Luke 20:5

5 And they thought within themselves, saying, For if we [shall] say, Of heaven, he shall say, Why then believe ye not to him?

Luke 20:5 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 20:5

And they reasoned with themselves
Or "they thought with themselves", as the Syriac version; or "within themselves", as the Vulgate Latin, though they did not express it; or "one with another", as the Arabic version; they took counsel together, and debated the matter among themselves, and reasoned after this manner:

saying, if we shall say from heaven;
which was what, in their own consciences, they believed to be true,

he will say, why then believed ye him not?
in what he said concerning the Messiah; which if they had, as they should, there would have been no reason for such a question they had put; (See Gill on Matthew 21:25).

Luke 20:5 In-Context

3 And Jesus answered, and said to them, And I shall ask you one word; answer ye to me. [Forsooth Jesus answering said to them, I shall ask you one word; answer ye to me.]

4 Was the baptism of John of heaven, or of men?

5 And they thought within themselves, saying, For if we [shall] say, Of heaven, he shall say, Why then believe ye not to him?

6 and if we say, Of men, all the people shall stone us; for they be certain, that John is a prophet.

7 And they answered, that they knew not, of whence it was.