Luke 20:1-7: a reflection

1On one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, the priests and scribes came to him with the elders. 2They asked him, “Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?” 3He answered them, “I also will ask you one question. Tell me: 4the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?” 5They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.” 7They answered that they didn’t know where it was from.

When the religious leaders challenge Jesus, demanding to know by what authority he acts, he asks them a question in return: was John's baptism from heaven or from men? They reason among themselves and refuse to answer honestly, calculating that either answer will cost them; and so they say, We don't know. Because they will not honestly answer the question they could answer, Jesus says, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. There is a sobering principle here: those who will not act on or respond honestly to the truth they already have are not given more. The leaders already had enough to answer honestly about John, and through John, about Jesus; but because they would not respond to the light they had, further light was not given. When we refuse to respond to the truth we already know, more is not given us. To refuse the light we have is to forfeit further light. Those who will not act on the truth they have are not given more. Refusing known truth forfeits further understanding.

Notice why Jesus would not answer the leaders: because they would not honestly respond to the truth they already had. They knew, or could have known, the answer about John; but they refused to say it, calculating the cost. And so Jesus did not give them the further answer they demanded about his own authority. This reveals a principle: those who will not respond to the light they already have are not given more. Further truth is given to those who act on the truth they have received; but to refuse the light we have is to forfeit further light. The leaders' refusal to answer honestly about John, whom they had already seen and heard, closed the door to further understanding about Jesus. This warns us that refusing to respond to the truth we already know, declining to act on the light we have, does not leave us where we are; it forfeits further understanding. God gives more light to those who walk in the light they have; but those who refuse it are not given more. To receive further truth, we must respond to the truth already given. Refusing the light we have closes the door to more. Truth acted on leads to more; truth refused forfeits it.

That is worth taking to heart, for refusing to respond to the truth we already know forfeits further understanding, and we do well to act on the light we have. We can refuse to respond to the truth we already have, declining to act on the light we have received, calculating the cost as the leaders did about John; but such refusal does not leave us unchanged, it forfeits further light. God gives more understanding to those who walk in the light they have, not to those who refuse it. Do not refuse to respond to the truth you already know, thinking it leaves you where you are; it forfeits further light, as the leaders who would not answer about John were told no more. Respond to and act on the truth you already have rather than refusing it, since refusing the light we have forfeits further understanding, as Jesus would not tell the leaders by what authority he acted because they would not honestly answer about John's baptism, the truth they already had; for further light is given to those who respond to the truth already received, but to refuse the light we have is to forfeit more, so that those who will not act on what they already know are not given further understanding, and we do well to walk in the light we have that we may be given more, rather than refusing known truth and closing the door to it.

Lord Jesus, when the religious leaders challenge you, demanding to know by what authority you act, you ask them a question in return: was John's baptism from heaven or from men? They reason among themselves and refuse to answer honestly, calculating that either answer will cost them; and so they say, We don't know. Because they will not honestly answer the question they could answer, you say, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. There is a sobering principle here: those who will not respond honestly to the truth they already have are not given more. Show me why you would not answer the leaders: because they would not honestly respond to the truth they already had. They knew, or could have known, the answer about John; but they refused to say it. And so you did not give them the further answer they demanded. This reveals a principle: those who will not respond to the light they already have are not given more. Further truth is given to those who act on the truth they have received; but to refuse the light we have is to forfeit further light. This warns me that refusing to respond to the truth I already know does not leave me where I am; it forfeits further understanding. You give more light to those who walk in the light they have. Take that to my heart, for refusing to respond to the truth I already know forfeits further understanding, and I do well to act on the light I have. I can refuse to respond to the truth I already have, declining to act on the light I have received; but such refusal forfeits further light. Keep me from refusing to respond to the truth I already know, thinking it leaves me where I am; help me respond to and act on the truth I have, Lord, that I may be given more, rather than refusing known truth and closing the door to it, as the leaders who would not answer about John were told no more.