Luke 7:29-30
What is written? (ESV)
(When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
What does it say?
The common people, including the tax collectors, who heard this [Jesus’ testimony that John the Baptist was “the messenger” that the prophet Malachi said would come] and had been baptized with John’s baptism declared God’s way was right. However, the “experts” among them rejected God’s way and were not baptized.
What is its immediate context?
John the Baptist is in prison and soon to die at the hands of Herod (Matthew 14:3-12), and Jesus confirms that John the Baptist is “the messenger” (Malachi 3:1) that God said would come (vs 27). Matthew 11:2-30 is a parallel account generally, but he doesn’t record this specific parenthetical offered by Luke.
How Luke 7:29-30 is applied across Bible answers
Is baptism required for salvation?
Scripture presents the baptism of John under the Old Covenant as a litmus test for those who were obedient to God versus those who rejected God.
What is required to understand the Bible?
Luke's parenthetical adds an unmistakable implication between those who conventionally would not be educated or regarded highly vs the educated "experts".
Jesus is elevating John the Baptist, someone many regarded as a bit crazy, to be greatest "among those born of women" (vs 28) and concludes His point by the little regard many had for John (vs 33) and the "Son of Man" (vs 34). "Yet wisdom is justified by all her children." (vs 35)
What is the baptism of John the Baptist?
The baptism of John was from God the Father and those who wanted to obey the Father submitted to it.
