Analysis of Luke Chapter 20
Luke Chapter 20 is a rich and multifaceted part of the Gospel that delves into themes of authority, resurrection, and the nature of the kingdom of God. This chapter records some of Jesus’ interactions with the religious leaders of His time, their attempts to entrap Him, and His profound ability to navigate complex theological and political questions. Let’s dive deep into the verses to uncover the layers of meaning and significance within this chapter.
Authority of Jesus Questioned (20:1-8)
The chapter opens with a confrontation between Jesus and the religious authorities:
One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”
This passage sets the stage for the central theme of authority which runs through the entire chapter. The religious leaders are challenging Jesus’ authority primarily because His teachings and actions (cleansing the temple, healing, teaching) are creating a disruption in their established religious order. By questioning His authority, they hope to undermine His credibility among the people.
Jesus responds with a counter-question about John the Baptist:
He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
This question places the religious leaders in a dilemma. If they say John’s baptism was from heaven, they must acknowledge that John’s proclamation of Jesus being the Messiah is true. If they say it was of human origin, they risk alienating the people who held John as a prophet. Their inability to answer reveals their own lack of authority and insincerity. By not directly answering them, Jesus subtly asserts His divine authority, which they cannot genuinely challenge.
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (20:9-18)
Jesus then tells the parable of the wicked tenants:
A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’ But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. ‘What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.`
This parable is an allegory for Israel’s history. The vineyard represents Israel, and the tenants symbolize its leaders. The servants sent by the owner refer to the prophets sent by God, who were frequently mistreated and rejected. Finally, the son represents Jesus Christ. The killing of the son indicates the forthcoming rejection and crucifixion of Jesus by the religious leaders.
Jesus concludes with a reference to Psalm 118:22:
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
This emphasizes that despite being rejected, Jesus is fundamental to God’s plan, analogous to a rejected stone becoming the chief cornerstone in a building. The religious leaders realize that this parable was directed at them, thus further illustrating their guilt and impending judgment.
Paying Taxes to Caesar (20:19-26)
Seeking to entrap Jesus politically, the religious leaders present Him with a question on paying taxes to Caesar:
Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
The question was a trap designed to undermine Jesus regardless of His answer. If He had said it was right to pay taxes, He would alienate the Jewish people who resented Roman occupation. If He had said it was wrong, He could be accused of sedition against Rome.
Jesus’ profound response is:
He saw through their duplicity and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
By distinguishing between what belongs to Caesar (the denarius with Caesar’s image) and what belongs to God (human beings made in God’s image), Jesus teaches about the proper place of civic duty and deeper spiritual responsibility. This response amazes those who sought to trap Him because it reveals a higher principle of devotion to God without neglecting social obligations.
The Question about Resurrection (20:27-40)
The Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, pose a question intended to ridicule the concept of life after death:
Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way, the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”
Their question is hyperbolic, intended to make the idea of the resurrection appear absurd. Jesus, however, provides a profound theological correction:
Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive from the dead. He cannot die anymore because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of resurrection.”
Jesus distinguishes between “this age” and “the age to come,” elucidating that earthly institutions like marriage do not apply in the same way in the resurrection. The resurrected life transcends earthly limitations and relationships, as believers will be like angels, children of God, and eternally alive.
Furthermore, Jesus uses a scripture familiar to the Sadducees—the account of the burning bush (Exodus 3:6)—to demonstrate the reality of the resurrection. In declaring God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are long deceased, He implies that these patriarchs are alive to God, indicating the ongoing life of those who have died.
Jesus Questions His Interrogators (20:41-44)
After answering their questions, Jesus challenges the understanding of the Messiah held by the religious leaders:
Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ ‘David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?’
Jesus cites Psalm 110:1 to illustrate the divine nature of the Messiah. The Messiah, though a descendant of David, is also recognized by David as his Lord. This demonstrates that the Messiah is more than just a human descendant of David; He has a divine status. This underscores the authority of Jesus as the Christ—both the Son of David and the Son of God.
By asking this question, Jesus implicitly asserts His divine identity and challenges the leaders to expand their understanding of the Messiah’s nature.
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law (20:45-47)
The chapter concludes with a warning about the teachers of the law:
While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
Jesus criticizes the religious leaders for their hypocrisy, pride, and greed. Their public displays of religiosity and quest for social status are condemned, especially because their actions cause harm to the vulnerable, such as widows. This critique serves as a warning to the disciples and the wider audience about the dangers of religious hypocrisy and the true nature of piety.
Conclusion
Luke Chapter 20 is a profound presentation of Jesus’ authority, wisdom, and mission. Through His interactions with various religious leaders, Jesus demonstrates His divine authority and clarifies essential truths about the kingdom of God, the resurrection, and the nature of the Messiah. The chapter serves as a powerful reminder of the need for sincerity in faith, the recognition of divine authority, and the hope of resurrection.
By navigating attempts to undermine Him with extraordinary wisdom, Jesus exemplifies the true nature of the Messiah—one who transcends earthly power structures and reveals the deeper realities of God’s kingdom. This chapter invites readers to reflect on their understanding of authority, the afterlife, and the expectations of a Messiah, ultimately pointing to the profound truth that Jesus embodies God’s redemptive plan for humanity.