Luke20
New American Standard
1On one of the days while He was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders confronted Him,
2and they declared, saying to Him, “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?”
3But He replied to them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me:
4Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?”
5They discussed among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’
6But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us to death, since they are convinced that John was a prophet.”
7And so they answered that they did not know where it came from.
8And Jesus said to them, “Neither am I telling you by what authority I do these things.”
9But He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and leased it to vine-growers, and went on a journey for a long time.
10At the harvest time he sent a slave to the vine-growers, so that they would give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the vine-growers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.
11And he proceeded to send another slave; but they beat him also and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.
12And he proceeded to send a third; but this one too they wounded and threw out.
13Now the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What am I to do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’
14But when the vine-growers saw him, they discussed with one another, saying, ‘This is the heir; let’s kill him so that the inheritance will be ours.’
15And so they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What, then, will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
16He will come and put these vine-growers to death, and will give the vineyard to others.” However, when they heard this, they said, “May it never happen!”
17But Jesus looked at them and said, “Then what is this statement that has been written: ‘A stone which the builders rejected, This has become the chief cornerstone’?
18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will crush him.”
19The scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him that very hour, and yet they feared the people; for they were aware that He had spoken this parable against them.
20And so they watched Him closely, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could hand Him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor.
21And the spies questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly, and You are not partial to anyone, but You teach the way of God on the basis of truth.
22Is it permissible for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”
23But He saw through their trickery and said to them,
24“Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.”
25And He said to them, “Then pay to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
26And they were unable to catch Him in a statement in the presence of the people; and they were amazed at His answer, and said nothing.
27Now some of the Sadducees (who maintain that there is no resurrection) came to Him,
28and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife, and he is childless, that his brother is to marry the wife and raise up children for his brother.
29So then, there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless;
30and the second
31and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children.
32Finally the woman also died.
33Therefore, in the resurrection, which one’s wife does the woman become? For all seven married her.”
34Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and the women are given in marriage,
35but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
36for they cannot even die anymore, for they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
37But as for the fact that the dead are raised, even Moses revealed this in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, 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 to Him.”
39Some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.”
40For they did not have the courage to question Him any longer about anything.
41But He said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is David’s son?
42For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,
43Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’
44Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and so how is He his son?”
45And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples,
46“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love personal greetings in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets,
47who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers. These will receive all the more 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