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Luke 20

And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:

Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.

And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

Last of all the woman died also.

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.

And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?

And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,

Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

What does Luke 20:23 mean?

Explanation

The verse [But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?] found in Luke 20:23 (KJV) occurs during an exchange between Jesus and a group of religious leaders.

They are attempting to entrap Jesus with a question about the lawfulness of paying taxes to Caesar.

The leaders approach Jesus with flattery and ask if it's permissible to pay taxes to the Roman emperor.

Jesus, recognizing their malice and ulterior motives, directly addresses their deceit with this response.

The phrase "perceived their craftiness" indicates that Jesus saw through their pretense of sincerity to the malicious intent beneath.

His question, "Why tempt ye me?", is a rhetorical one that exposes their insincerity and attempts to publicly undermine their attempt at deception.

The deeper meaning of this interaction highlights Jesus' divine insight and his ability to discern the hearts and intentions of others.

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Luke 20:23 is part of a narrative that takes place during the week preceding Jesus' crucifixion.

At this time, Jesus is in Jerusalem, and his popularity among the people is growing, which sets him at odds with the religious authorities.

The Pharisees and the Herodians, who typically had opposing views, unite in their efforts to challenge Jesus and discredit him in the eyes of the public.

They craft a question about Roman taxes, a contentious issue in Judea under Roman occupation, hoping to force Jesus into a statement that could be used against him, either by the Jewish populace or the Roman authorities.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse is illustrative of Jesus' divine wisdom and his role as a teacher who cannot be outwitted or trapped by human cunning. It also supports the Christian belief in Jesus' omniscience and emphasizes the fruitlessness of trying to deceive a divine being.

Additionally, the confrontation can be seen as symbolic of the broader conflict between the kingdom of God that Jesus came to establish and the earthly powers represented by the religious authorities and the Roman government.

Practical Applications

The practical application of this verse lies in its implicit warning against deceitfulness. It encourages individuals to act with sincerity and integrity, particularly when dealing with matters of faith and conscience.

Additionally, it offers a model for discerning the intentions behind questions or actions, suggesting that one should be cautious and wise when responding to potentially manipulative situations.

Cross-References

Matthew 22:18: "But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?"
Mark 12:15: "Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it."
1 Thessalonians 5:22: "Abstain from all appearance of evil."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text of Luke 20:23 worth analyzing are:

"Perceived" (γνούς, gnous): to know, understand, or come to realize through perception.
"Craftiness" (πανουργία, panourgia): cunning, craftiness, or trickery.
"Tempt" (πειράζετε, peirazete): to test, try, or attempt to ensnare or entangle.

The use of these words highlights Jesus' awareness of their deceit and the confrontational nature of their question.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various cultures and religious texts, wisdom figures are often portrayed as perceptive, able to see through deception and respond with insight.

For example, in the Hindu tradition, Lord Krishna displays a profound understanding of human nature and motives.

Similarly, in Greek mythology, characters like Athena and Odysseus are celebrated for their cunning and wisdom.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the ability to perceive deceit or assess someone's intentions can be related to psychological theories of social cognition and emotional intelligence.

These fields study how individuals understand and interact with others, including the ability to detect subtle cues that might indicate dishonesty or manipulative intent.

Commentaries

Experts and biblical scholars often discuss this verse in terms of its context within the gospel narrative.

They may emphasize the way Jesus' response avoids the trap set by the religious leaders and simultaneously challenges them.

Commentaries might also reflect on the historical tension between the Roman authorities and the Jewish people, and how Jesus navigated these political pressures.

Many agree that this interaction showcases Jesus' skillful teaching methods and his profound understanding of human behavior.

Luke 20

Luke 20

What does Luke 20:23 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 20:23 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?