Luke 20:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me,

NIV: He replied, 'I will also ask you a question. Tell me:

NASB: But He replied to them, 'I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me:

CSB: He answered them, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me,

NLT: Let me ask you a question first,' he replied.

KJV: And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

NKJV: But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me:

After the triumphal entry, Jesus returned to the Temple Mount. There, He found the Court of the Gentiles filled with crass and corrupt business—merchants selling supplies for sacrifice and money changers exchanging Greek coins for a half-shekel—and a fee—for the temple tax. Jesus responded by driving them out. Not only were they cheating the Jews who had traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover, they were making it impossible for devout Gentiles to approach the temple and worship God (Luke 19:45–46).

A day or so later, Jesus returns to the Temple Mount to teach. Some priests, lawyers, and respected businessmen approach—just the sort of men who benefit from all those vendors. They ask Jesus by what authority He acted (Luke 20:1–2). Jesus cleverly turns the question around. He challenges the men to publicly declare whether they believe the most popular earthly witness to His authority: John the Baptist. Do they think John's teaching was purely manmade, or do they think it was divine (John 20:4).

John's baptism was a vow of repentance from sin and dedication to God. These city leaders should be able to affirm John's baptism; repentance is certainly consistent with the Mosaic law. An added incentive is that the people love John, even though he's been dead for about three years, and if they reject him, the people might stone them (Luke 20:6).

However, Jesus' enemies have several problems. First John called them a "brood of vipers" in front of a crowd (Matthew 3:7). More importantly, assigning John's teaching to God's will requires them to agree with what John said about Jesus: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29). That would mean admitting Jesus' authority comes from God.

Instead, they claim to not know (Luke 20:5–7). Jesus has proven their insincerity; there's no reason to answer their question if they lack the conviction to answer His (Luke 20:8).

Luke's timing is vague, but Mark's Gospel provides more details (Mark 11:11–15, 20, 27).

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.

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.