Lukp 8:19

Luke 8:19 says, Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.  Jesus's mother, Mary, and His brothers, her other children tried to get to Jesus, but the crowd prevented them from reaching Him.  Some people claim that Mary only had one child, Jesus, but this is not what the Bible tells us.  We will never have anyone or anything keep us from coming to Jesus if we desire to reach Him and come to Him by faith.  Verse twenty adds, And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.  Someone, or more than one person, told Jesus that His mother and brothers were standing outside desiring to see Him.  Some today may tell Jesus that we are standing nearby waiting to see Him, but that will never bring anyone salvation.  Evidently, Mary and Jesus's brothers either identified themselves or were recognized by those around Jesus.  Verse twenty-one continues, And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.   Jesus said that His mother and brothers were those who heard and did the word of God.  Jesus was not being disrespectful to Mary and His brothers, but was pointing out that physical relationships were not what was important, but spiritual ones are.  It doesn't matter who our parents or brothers and sisters are in order for us to be saved, but only if we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.   Verse twenty-two states,  Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.  One day, Jesus got on a ship with His disciples and told them that they were going to cross over to the other side.  As Christians, we must be ready to go wherever Jesus sends us today, but we must always remember that the Holy Spirit is with us when we go.  Verse twenty-three adds, But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.  While Jesus was asleep, a storm arose that threatened to sink the ship.  As followers of Christ, we may encounter storms in life that seem to be ready to destroy us, but we must remember that Jesus is never asleep, or more accurately in our case, the Holy Spirit is never asleep.   Verse twenty-four continues, And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.  The disciple woke Jesus up and told Him they were about to perish.  If we are in trouble today, we should bring our concerns to Jesus, but I don't believe that we should ever do so in fear, but in faith.  Jesus calmed the winds.  Verse twenty-five concludes, And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.  Jesus asked them then where their faith was, and He may ask us the same thing today if we are always afraid of what is happening in the world.  Those on the boat with Jesus asked what manner of man Jesus was, that even the winds obeyed Him.  People who have nor accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord may still ask what manner of man Jesus is because they have not accepted Him as their Savior and Lord and still see Him as only a mortal man, but we as Christians should never ask that question.  We know Him as the only Savior that anyone can ever have and should rest peacefully in our relationship with Him, no matter what storms may be raging in our life.

Luke 8:9

Luke 8:9 says, And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?  Jesus's disciples asked Him what the parable of the sower meant.  If we ever have doubts about what the Bible means, we need to go to Jesus in prayer and ask Him to help us understand.  Verse ten states, And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.  Jesus said the disciples had been given the ability to understand the parables because He gave them that ability, but those who did not put their faith in Him would hear them and not understand.  Understanding the parables, or any of the Bible, depends on our relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse eleven adds, Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  Jesus then began to explain the parable to them.  He said the seed was God's word, and this is what we must sow today as Christians.  Verse twelve continues, Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  Those seed that fell by the wayside were those people that the Devil kept the word of God from taking root in their life, and there are many, many people today who will never allow God's word to take root in their life.  Verse thirteen says, They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.   Jesus said the word of God that fell on the rock were those who gladly received God's word, but when temptation came, they fell by the wayside.  There are still people today who gladly claim to put their in Jesus, but as soon as some problem or something seemingly better in the view of the world comes along, they turn their back on Him.  Verse fourteen adds, And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  Jesus said that those that fell among the thorns took root, but allowed the cares and riches and pleasures of the world to keep them from bearing fruit of perfection.  Some people accept Jesus, but allow concerns about of the world to keep them from ever bearing fruit for Him.  Verse fifteen continues, But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.  We want to be like the good ground, those who allow God's word to take root and produce good fruit in our lives as we hear and keep His word with patience.  Verse sixteen declares, No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.  Jesus moved on to the parable of the candlestick.  People do not light a candle and then cover it up where it cannot cast light, but put it on a candlestick so that it can light up things around it.  We cannot hide the word of God, the light of our way, from all those around us if we are to be effective Christians.  Verse seventeen adds, For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.  Jesus tells us that nothing is a secret to Him.  Whatever we think we have hidden from God will one day be made manifest.  Verse eighteen continues, Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.  Jesus said that those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord, or who have put their faith in Him, will be given everlasting life, and those who do not accept Him, even if it seems that they have a lot, will lose everything when God's judgment comes.  For this reason, we must take heed how we hear God's word,

Luke 8:1

Luke 8:1 says, And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,  After eating with the Pharisee Simon and forgiving the woman who washed His feet of her sins, Jesus continued to travel and preach the gospel, and the twelve disciples were with Him.  Once we have done what God calls us to do in a particular situation, we must continue to move forward in doing what He would have us do next.  Verse two adds, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,  Mary Magdalene, who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities by Jesus was with Him as well.  Just like her, when Jesus heals us spiritually by the forgiving our sins, we should want to be with Him.  Verse three continues, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.  Jesus was also followed by Joanna, the wife of a servant in Herod’s court.  Matthew Henry says she was either a widow or her husband had accepted Jesus and was willing for her to to follow and help him.  Then Susanna is mentioned, and well as many others who are unnamed.  They were helping meet the daily needs of Jesus from what they had.  When it comes to serving Christ, it shouldn't matter if our name is noted by others or not, because Jesus knows what we are doing for Him, and that is all that matters.  Verse four states, And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:  When many people had gathered around Jesus, He began to teach them with a parable, which He often taught by.  We need to always look for the deeper meaning to the teachings of the Bible.  Verse five adds, A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.  This is the parable of the sower, who had some seed fall by the wayside to be trodden down or devoured by birds.  So far, this is just a story of everyday life, and for many people who read or hear it today, that is all it will ever be, because they have not put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse six continues, And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.  Jesus said some of the seed fell on the rocks, where it sprouted, but soon died,because it lacked moisture.  Still, just an ordinary story and not a deep, theological discourse.  The gospel is very easy to understand.  We don't have to have great theological training to understand it, but need only to rely on the Holy Spirit to give us an understanding of what the Bible says.  Verse seven continues, And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.  Some of the seed fell among the thorns and was choked out and prevented from growing.  People could easily understand this, but we know that soon Jesus would give the story a deeper meaning.  Verse eight concludes, And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.  The final seed fell on good ground and produced fruit a hundredfold.  Then, Jesus told those who had ears to hear to hear.  Now, since I am sure that most of the people there physically had ears, I believe Jesus was calling for those who had spiritual ears to hear.  We are all capable of hearing the gospel, but until we accept it personally, we will never understand its meaning.   

Luke 7:40

Luke 7:40 says, Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.  While the woman was washing Jesus's feet and the host, whose name was Simon, was thinking He wasn't much of a prophet, Jesus said He had something to ask him.  If we are truly a follower of Christ, then we will never question Who He is.  Verse forty-one adds, There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.  Jesus started by saying that a creditor had two people who owed Him money.  One owed the man ten times as much as the other.  When we come to Christ, we do not all have the same amount of sin in our lives.  Verse forty-two continues, And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?  When the men had nothing to repay the creditor with, He forgave them both.  Jesus asked the Pharisee Simon which of the men would love the creditor the most.  Now, from a spiritual point of view concerning the forgiveness of our sins, we should all love Jesus the same, whether our sins were great or small.   Still, we can sometimes look at our fellow Christians, especially those who we feel were guilty of much sin, and question how Jesus could forgive them.  Verse forty-three states, Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.  Simon did not really give a definitive answer, but said he supposed the one that had been forgiven the most.  Jesus told Simon that he had answered correctly.  We may know the correct answer to spiritual questions and even answer them correctly, but until we believe, and don't just suppose, what the answer is, we cannot really apply it to our life.  Verse forty-four adds, And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.  Jesus told Simon to look at the woman and what she was doing, while at the same time pointing out what Simon had not done.  The woman had washed Jesus's feet with her tears and had dried them with her hair, while Simon had not even met what should have been his responsibility and provided Jesus with water to wash His feet.  We should never judge others as they serve Jesus, especially if we have neglected to serve Him ourselves as faithfully as we should.  Verse forty-five continues, Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.  Jesus said that Simon had not even offered Him the courtesy of greeting Him with a kiss, but the woman had not ceased kissing His feet.  Sometimes, people profess to be followers of Christ, but their actions do not show it.  Simon really did not invite Jesus to his house because he believed in Jesus, but simply to entertain himself at Jesus's expense.  Verse forty-six concludes, My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.  Jesus continued to point out how Simon had failed as a host by not anointing His head with oil while the woman had anointed His feet with oil.  She was doing many of the things that Simon should have done, and when we become Christians, we need to do what God expects us to do and not leave what we should be doing for someone else to do.  Verse forty-seven declares, Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.  Jesus said the woman who had many sins had them all forgiven, and no matter how many or few sins we have in our life, when we come to Jesus, they are all forgiven.  Simon felt superior to both Jesus and the woman, but he himself was simply a sinner in need of forgiveness.  We should never consider ourself to be morally superior to others because we believe our sins to be fewer than someone else's sins.  Jesus said that those who have much forgiven love much, and those who have little forgiven love little.  I don't believe that this means that those who have had few sins forgiven always love Jesus less, because He removed the penalty of death from all who put their faith in Him, but it may affect how we see others if we are not careful.  Verse forty-eight adds, And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.  Jesus told the woman her sins were forgiven, and that meant all of them and not just some.  Jesus did not forgive the woman's sins because she had done something for Him, but because of the faith she had in Him.  We cannot work our way to salvation, but can only receive it by coming to Jesus Christ by faith in Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse forty-nine says, And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?  Those who were eating with Jesus asked Who He was that He could forgive sins.  They were physically so close to Jesus, but spiritually so far away.  We may know a lot of facts about Jesus, but until we accept Him for Who He really is, it doesn't matter.   Verse fifty adds, And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.  Like the woman, when we come to Jesus by faith, our sins are forgiven and we should go in peace.

Luke 7:31

Luke 7:31 says, And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?  Jesus asked what He should compare the current generation of men to.  I have to wonder what Jesus would compare the current generation of people, men in particular, to today.  Verse thirty-two adds, They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.  Jesus said they were like children in the marketplace who were only looking to be entertained.  They were not serious about their relationship with God.  This generation is a generation that loves to be entertained, but so were the last couple of generations.  Too many people look more for what can amuse and entertain them than to what God has called us to do, even some who profess to be followers of Christ.  Verse thirty-three states, For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. Jesus said John the Baptist came and didn't eat bread or drink wine, and the people said he was possessed by a devil.  They did not like what John the Baptist was preaching, so they attempted to discredit him by claiming he was empowered by the Devil.  Verse thirty-four adds, The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!  Jesus said that when He, the Son of man, came eating and drinking that they accused Him of being a gluttonous, drunken man who was a friend of publicans and sinners in an attempt to discredit Him.  No matter how we worship God today, people who do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord are going to attempt to discredit us because of the way we worship.  What we don't need is Christians attempting to discredit other  Christians because of the way that they worship.  Verse thirty-five continues, But wisdom is justified of all her children.  Jesus said it is not how we choose to worship and even live our everyday life, but that we do so guided by the wisdom of God that matters.  We are justified not by our actions but by our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse thirty-six says, And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.  One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and Jesus did.  The Pharisees were attempting as a group to discredit Jesus, but He was still willing to associate with one of them, just as He had with publicans and sinners.  Jesus did not exclude people because of their earthly status, and neither should we today.  Verse thirty-seven adds, And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,  A woman of the city, who was a sinner, heard that Jesus was eating at the house of the Pharisee and brought and alabaster box of oil with her to the Pharisee’s house.  When we first come to Jesus we can only come as a sinner, and after we accept Him as our Savior and Lord, we can only come as a sinner saved by grace.  Verse thirty-eight adds, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.  The women stood behind Jesus weeping and began to wash His feet with her tears and kissed His feet and anointed them with the oil.  She was very humble and contrite and wanted only to serve Jesus in this small way.  When we come to Jesus for salvation, we should come humble and contrite, wanting only to do what we can to serve Him.  Verse thirty-nine adds, Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.  The Pharisee said to himself that if Jesus was a prophet, He would have known what manner of woman this was, because she was a sinner.  Jesus knew what she was, and so did she, but she did not allow the fact that she was a sinner to stop her from coming to Jesus, nor did Jesus refuse to allow her to serve Him.  Again, we must acknowledge that we can only come to Jesus as sinners saved by grace.  What the Pharisee refused to acknowledge was that he too was a sinner, and yet Jesus was associating with him.  We should never look down on anyone who comes Jesus with an attitude that we are superior and more worthy of His forgiveness than anyone else, especially as Christians. 

Luke 6:39

I somehow missed this earlier, so it will be out of sequence. 

Luke 6:39 says, And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? Jesus taught with another parable, asking if the blind could lead the blind could lead the blind without them both falling in the ditch.  Until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are spiritually blind and cannot lead anyone spiritually without both of us falling.  Verse forty adds, The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.  We as Christians can never be better than our Master, Jesus Christ.  Just as He suffered and died for us, we must be willing to suffer and even die that others might come to know Him as their Savior and Lord.  Only by faith in Christ can we be made perfect in the sight of God.  Verse forty-one asks, And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  Jesus asked the people then and us today why we are so much able to see small faults in others but cannot see big faults in our own life.  Verse forty-one adds, Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.  Jesus said offering to pull the mote, or small speck, out of someone else's eye while not recognizing the beam, or large piece of wood in our own makes us hypocrites.  We too often are concerned with the sins of others while ignoring our own sins which may be greater.  Verse forty-three states, For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  We as followers of Christ are to be like the good tree, bringing forth good fruit spiritually.  Those who have not put their faith in Jesus Christ cannot bring forth good fruit spiritually.  Verse forty-four adds, For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.  Just as trees are known for the fruit that they produce, so should Christians be.  We should not produce bad fruit, but good fruit, and we should all be producing spiritual fruit if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse forty-five declares, A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.  If we are to bring forth an abundance of good into the world,  it must come from our heart, which must be controlled by the Holy Spirit once we become a follower of Christ.  We cannot make our heart good by our own ability, but God must create in us a new heart when we become a Christian.  Verse forty-six adds, And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?  This question still applies today.  If we are to truly call Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, we must do what He calls us to do.  Anytime we fail to do so, He is not really the Lord of our life.  Verse forty-seven states, Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:  Jesus said that He would show anyone who came to Him what that person was like.  He still continues to show us today.  Verse forty-eight adds, He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.  Jesus said that those that put their faith in Him are like a person building a house building it on a firm foundation.   When it is built on a firm foundation a house can stand against the storms.  Jesus is our foundation as Christians, and we must build everything on that foundation if it is to stand.  Verse forty-nine continues, But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.  If we do not build our life on the foundation of Jesus Christ, no matter how strong and beautiful it may look, when the storms of life come, it will fall, and the fall will be great.  Things not built on the foundation of Jesus Christ will be utterly destroyed when God's judgment comes.

Luke 7:18

Luke 7:18 says, And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.  The disciples of John began to tell him what Jesus was doing.  Verse nineteen adds, And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?  John sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask Him if He was the Messiah, or if they should look for another.  Today, when we hear about Jesus, we need to come to Him ourself, and then we must decide if He is Who He says He is or not.  Verse twenty continues, When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?  John's disciples, when they reached Jesus, asked them what John had told them to ask Him.  They should have been concerned about whether Jesus was the Messiah themselves and not just to answer John's questions.  No matter why we come to Jesus, we must decide for ourself Who He is.  Verse twenty-one states, And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.  While John's disciples were there, Jesus  healed many people of their infirmities, plagues, and evil spirits and restored the sight of many blind people.  This is what He is still doing today spiritually when we accept Him as our Savior and Lord.  Verse twenty-two adds, Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.  Jesus told the disciples to return to John and tell him what they had seen Jesus do.  We can tell people what Jesus did in Biblical days, but I believe more importantly we need to tell them what He has done in our life today.   He has healed us of spiritual sickness, restored our sight spiritually, and raised us from death by forgiving our sins if we accept Him as our Savior and Lord.  For many, He has done some of these things physically as well, and we need to give Him the credit and tell the people around us what He has done.  Verse twenty-three continues, And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.  Just as Jesus told John's disciples then, we are blessed if we are not offended by Jesus.  We cannot be followers of Christ if we are offended or afraid to tell the world that we are.  Verse twenty-four says, And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?  After John's disciples left, Jesus asked those around Him about John.  He asked if they went into the wilderness to see him because he was a weak and wavering person.  Verse twenty-five adds, But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.  Jesus continued to ask if when they went to see John if they were looking for someone who was finely dressed.  It seems that at times today we are more drawn to preachers because of how they are dressed than because of the message they preach,  and some even waver on the truth of the gospel. Verse twenty-six continues, But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.  Jesus said they went to the wilderness to hear John because he was a prophet, and Jesus said John was much more than just a prophet.  Verse twenty-seven declares, This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.  Jesus said that John was the one who was sent by God to tell the people to prepare for the coming Messiah. It is our responsibility today to tell everyone that we must prepare for the return of Jesus, the Messiah.  Verse twenty-eight adds, For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.  Jesus said that there was no greater prophet in the world than John the Baptist, but that even the least in the kingdom of God was greater than John.  When John was preaching, Jesus had not completed His work of redemption, so John was still looking for the Messiah.  Until we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we may do great things, but we are still less than the least in God's kingdom.  Verse twenty-nine states, And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.  All those who heard what Jesus said, who had been baptized by John, even the publicans, justified God.  No matter who brought us to Jesus today, we must put our faith in Him alone.  Jesus had not yet revealed Himself as the Messiah.  This was not fully revealed until His death, burial and resurrection, but He has been revealed to us today as the only Savior, and we must put our faith in Him alone.  Verse thirty adds But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.  The scribes and Pharisees took council against John, because they refused to believe that he was the forerunner of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  It was a sad commentary that the religious leaders did not recognize the fulfillment of the scripture before their very eyes.  It is not enough to know what the Bible says if we don't accept it as God's word and allow it to become real for our life by accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.