Luke 20:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: until I make your enemies your footstool."’

NIV: until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." ’

NASB: UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.'?’

CSB: until I make your enemies your footstool.’

NLT: until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.’

KJV: Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

NKJV: Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

Jesus continues to quote Psalm 110:1. That Old Testament segment is difficult to untangle. The speaker is David, but he refers to someone in authority between himself and God. The word translated "LORD," in small-caps, of Psalm 110:1 is YHWH—the personal name of God. The word translated "Lord" is adōni and means "sir" or "master." Whom would David call "master"? But the "Lord" of Psalm 110:5 is a different word: Adōnai.

Many consider Psalm 110 to be a coronation hymn David wrote as he declared Solomon king. God certainly made Solomon's enemies his footstool. He had the most peaceful reign of any king of Israel. As Psalm 110:2 says, Solomon ruled in the midst of his enemies.

By using one verse of the psalm to reference the Messiah, Jesus infers the other verses apply, as well. It won't be until the writing of Hebrews, however, that the idea of the Messiah as "a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" is fleshed out (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7). Psalm 110 describes David's descendant as an idealized king and a priest. Solomon doesn't fulfill that description, as no Jewish king was also a priest. A priest-king would certainly outrank David, even if the priest-king descended from David.

The Pharisees (Matthew 22:41) have no answer (Matthew 22:46). The people are delighted (Mark 12:37). Jesus isn't finished, though. He immediately follows with a warning about the religious leaders. Luke's version is short (Luke 20:45–47). Matthew's goes on for an entire chapter (Matthew 23). The scribes' attempts to discredit Jesus and their ungodly, prideful lifestyles reveal the fact that their ways lead to the death and utter destruction of their followers (Matthew 23:15). Their "righteousness" is shamed by the faith of a poor widow (Luke 21:1–4).

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.

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.

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.