but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "rejected the counsel of God for themselves" highlights that their rejection wasn't about God's ultimate plan, but about how they personally chose to disregard His revealed will, thereby nullifying His loving provision for their own salvation. It wasn't that they could stop God's purpose, but that they actively chose to turn away from the path He laid out for them, a path that began with John's baptism.
but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
English Standard Version (ESV)
While the crowds and tax collectors embraced John the Baptist's message and God's plan, the religious elite—the Pharisees and lawyers—actively dismissed it for themselves. They refused to be baptized by John, signaling their rejection of God's call to repentance and preparation for the coming Messiah. This choice meant they were thwarting their own salvation, turning away from the very purpose God intended for their well-being.
What does it mean to 'reject the counsel of God'? Does it mean we can actually stop God from doing what He plans to do?
The Bible uses the phrase 'rejected the counsel of God' to describe the actions of the Pharisees and lawyers. This doesn't mean they could derail God's ultimate plan for salvation. Instead, it means they actively chose to disregard God's clear message and will for them. God's purpose, in this context, was the offer of repentance and salvation through John the Baptist's ministry, pointing towards Jesus.
When people reject God's counsel, they aren't changing His eternal plan. They are, however, choosing a path that leads to their own ruin. It's like refusing a lifeline thrown to you in a storm – the lifeline is still there, and the storm is still real, but your refusal seals your fate. Their rejection was 'against themselves' because it was to their own hurt and detriment, closing the door on the very salvation God intended for them.
John the Baptist's baptism was a big deal. Why was it so crucial, and why did rejecting it mean rejecting God's purpose?
John the Baptist's ministry and baptism were not just a ceremony; they were a direct divine invitation to prepare the way for the Messiah. The people, including the tax collectors and common folk, who embraced John's baptism 'justified God,' meaning they acknowledged God's goodness and faithfulness in sending this messenger. This act of repentance and baptism was a tangible step towards aligning themselves with God's salvific plan.
In contrast, the Pharisees and lawyers, despite their religious knowledge, rejected this foundational step. Their refusal to be baptized by John signaled their unwillingness to repent, to acknowledge their sin, and to accept the divine authority of his mission. By rejecting John's baptism, they were essentially rejecting the very purpose God had set in motion through him – a purpose that pointed directly to Jesus.
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Understand the original words
Pharisaios · Greek Noun
A prominent Jewish religious group devoted to the strict observance of the Mosaic Law and oral traditions, often characterized in the Gospels by self-righteousness and opposition to Jesus.
nomikos · Greek Noun
Experts in the interpretation and application of the Mosaic Law; they were religious teachers and scholars who played a significant role in Jewish communal and legal life.
atheteō · Greek Verb
To refuse, set aside, or consider as invalid. It describes the active choice to reject the divine call or counsel offered by God.
boulē · Greek Noun
God's eternal plan, intention, or will for humanity. It refers to the divine objective or counsel that He seeks to accomplish in history.
The religious elite of Jesus' day, like the Pharisees and lawyers, often focused on outward appearances and adherence to the Law, missing the deeper, transformative purpose of God that John the Baptist and Jesus themselves proclaimed through repentance and faith.
c. 28 AD
John the Baptist's Ministry Begins
John the Baptist begins preaching a baptism of repentance in the Judean wilderness, calling people to prepare for the coming of the Messiah.
c. 28 AD— this verse
Pharisees and Lawyers Question John
Some Pharisees and lawyers approach John's baptism, but as a group, they reject his message and the divine purpose behind his ministry.
c. 28-29 AD
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and calling disciples, often interacting with and challenging the religious establishment.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Trial and Crucifixion
Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified, a pivotal event that fulfills Old Testament prophecies and offers salvation.
c. 30-33 AD
The Early Church Grows
Following Jesus' resurrection and ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers the disciples, leading to the rapid spread of Christianity despite opposition.
This passage directly links the Pharisees' rejection of John's baptism to their overall resistance, showing they came to John but ultimately refused his message of repentance.
Luke 7:29This verse immediately precedes Luke 7:30 and highlights how the common people and tax collectors 'justified God' by accepting John's baptism, providing a stark contrast to the Pharisees' rejection.
Acts 20:27Paul uses a similar phrase, 'I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God,' emphasizing that God's 'counsel' is a complete message meant to be fully embraced.
1 Timothy 2:4This verse describes God's 'purpose' or 'will' as being that all people be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth, directly aligning with the 'counsel of God' that the Pharisees rejected.
Proverbs 1:24-25This passage describes a similar rejection of God's call and counsel, warning that those who refuse will ultimately face His scorn and destruction.
barnesLuke 7:30: "But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him."
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected ... - It appears from Matthew 3:7 that some of the Pharisees came to John to be baptized; but still this is entirely consistent with the supposition that the great mass of Pharisees and lawyers rejected him. The counsel of God - The counsel of God toward them was the solemn admonition by John to "repent" and be baptized, and be prepared to…
calvinLuke 7:29-35: "And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John."
- But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children, who sit in the market-place, and call out to their companions, 17. And say, We have played on the flute to you, and you have not danced; we have sung mournful airs to you, and you have not lamented. 18. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19. The Son of man came ea…
The phrase "rejected the counsel of God for themselves" highlights that their rejection wasn't about God's ultimate plan, but about how they personally chose to disregard His revealed will, thereby nullifying His loving provision for their own salvation. It wasn't that they could stop God's purpose, but that they actively chose to turn away from the path He laid out for them, a path that began with John's baptism.
While the crowds and tax collectors embraced John the Baptist's message and God's plan, the religious elite—the Pharisees and lawyers—actively dismissed it for themselves. They refused to be baptized by John, signaling their rejection of God's call to repentance and preparation for the coming Messiah. This choice meant they were thwarting their own salvation, turning away from the very purpose God intended for their well-being.
While the crowds and tax collectors embraced John the Baptist's message and God's plan, the religious elite—the Pharisees and lawyers—actively dismissed it for themselves. They refused to be baptized by John, signaling their rejection of God's call to repentance and preparation for the coming Messiah. This choice meant they were thwarting their own salvation, turning away from the very purpose God intended for their well-being.
"but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)" — The phrase "rejected the counsel of God for themselves" highlights that their rejection wasn't about God's ultimate plan, but about how they personally chose to disregard His revealed will, thereby…
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Last reviewed October 2026