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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 20:27 mean?

Explanation

Luke 20:27 refers to an encounter Jesus has with some members of the Sadducees, a Jewish religious group of the time.

The Sadducees are characterized specifically by their denial of any form of afterlife, including the belief in the resurrection.

Their approach to Jesus with a question is not a genuine quest for knowledge but an attempt to challenge and discredit Jesus' teachings about the resurrection and the afterlife.

The verse sets the stage for the subsequent verses, where the Sadducees pose a hypothetical question to Jesus about marriage at the resurrection, aiming to trip him up with a scenario they consider to be absurd.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus’ ministry, Judaism was not a monolithic religion but was comprised of various sects with different beliefs and practices.

Among these were the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots.

The Sadducees were a sect that was associated primarily with the high priests and the aristocracy, exercising considerable power within the priestly class.

They were known for their literal interpretation of the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible), rejecting oral traditions upheld by the Pharisees.

They denied several concepts such as the resurrection, angels, and spirits, which were accepted by the Pharisees.

This distinct belief system sets the stage for the encounter in Luke 20:27.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological viewpoint, the Sadducees’ denial of the resurrection is a direct challenge to a core Christian belief: the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the eventual resurrection of all believers.

In engaging with the Sadducees, Jesus uses this encounter to affirm the reality of the resurrection and the continuation of life beyond death.

Other theological perspectives from within Judaism at the time might have seen the Sadducees’ beliefs as limiting the power of God, whereby the Pharisees, for example, would believe in a more expansive understanding including spiritual elements.

Practical Applications

The verse illustrates the importance of open-mindedness and sincerity when inquiring about religious matters.

Believers can take from this that questions of faith should be approached without preconceived notions to genuinely seek truth, rather than to confirm biases or to dispute beliefs.

It also encourages believers to have a firm foundation in their understanding of core doctrines, to be able to respond to challenges and questions about their faith.

Cross-References

Acts 23:8: "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both."
Matthew 22:23: "The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,"
1 Corinthians 15:12-14: "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? ...

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase used for "deny that there is any resurrection" is "ἀνάστασιν οὐκ ἔστιν" (anastasin ouk estin), with "ἀνάστασιν" (anastasis) meaning "rising up" or "resurrection," and "οὐκ ἔστιν" (ouk estin) translating to "there is not." The language conveys an absolute negation and provides insight into the conviction held by the Sadducees regarding the afterlife.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The belief in an afterlife, spirits, and resurrection was common in many ancient cultures.

Ancient Egyptians, for example, had intricate beliefs surrounding the afterlife and resurrection, exemplified through their mummification practices and the journey of the soul.

In contrast, the Sadducees’ rejection of these concepts set them apart from not only other Jewish sects but also from widely held beliefs of neighboring cultures.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understanding does not typically address matters of the afterlife and resurrection, as these concepts are outside the scope of empirical testing and verification.

The question of life after death remains one of faith and belief rather than scientific inquiry.

However, some contemporary research in fields such as near-death experiences and consciousness studies explores areas that touch upon themes of life continuation beyond physical death, although these explorations are not conclusive.

Commentaries

Different Biblical scholars and commentators provide varied insights into this verse.

Some focus on the motif of Jesus as the authoritative teacher who challenges and corrects faulty understandings of scripture. Others might delve into the political implications of this interaction, considering the power dynamics between Jesus and the Sadducees.

Additionally, commentators often explore the Sadducees’ specific challenge regarding resurrection to illustrate how Jesus upholds the truth of the resurrection against their denial.

Generally, scholars agree that this encounter showcases the tension between Jesus' teachings on the Kingdom of God and the theological beliefs held by some of the Jewish groups during his time.

Luke 20

Luke 20

What does Luke 20:27 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 20:27 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?