When Jesus Said Enough Is Enough: Why We Don’t Answer Every Attack. Luke 20:8 says, “So Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.’” To understand this, we need to look at the context. In Luke 20:1–7, the religious leaders confronted Jesus in the temple and demanded to know by what authority He was teaching and performing miracles. Jesus responded by asking whether the baptism of John was from heaven or from man. They refused to answer because they feared the people and didn’t want to admit the truth. So Jesus, recognizing their hypocrisy and hardened hearts, told them He would not answer their question either. This wasn’t evasion, it was righteous judgment. They weren’t seeking truth; they were trying to trap Him (see also Matthew 21:23–27).
Jesus didn’t avoid the question because He lacked authority; He is the authority. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). “And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22). Not only that, but Jesus has given us the Scriptures as our authority in Him. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). The Bible is our final authority, and we are commanded to test everything by it (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Even today, when faithful Christians stand on the Word of God and contend for the faith, false teachers rise up to dispute the truth. They twist Scripture just as the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did. “There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16). “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:13).
There comes a point where enough is enough. “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned” (Titus 3:10–11). Jesus modeled this in Luke 20:8. When people show they are not sincere, only looking to argue or reject truth, there is no requirement to keep engaging them. “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” (Matthew 7:6). “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself” (Proverbs 26:4).
This is a reminder that we are not obligated to endlessly debate with those who refuse to listen to the truth. But we must also not be discouraged. Jesus is the authority, and He gave us His Word to stand on. “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth... and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:14, 17). “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).
Don’t give up because of false teachers who rant, twist the truth, or hound those who speak it. “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). Keep proclaiming the truth of the Bible. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27–28). Stand firm, speak boldly, and trust that “my word... shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose” (Isaiah 55:11).
