Luke 20 - Printer Friendly

What does Luke 20 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

In Luke's account, Jesus has spent the last several chapters teaching the disciples about the kingdom of God (Luke 9:51—19:27). Then He entered Jerusalem like a king (Luke 19:28–40). At that time, He also lamented that His people will not accept Him (Luke 19:40–44). Jesus cleared the Court of the Gentiles so devout non-Jews who had come for the Passover could worship God at the temple, and He taught at the temple daily (Luke 19:45–48).

In this passage, Luke describes how Jerusalem's religious leaders fight with Jesus over His authority. Among these critics are scribes, priests, Pharisees, and Sadducees. The chapter has a subtle chiastic structure, meaning its themes are mirrored around a midpoint:

A. The religious leaders challenge Jesus' authority (Luke 20:1–8).
B. Jesus uses a parable to compare His authority to that of the religious leaders (Luke 20:9–18).
C. The scribes and chief priests use the Law to try to discredit Jesus (Luke 20:19–26).
C' The Sadducees use the Law to try to discredit Jesus (Luke 20:27–40).
B' Jesus uses Scripture to compare His authority to that of the King David (Luke 20:41–44).
A' Jesus challenges the religious leaders' authority (Luke 20:45–47).

A: A group of chief priests, elders, and scribes challenge Jesus' authority to alter their traditional religious practices. Jesus had cast merchants and money changers out from the temple courtyard (Luke 19:45–46). The chief priests and elders, who likely benefited from those merchants, bring lawyers to challenge Jesus' authority to do so. Jesus turns the challenge around; John the Baptist told them where His authority comes from; do they believe John? If they say yes, they validate Jesus. If they say no, the crowd, who still thinks John is a prophet, will stone them. Rather than having courage in their convictions, the religious leaders claim they don't know. Since they're insincere, Jesus has no reason to give them an answer (Luke 20:1–8).

B: Jesus compares His authority as the Son of God to the authority of the religious leaders. The message of the parable of the wicked tenants is clear. God gave religious leaders the authority to lead His people in worship to Him. When they failed, He sent prophets to get them back on track. But they beat and killed the prophets. Now, God sends His Son. They will kill Him, too. So, God will remove their authority, destroy them, and replace them with better leaders. Jesus' audience knows He is claiming to be the Son of God (Luke 20:9–18).

C: The scribes and chief priests challenge Jesus' authority to teach the Mosaic law. They plant spies to ask loaded questions, hoping to catch Jesus in a mistake. One of the spies asks Jesus whether Jews should pay the Roman tax. If Jesus says yes, He will seem to support the Romans over the Jews. If He says no, the Romans can arrest Him for insurrection. Jesus deftly points out that they need to pay Caesar what is due him, but they also need to give God what is due Him (Luke 20:19–26).

C': Sadducees use the Mosaic law to challenge Jesus' authority to teach doctrine. The Sadducee sect held to only the first five books of the Old Testament. They also rejected the idea of resurrection of the dead. Attempting to trip up Jesus, they present a puzzle about death and marriage. Jesus responds by saying there is no marriage in death, so their hypothetical situation doesn't apply. He then uses verb tenses in the Old Testament to show that the patriarchs still exist—they are still "alive"—and God is still their God. With that, the leaders stop challenging Him (Luke 20:27–40).

B': Jesus compares His authority as the Christ to the authority of Israel's kings, using a psalm of David. Again, the religious leaders know He's talking about Himself. In Psalm 110, David seems to speak of both God and someone who ranks above David but not above God; who is this mystery person? How can David call someone both his Lord and his son? Jesus uses this reference to show that there's nothing irrational about the concept of God's "Son" being associated with the Messiah. (Luke 20:41–44).

A': Jesus again challenges the authority of Jerusalem's scribes: experts in Old Testament law. They are vain, proud, and corrupt. They will be seriously judged. The people should beware of them (Luke 20:45–47).

The religious leaders' challenges have one purpose: to try to "catch [Jesus] in something he might say" (Luke 11:54). They hope for one of several outcomes. Perhaps they can justify arresting Jesus for breaking the Mosaic law. Or they might trick Him into breaking Roman law. At the very least, they want to humiliate Him in front of the crowds. They learn this is impossible (Luke 20:26). In the end, these enemies resort to false testimony and extortion to destroy Jesus (Mark 14:55–59; John 19:12).

The next chapter begins with a foil for the religious leaders: a faithful, poor, honorable widow (Luke 21:1–4). Then Jesus prepares His disciples for the future, both the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the end times. Luke chapter 22 covers the Last Supper, Jesus' arrest, and the first of His trials. Luke chapter 23 completes the trials—including one before Herod Antipas—and describes the crucifixion. In Luke chapter 24, the risen Christ stuns the disciples and ascends to heaven.

Luke 20:1–8 begins the religious leaders' attack on Jesus' authority. Chief priests, scribes, and elders question Jesus' religious authority regarding the cleansing of the temple (Luke 19:45–46). In turn, Jesus challenges them to judge John the Baptist, the witness to Jesus' authority. Afraid of the crowd who believed John was a prophet, the religious leaders refuse to answer. Jesus responds with a parable about the Son of God (Luke 20:9–18). In the mirror image of this segment, Jesus will describe how the scribes' own sinful actions prove them unqualified to lead (Luke 20:45–47). Matthew 21:23–27 and Mark 11:27–33 also give accounts of this interaction.

Luke 20:9–18 records Jesus' response to religious leaders who challenged His authority (Luke 20:1–8). This comes in the form of the parable of the wicked tenants. The underlying meaning is that as the Son of God, Jesus has proper authority over religious leaders. However, the leaders of His era will kill Him, and God will destroy them. In the mirrored structure of Luke 20, the parallel argument is that Jesus is also superior to the line of the Jewish kings (Luke 20:41–44). In between, religious leaders foolishly challenge Jesus' understanding of the Mosaic law (Luke 20:19–40). This passage echoes the records in Matthew 21:33–46 and Mark 12:1–12.

Luke 20:19–26 continues a long discussion about authority. Chief priests and Old Testament lawyers try to force Jesus into a difficult choice: follow unpopular Roman law or show rebellious loyalty to the Jewish nation. If the trap succeeds, either Jesus' disciples will reject His authority or the Romans will arrest Him. Jesus disarms the trap by pointing out that the people are responsible for following both principles. Next, the Sadducees challenge His authority on doctrinal matters but fail so miserably Jesus' attackers withdraw (Luke 20:27–40). This interaction is also recorded in Matthew 22:15–22 and Mark 12:13–17.

Luke 20:27–40 records the Sadducees trying to discredit Jesus' authority to teach. They plan to present a paradox about marriage and the resurrection of the dead. Leaders of other religious sects have already failed to embarrass Jesus regarding the law and civil responsibilities (Luke 20:19–26). Jesus easily explains away the Sadducees' argument using the very text which their sect reveres: the Torah. He continues with proof that the Christ has authority over David and warns the people to be wary of the scribes' hypocrisy (Luke 20:41–47). This debate is also recorded in Matthew 22:23–33 and Mark 12:18–27.

Luke 20:41–44 describes how Jesus shut down religious leaders challenging His authority in front of a crowd at the temple. Jesus fills their silence with His own riddle: if David calls the Messiah—his descendant—"Lord," who really has the authority? The parallel passage in the mirrored arrangement of this chapter is Jesus showing He has authority as the Son of God (Luke 20:9–18). Next, Jesus claims the scribes' lifestyle proves they don't deserve the authority to teach (Luke 20:45–47). Jesus' question to the religious leaders is also in Matthew 22:41–46 and Mark 12:35–37.

Luke 20:45–47 records Jesus responding to religious leaders questioning His authority (Luke 20:1–8) with His own accusations. Despite their extensive knowledge of the Mosaic law, they love pomp and honor more than the justice the Law calls them to. Jesus follows with a foil for the scribes: a poor widow with such great faith she gives her last coins to the temple treasury (Luke 21:1–4). It is she, not the scribes who steal widows' homes, whom God will honor. Matthew 23:1–7 and Mark 12:38–40 are parallel passages. Matthew 23:8–36 contains an extended warning as does Luke 11:39–52.

Chapter Summary:

After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus find Himself in conflict with the city's religious leaders. Elders, priests, scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees all attempt to discredit Him. This comes mostly in challenging Jesus with trick questions. Jesus deftly handles those challenges without falling into the trap. He provides several teachings about His role as the Son of God and directly warns the Jewish people against their generation of scribes, who are arrogant and pretentious.

Chapter Context:

Luke 20 is a chiasm about authority. Jesus has entered Jerusalem and cleansed the temple (Luke 19:28–46). Now, the priests and teachers attack Jesus' authority in religion, law, and doctrine; Jesus defends Himself and shows their sinful lifestyles disqualify them for authority. After holding up a widow as a better role model (Luke 21:1–4), Jesus warns His disciples about the challenges they will face in the coming years, including the destruction of Jerusalem (Luke 21:5–38). The events in Luke 20 are also discussed in Matthew 21—23 and Mark 11—12.

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.

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