Luke 11:53 - Printer Friendly

ESV: As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things,

NIV: When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions,

NASB: When He left that place, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile and to interrogate Him about many subjects,

CSB: When he left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely and to cross-examine him about many things;

NLT: As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions.

KJV: And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:

NKJV: And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things,

Luke 11:53–54 gives the capstone to Luke 11:14–54. Luke has carefully curated stories from Jesus' ministry that show why the Jewish religious leaders call for His crucifixion. They claim His power came from Satan despite His victories over evil (Luke 11:14–15). They deny Jesus' representation of God, though Gentiles from long ago recognized godly authority with far less proof (Luke 11:29–32). They refuse to reveal Jesus is the Messiah so the people may live in the light of truth (Luke 11:33–36, 52). They value looking holy over being holy (Luke 11:37–44). And they betray the witness of the Old Testament prophets who gave God's words about the Messiah (Luke 11:45–51).

Now, the Pharisees and the experts in the Mosaic law double their efforts trying to get Jesus to incriminate Himself. He has already healed on the Sabbath (Luke 6:6–11), eaten with sinners (Luke 5:27–32), and flaunted their extra-biblical requirements (Luke 11:37–38). To prove He is guilty of a capital offense they need to hear Him blaspheme God or Moses. To justify His execution to the Romans, they must prove He threatens a religious structure like the temple, that He is teaching a new religion not authorized by the Roman government, or that Jesus plans to revolt against the Romans. In a pinch, they might drive Him to say something that will turn the crowd into a violent mob.

Even joined with the Sadducees, the Pharisees will find this an impossible task (Luke 20). In the end, they resort to lying and intentionally misunderstanding His prophecy of His crucifixion to mean He intends to destroy the temple (Mark 14:53–64). Pilate, however, knows they're just jealous (Mark 15:10).

Luke 11:53–54 is the last of several sections demonstrating how the Pharisees and lawyers reject Jesus. They accuse Him of following Satan; He proves them wrong. They are shocked He doesn't follow manmade rules; He charges them with murdering prophets. They warn Him of their authority; He shows they keep people from worshiping God (Luke 11:14–52). At this point, the lawyers and Pharisees have heard enough and seek to destroy Him. After the close of this section come groups of stories about the kingdom of God and salvation with carefully placed miraculous signs to validate Jesus' message (Luke 12:1—19:27). Then: Jerusalem and the crucifixion.

Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray and explains God's intent to give "good" to those who ask. He then exorcizes a demon and refutes the claim that His power is satanic. Jesus explains that unreasonable skeptics will only see the "sign of Jonah." He then criticizes the superficial legalism of the Pharisees. In response, they plot against Him.

In what some scholars refer to as "The Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51—19:27), Jesus prepares His disciples for His crucifixion and resurrection and the establishment of the church. The description begins with Christ teaching the disciples how to spread the news of the kingdom of God and reaffirming how they will be blessed, culminating in the Lord's Prayer (Luke 9:51—11:13). Luke 11 finishes with accounts of leaders who reject Jesus. The remainder of the travelogue gives a pattern of teaching on the kingdom of God, miracles, and explanations of salvation. Then Jesus enters Jerusalem to face the cross.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.