Luke 20:45 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples,

NIV: While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples,

NASB: And while all the people were listening, He said to the disciples,

CSB: While all the people were listening, he said to his disciples,

NLT: Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said,

KJV: Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,

NKJV: Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples,

It is the week before Passover and Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus goes daily to the Temple Mount to teach His disciples and anyone else who cares to listen (Luke 19:47; 21:37–38). Religious leaders listen, too, trying to trick Jesus into breaking either the Mosaic or Roman laws (Luke 19:47–48). No matter what they throw at Jesus, He easily rebuffs their attempts (Luke 20:1–38).

The confrontations have been so one-sided that the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and priests cease their attacks (Luke 20:26, 39–40). That doesn't mean Jesus is done. First, He shows how king David admitted he was subject to the Christ (Luke 20:41–44). The religious leaders know Jesus is applying the concept of the Christ—the Messiah—to Himself. Now, He goes on the offense. Narrowly, Jesus is speaking to His greater group of disciples, but Jews from all over the Roman Empire and Persia are listening. His message is simple: don't trust the scribes.

"Scribes" are the religious equivalent to lawyers: experts in the written Scriptures and discussions of Judaism. They can be Pharisees or Sadducees. Scribes of the Pharisees know all the Jewish Scriptures as well as the extra-biblical Oral Law which their predecessors developed to refine those concepts. Sadducees concentrate on the Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Unlike the Pharisees, they don't bother with the Oral Law.

The scribes have been at the forefront of the attacks against Jesus. When the scribes and chief priests felt too afraid of the people, they sent spies to try to trap Jesus (Luke 20:1, 19–20). They presented religious, civil, and legal riddles, and Jesus answered them all. Now, it's His turn, and He's not so subtle. His criticism here is not of religious experts of all types, but of the self-aggrandizing scribes of Jerusalem. In Matthew 23, both scribes and Pharisees are indicted.

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.

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.