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BOOK 42 OF 66 · GOSPELS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Luke 20

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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Luke 20 Overview

Chief priests and scribes challenge Jesus’ authority, but He answers with a question about John’s baptism. He tells the parable of the wicked husbandmen, applying the rejected-stone Scripture to Himself. Spies then test Him about tribute to Caesar, and Sadducees challenge Him about resurrection. Jesus answers from Moses and asks how Christ can be both David’s son and David’s Lord before warning against scribes who devour widows’ houses.

LukeBook
20Chapter
47Verses
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Before you read Luke 20

Coming from

Luke 19 established the immediate context: Jesus enters Jericho and calls Zacchaeus, a chief publican, down from a sycomore tree.

In this chapter

Luke 20 exposes hostile religious testing while Jesus demonstrates scriptural authority concerning His mission, government, resurrection, and Messiah’s identity.

Leads into

Luke 21 continues the account: Jesus sees a poor widow cast two mites into the treasury and says she has given more than the rich because she gave from poverty.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The wicked-husbandmen parable climaxes with the beloved son being killed, making Jesus’ coming death part of Israel’s history of rejecting God’s messengers.

Jesus’ resurrection argument from Moses depends on God’s continuing covenant identification with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; He concludes that God is God of the living.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Refusal to answer honestly can expose political religion

The leaders calculate public reaction rather than seek truth about John.

Rejecting the Son is the climax of rejecting God’s messengers

The parable interprets the conflict around Jesus.

Civil and divine claims are distinguishable

Caesar receives what is properly his, but God’s claim remains ultimate.

Resurrection is grounded in Scripture and God’s faithfulness

Jesus answers Sadducees from the books of Moses they accept.

Messiah is greater than a merely human descendant of David

Psalm 110 forces a higher view of His identity.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Psalm 118:22–23

Jesus applies the rejected-stone text to Himself.

Exodus 3:6

God’s words to Moses become Jesus’ resurrection proof.

Psalm 110:1

David’s Lord/son question reveals Messiah’s exalted identity.

Romans 13:1–7

Paul later explains legitimate civil obligation under God’s higher authority.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not make render to Caesar a statement that government owns conscience or has unlimited authority

Jesus preserves God’s higher claim.

Do not assume marriage structures in resurrection life simply continue unchanged

Jesus explicitly says resurrection life differs in this respect.

Do not use the scribes’ corruption to despise study or teaching itself

The warning targets pride, exploitation, and hypocrisy.

Read Luke 20 watching for…

Authority question and counter-question.

The son in the husbandmen parable.

The coin used in the tax trap.

How Jesus argues resurrection from Moses.

Psalm 110 question.

Final warning about scribes and widows.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline5 sections
1-8Jesus answers leaders who challenge his authority9-19Jesus gives the parable of the wicked husbandmen20-26Jesus answers a trap about tribute to Caesar27-40Jesus answers the Sadducees about the resurrection41-47Jesus asks how Christ is David’s Lord and warns against scribes
1

And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

2

And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

3

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

4

The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

5

And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

6

But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

7

And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

8

And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

9

Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

10

And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.

11

And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

12

And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

13

Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

14

But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

15

So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

16

He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

17

And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

18

Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

19

And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

20

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

21

And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:

22

Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

23

But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

24

Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.

25

And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

26

And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

27

Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

28

Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

29

There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

30

And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

31

And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

32

Last of all the woman died also.

33

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

34

And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

35

But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

36

Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

37

Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

38

For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

39

Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

40

And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.

41

And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?

42

And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

43

Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

44

David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

45

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

46

Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

47

Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

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Luke 20:15

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