Luke20
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders;
2and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
3And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me:
4The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?
5And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why did ye not believe him?
6But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.
7And they answered, that they knew not whence it was.
8And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
9And he began to speak unto the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long time.
10And at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
11And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
12And he sent yet a third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth.
13And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him.
14But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
15And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
16He will come and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard unto others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
17But he looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner?
18Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.
19And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake this parable against them.
20And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.
21And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person of any, but of a truth teachest the way of God:
22Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
23But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them,
24Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Caesar’s.
25And he said unto them, Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.
26And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
27And there came to him certain of the Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection;
28and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, that if a man’s brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
29There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died childless;
30and the second:
31and the third took her; and likewise the seven also left no children, and died.
32Afterward the woman also died.
33In the resurrection therefore whose wife of them shall she be? for the seven had her to wife.
34And Jesus said unto them, The sons of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36for neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
37But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the place concerning the Bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
38Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
39And certain of the scribes answering said, Teacher, thou hast well said.
40For they durst not any more ask him any question.
41And he said unto them, How say they that the Christ is David’s son?
42For David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
43Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet.
44David therefore calleth him Lord, and how is he his son?
45And in the hearing of all the people he said unto his disciples,
46Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts;
47who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Luke 20.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The priests and scribes question Christ's authority. (1–8). The parable of the vineyard and husbandmen. (9–19). Of giving tribute. (20–26). Concerning the resurrection. (27–38). The scribes silenced. (39–47).
vv1-8
Men often pretend to examine the evidences of revelation, and the truth of the gospel, when only seeking excuses for their own unbelief and disobedience. Christ answered these priests and scribes with a plain question about the baptism of John, which the common people could answer. They all knew it was from heaven, nothing in it had an earthly tendency. Those that bury the knowledge they have, are justly denied further knowledge. It was just with Christ to refuse to give account of his authority, to those who knew the baptism of John to be from heaven, yet would not believe in him, nor own their knowledge.
vv9-19
Christ spake this parable against those who resolved not to own his authority, though the evidence of it was so full. How many resemble the Jews who murdered the prophets and crucified Christ, in their enmity to God, and aversion to his service, desiring to live according to their lusts, without control! Let all who are favoured with God's word, look to it that they make proper use of their advantages. Awful will be the doom, both of those who reject the Son, and of those who profess to reverence Him, yet render not the fruits in due season. Though they could not but own that for such a sin, such a punishment was just, yet they could not bear to hear of it. It is the folly of sinners, that they persevere in sinful ways, though they dread the destruction at the end of those ways.
vv20-26
Those who are most crafty in their designs against Christ and his gospel, cannot hide them. He did not give a direct answer, but reproved them for offering to impose upon him; and they could not fasten upon any thing wherewith to stir up either the governor or the people against him. The wisdom which is from above, will direct all who teach the way of God truly, to avoid the snares laid for them by wicked men; and will teach our duty to God, to our rulers, and to all men, so clearly, that opposers will have no evil to say of us.
Key Words
ἡμέρα (hēméra): day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)
αὐτός (autós): the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
διδάσκω (didáskō): to teach (in the same broad application)
λαός (laós): a people (in general; thus differing from G1218 (δῆμος), which denotes one's own populace)
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
ἱερόν (hierón): a sacred place, i.e. the entire precincts (whereas G3485 (ναός) denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the Temple (at Jerusalem or elsewhere)
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εὐαγγελίζω (euangelízō): to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel
ἀρχιερεύς (archiereús): the high-priest (literally, of the Jews, typically, Christ); by extension a chief priest
γραμματεύς (grammateús): scribe, town-clerk
Cross References
Luke 20Directly quoted by Jesus to identify Himself as the rejected stone that becomes the cornerstone.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly quoted to prove the resurrection of the dead from the books of Moses.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Directly quoted by Jesus to demonstrate that the Messiah is both David's son and Lord.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Underlies the imagery of the vineyard let out to wicked, unproductive husbandmen.
Supported by JFB
Matthew's parallel account of the parable of the wicked husbandmen.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mark's parallel account containing the affective detail of the well-beloved son.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains that God is not ashamed to be called their God, implying future resurrection.
Supported by JFB
Matthew's parallel where Jesus silences and questions the Pharisees about David's son.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Typological parallel of the brothers conspiring to kill the heir, saying, 'Come... let us slay him.'
Supported by JFB
Confirms the Son's status as the designated heir of all things.
Supported by JFB
The historical fulfillment where Jewish leaders reasoned together to put Jesus to death.
Supported by JFB
Jesus suffered outside the gate, matching the detail of being cast out of the vineyard.
Supported by JFB
Alludes to the stone that breaks kingdoms, grinding the disobedient to powder.
Supported by JFB
Parallel details of the Pharisees taking counsel on how to entangle Him in His talk.
Supported by JFB
Parallel condemnation of the scribes who devour widows' houses and make long prayers.
Supported by Matthew Henry