Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?
Parallel translations
- WEB But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, “Why are you reasoning so in your hearts?
- KJV But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
- NKJV But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?
- NASB But Jesus, aware of their thoughts, responded and said to them, “Why are you thinking this way in your hearts?
- NLT Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus perceives their hidden thoughts and confronts their reasoning. His knowledge of hearts reveals his divine insight.
Overview
Jesus discerns the leaders' unspoken objections, showing a knowledge of the heart that Scripture attributes to God. Rather than ignore their charge, he addresses it directly. This perception both substantiates the very authority they question and presses them to reckon with who stands before them.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Luke 24:38“Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
- Matt 9:4But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts?
- Isa 66:18“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.
- Ps 139:2You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.
- Acts 5:3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land?
- Mark 8:17Aware of their conversation, Jesus asked them, “Why are you debating about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have such hard hearts?
- Matt 12:25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
- Rev 2:23Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
- Heb 4:12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Ezek 38:10This is what the Lord GOD says: On that day, thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will devise an evil plan.
- Prov 15:26The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to Him.
- 1 Chr 28:9As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands the intent of every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 5:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.