mindedness and the fact that their minds are already made up against Him, making any further discussion pointless.
The Greek behind Luke 22:68
- οὐ μή (ou mē, transliterated as "not") is a strong double negative in Greek, often used to emphasize that something absolutely will not happen. Here, Jesus stresses that they absolutely will not answer Him.
- ἀπολύω (apolyō, "let go" or "release") means to set someone free. Jesus is making it clear that the council has no intention of releasing Him, regardless of what He says.
Why Luke 22:68 matters
- Luke 22:68 clears up any idea that Jesus was given a fair hearing; He exposes the council’s refusal to listen or consider His answers.
- The verse highlights the tension and injustice of Jesus’ trial, showing that the outcome was predetermined.
- This moment connects to the larger theme in Luke’s Gospel of Jesus being rejected by the religious authorities, despite speaking truthfully and openly.