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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 20:3 mean?

Explanation

In this verse, Jesus is responding to the questioning of the religious authorities, the chief priests, scribes, and elders, who have just asked Him by what authority He does His works (Luke 20:2).

Rather than directly answering their question, Jesus challenges them by proposing a question of His own, which He demands they answer first.

This rhetorical approach serves to turn the tables on His interrogators and ultimately exposes their motives and hypocrisy.

This verse highlights Christ's wisdom and his ability to navigate the traps set by his opponents.

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Historical Context

At the time of this verse, Jesus was teaching at the temple in Jerusalem during the final week before His crucifixion.

The Jewish religious authorities were seeking ways to discredit Him and to justify His arrest.

The authorities frequently attempted to entrap Jesus with questions that, no matter how He answered, would either undermine His authority or make Him appear blasphemous or revolutionary.

Jesus' response indicates His awareness of their intentions and ability to counter their tactics.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse illustrates the authority of Jesus and His divine wisdom.

For Christians, the passage shows that Jesus not only taught with authority but also possessed the acumen to deflect the snares of the religious leaders.

This interaction can be seen as a battle of wits where Jesus' divine nature is subtly affirmed by His handling of opposition.

Practical Applications

This verse can serve as a lesson on the importance of discernment and wisdom in difficult situations. Rather than reacting defensively, individuals can follow Jesus' example by addressing conflict with calm, calculated questions that reveal underlying truths.

It shows that it is sometimes more powerful to respond to a challenge with a well-thought-out question rather than with a direct answer.

Cross-References

Matthew 21:24: "And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things."
Mark 11:29: "And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things."
Proverbs 26:4-5: "Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit."

Language Study

In this verse, the Greek verb "ἐρωτᾶν" (erotao) is used for "ask," which can imply a respectful or earnest question.

This choice of word reinforces Jesus' non-confrontational but authoritative stance.

By using this verb, Jesus treats his interrogators with respect, despite their probable intent to undermine Him.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient traditions, sages and philosophers were also known to use questions as a means to teach and to reveal the intentions of others.

The Socratic method, for example, relies on asking progressive questions to stimulate critical thinking and to draw out underlying premises.

Similarly, Jesus uses questioning to not only teach but also to unveil the chief priests' and elders' lack of sincerity.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, this verse may not have a direct correlation.

However, it can be tangentially related to the psychology of interrogation and debate. Modern psychology recognizes that the way a question is posed can significantly affect the type of answer that is given, a concept utilized effectively by Jesus in this interaction.

Commentaries

Commentators often view this verse as a clear demonstration of Jesus' mastery over His opponents.

For instance, Matthew Henry's commentary suggests that it shows Jesus' authority and that His opponents were unable to trap Him despite their best efforts.

John Calvin's commentary observes that Jesus skilfully avoids the trap set for Him by posing a question that His adversaries cannot or are not willing to answer.

Such perspectives underscore the combination of wisdom and divine insight that characterizes Jesus' ministry.

Luke 20

Luke 20

What does Luke 20:3 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 20:3 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?