Luke 22:68 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and if I ask you, you will not answer.

NIV: and if I asked you, you would not answer.

NASB: and if I ask a question, you will not answer.

CSB: And if I ask you, you will not answer.

NLT: And if I ask you a question, you won’t answer.

KJV: And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

NKJV: And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go.

The Sanhedrin is holding trial against Jesus. The two illegal trials He faced at night mean little for the Jewish leaders. They were just trying to soften Jesus up. Here, they need Him to incriminate Himself. When they asked if He was the Christ, He admitted to it (Matthew 26:63–64). Now, He won't give them a straight answer. When they say, "If you are the Christ, tell us," He responds, "If I tell you, you will not believe" (Luke 22:67). The Jewish leaders already know but they will never accept. They are guilty of blasphemy.

The Sanhedrin don't realize that Jesus is putting them on trial and this is their final conviction. They know He fulfills the prophecies of the Messiah given in their Scriptures (John 5:39–40). The scribes of the Pharisees know those prophecies inside and out. But they refuse to accept the truth because they would rather keep their popularity with the people—an honor Jesus is systematically taking from them (John 11:45–53).

Jesus faced several trials before the crucifixion:

1. At night, at the home of the chief priest Annas (John 18:12–24).
2. At night, at the home of the high priest Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57–75; Mark 14:53–72; Luke 22:54–65; John 18:24–27).
3. At dawn, before the Sanhedrin (Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66–71).
4. Before Pilate (Matthew 27:2, 11–14; Mark 15:1–5; Luke 23:1–5; John 18:28–38).
5. Before Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6–12).
6. Before Pilate again (Matthew 27:15–26; Mark 15:6–15; Luke 23:13–25; John 18:38—19:16).

Luke 22:66–71 records Jesus' third and only legal trial before the Jewish leaders. Whatever Jesus said in the first two trials doesn't matter. In this third trial, before the Sanhedrin, they make an official charge: Jesus formally claims to be the Son of God. His claim, they think, blasphemes God and the Roman emperor—a capital offense. Matthew 27:1–2 and Mark 15:1 only say that at this trial the Sanhedrin agree to take Jesus to Pilate (Luke 23:1–5). After Pilate sees Jesus, he'll send Him to Herod Antipas (Luke 23:6–12) before the Sanhedrin convinces Pilate to crucify Jesus (Luke 23:13–25).

Luke 22 is a long chapter which records events leading to Jesus' political trials and crucifixion. He has successfully taught crowds at the temple and proved His authority over the religious leaders (Luke 19:47—20). Meanwhile the leaders have spent the week planning to arrest Jesus and have Him killed (Luke 19:47–48). This chapter records the Last Supper, the arrest on the Mount of Olives, and the trials before the Jewish religious leaders. Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 18 cover much of the same information.

Luke 23 continues Jesus' trials before Pilate and Herod Antipas. He is then led to the cross where He forgives His murderers and saves a thief before He dies. In Luke 24, Jesus rises from the dead, meets two disciples while they travel, and explains to them how the Old Testament prophesied the death of the Messiah. In the final scene of the gospel, Jesus is reunited with His disciples, blesses them, and ascends into heaven.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.