1 And G2532 it came to pass, G1096 that on G1722 one G3391 of those G1565 days, G2250 as he G846 taught G1321 the people G2992 in G1722 the temple, G2411 and G2532 preached the gospel, G2097 the chief priests G749 and G2532 the scribes G1122 came upon G2186 him with G4862 the elders, G4245
2 And G2532 spake G2036 unto G4314 him, G846 saying, G3004 Tell G2036 us, G2254 by G1722 what G4169 authority G1849 doest thou G4160 these things? G5023 or G2228 who G5101 is he G2076 that gave G1325 thee G4671 this G5026 authority? G1849
3 And G1161 he answered G611 and said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 I G2504 will G2065 also G2504 ask G2065 you G5209 one G1520 thing; G3056 and G2532 answer G2036 me: G3427
4 The baptism G908 of John, G2491 was it G2258 from G1537 heaven, G3772 or G2228 of G1537 men? G444
5 And G1161 they reasoned G4817 with G4314 themselves, G1438 saying, G3004 G3754 If G1437 we shall say, G2036 From G1537 heaven; G3772 he will say, G2046 Why G1302 then G3767 believed ye G4100 him G846 not? G3756
6 But and G1161 if G1437 we say, G2036 Of G1537 men; G444 all G3956 the people G2992 will stone G2642 us: G2248 for G1063 they be G2076 persuaded G3982 that John G2491 was G1511 a prophet. G4396
7 And G2532 they answered, G611 that they could G1492 not G3361 tell G1492 whence G4159 it was.
8 And G2532 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 Neither G3761 tell G3004 I G1473 you G5213 by G1722 what G4169 authority G1849 I do G4160 these things. G5023
9 Then G1161 began he G756 to speak G3004 to G4314 the people G2992 this G5026 parable; G3850 A certain G5100 man G444 planted G5452 a vineyard, G290 and G2532 let G1554 it G846 forth G1554 to husbandmen, G1092 and G2532 went into a far country G589 for a long G2425 time. G5550
10 And G2532 at G1722 the season G2540 he sent G649 a servant G1401 to G4314 the husbandmen, G1092 that G2443 they should give G1325 him G846 of G575 the fruit G2590 of the vineyard: G290 but G1161 the husbandmen G1092 beat G1194 him, G846 and sent him away G1821 empty. G2756
11 And G2532 again G4369 he sent G3992 another G2087 servant: G1401 and G1161 they beat G1194 him also, G2548 and G2532 entreated him shamefully, G818 and sent him away G1821 empty. G2756
12 And G2532 again G4369 he sent G3992 a third: G5154 and G1161 they wounded G5135 him G5126 also, G2532 and cast him out. G1544
13 Then G1161 said G2036 the lord G2962 of the vineyard, G290 What G5101 shall I do? G4160 I will send G3992 my G3450 beloved G27 son: G5207 it may be G2481 they will reverence G1788 him when they see G1492 him. G5126
14 But G1161 when the husbandmen G1092 saw G1492 him, G846 they reasoned G1260 among G4314 themselves, G1438 saying, G3004 This G3778 is G2076 the heir: G2818 come, G1205 let us kill G615 him, G846 that G2443 the inheritance G2817 may be G1096 ours. G2257
15 So G2532 they cast G1544 him G846 out of G1854 the vineyard, G290 and killed G615 him. What G5101 therefore G3767 shall G4160 the lord G2962 of the vineyard G290 do G4160 unto them? G846
16 He shall come G2064 and G2532 destroy G622 these G5128 husbandmen, G1092 and G2532 shall give G1325 the vineyard G290 to others. G243 And G1161 when they heard G191 it, they said, G2036 God forbid. G3361 G1096
17 And G1161 he beheld G1689 them, G846 and said, G2036 What G5101 is G2076 this G5124 then G3767 that is written, G1125 The stone G3037 which G3739 the builders G3618 rejected, G593 the same G3778 is become G1096 the head G2776 of G1519 the corner? G1137
18 Whosoever G3956 shall fall G4098 upon G1909 that G1565 stone G3037 shall be broken; G4917 but G1161 on G1909 whomsoever G3739 G302 it shall fall, G4098 it will grind G3039 him G846 to powder. G3039
19 And G2532 the chief priests G749 and G2532 the scribes G1122 the same G1722 G846 hour G5610 sought G2212 to lay G1911 hands G5495 on G1909 him; G846 and G2532 they feared G5399 the people: G2992 for G1063 they perceived G1097 that G3754 he had spoken G2036 this G5026 parable G3850 against G4314 them. G846
20 And G2532 they watched G3906 him, and sent forth G649 spies, G1455 which should feign G5271 G1511 themselves G1438 just men, G1342 that G2443 they might take hold G1949 of his G846 words, G3056 that so G1519 they might deliver G3860 him G846 unto the power G746 and G2532 authority G1849 of the governor. G2232
21 And G2532 they asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 Master, G1320 we know G1492 that G3754 thou sayest G3004 and G2532 teachest G1321 rightly, G3723 G2532 neither G3756 acceptest thou G2983 the person G4383 of any, but G235 teachest G1321 the way G3598 of God G2316 truly: G225 G1909
22 Is it lawful G1832 for us G2254 to give G1325 tribute G5411 unto Caesar, G2541 or G2228 no? G3756
23 But G1161 he perceived G2657 their G846 craftiness, G3834 and said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Why G5101 tempt ye G3985 me? G3165
24 Shew G1925 me G3427 a penny. G1220 Whose G5101 image G1504 and G2532 superscription G1923 hath it? G2192 They answered G611 and G1161 said, G2036 Caesar's. G2541
25 And G1161 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Render G591 therefore G5106 unto Caesar G2541 the things which be G3588 Caesar's, G2541 and G2532 unto God G2316 the things which be G3588 God's. G2316
26 And G2532 they could G2480 not G3756 take hold G1949 of his G846 words G4487 before G1726 the people: G2992 and G2532 they marvelled G2296 at G1909 his G846 answer, G612 and held their peace. G4601
27 Then G1161 came G4334 to him certain G5100 of the Sadducees, G4523 which G3588 deny G483 that there is G1511 any G3361 resurrection; G386 and they asked G1905 him, G846
28 Saying, G3004 Master, G1320 Moses G3475 wrote G1125 unto us, G2254 If G1437 any man's G5100 brother G80 die, G599 having G2192 a wife, G1135 and G2532 he G3778 die G599 without children, G815 that G2443 his G846 brother G80 should take G2983 his wife, G1135 and G2532 raise up G1817 seed G4690 unto his G846 brother. G80
29 There were G2258 therefore G3767 seven G2033 brethren: G80 and G2532 the first G4413 took G2983 a wife, G1135 and died G599 without children. G815
30 And G2532 the second G1208 took G2983 her to wife, G1135 and G2532 he G3778 died G599 childless. G815
31 And G2532 the third G5154 took G2983 her; G846 and G1161 in like manner G5615 the seven G2033 also: G2532 and they left G2641 no G3756 children, G5043 and G2532 died. G599
32 G1161 Last G5305 of all G3956 the woman G1135 died G599 also. G2532
33 Therefore G3767 in G1722 the resurrection G386 whose G5101 wife G1135 of them G846 is she? G1096 for G1063 seven G2033 had G2192 her G846 to wife. G1135
34 And G2532 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said G2036 unto them, G846 The children G5207 of this G5127 world G165 marry, G1060 and G2532 are given in marriage: G1548
35 But G1161 they which shall be accounted worthy G2661 to obtain G5177 that G1565 world, G165 and G2532 the resurrection G386 from G1537 the dead, G3498 neither G3777 marry, G1060 nor G3777 are given in marriage: G1548
36 Neither G3777 G1063 can G1410 they die G599 any more: G2089 for G1063 they are G1526 equal unto the angels; G2465 and G2532 are G1526 the children G5207 of God, G2316 being G5607 the children G5207 of the resurrection. G386
37 Now G1161 that G3754 the dead G3498 are raised, G1453 even G2532 Moses G3475 shewed G3377 at G1909 the bush, G942 when G5613 he calleth G3004 the Lord G2962 the God G2316 of Abraham, G11 and G2532 the God G2316 of Isaac, G2464 and G2532 the God G2316 of Jacob. G2384
38 For G1161 he is G2076 not G3756 a God G2316 of the dead, G3498 but G235 of the living: G2198 for G1063 all G3956 live G2198 unto him. G846
39 Then G1161 certain G5100 of the scribes G1122 answering G611 said, G2036 Master, G1320 thou hast well G2573 said. G2036
40 And G1161 after that G3765 they durst G5111 not G3765 ask G1905 him G846 any G3762 question at all.
41 And G1161 he said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 How G4459 say G3004 they that Christ G5547 is G1511 David's G1138 son? G5207
42 And G2532 David G1138 himself G846 saith G3004 in G1722 the book G976 of Psalms, G5568 The LORD G2962 said G2036 unto my G3450 Lord, G2962 Sit thou G2521 on G1537 my G3450 right hand, G1188
43 Till G2193 G302 I make G5087 thine G4675 enemies G2190 thy G4675 footstool. G4228 G5286
44 David G1138 therefore G3767 calleth G2564 him G846 Lord, G2962 how G4459 is he G2076 then G2532 his G846 son? G5207
45 Then G1161 in the audience G191 of all G3956 the people G2992 he said G2036 unto his G846 disciples, G3101
46 Beware G4337 of G575 the scribes, G1122 which G3588 desire G2309 to walk G4043 in G1722 long robes, G4749 and G2532 love G5368 greetings G783 in G1722 the markets, G58 and G2532 the highest seats G4410 in G1722 the synagogues, G4864 and G2532 the chief rooms G4411 at G1722 feasts; G1173
47 Which G3739 devour G2719 widows' G5503 houses, G3614 and G2532 for a shew G4392 make G4336 long G3117 prayers: G4336 the same G3778 shall receive G2983 greater G4055 damnation. G2917
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 20
Commentary on Luke 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 20
Lu 20:1-19. The Authority of Jesus Questioned, and His Reply—Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen.
(See on Mt 21:23.)
2. these things—particularly the clearing of the temple.
4. baptism of John—his whole ministry and mission, of which baptism was the seal.
5. Why then believed ye him not?—that is, in his testimony to Jesus, the sum of his whole witness.
7. could not tell—crooked, cringing hypocrites! No wonder Jesus gave you no answer (Mt 7:6). But what dignity and composure does our Lord display as He turns their question upon themselves!
9-13. vineyard—(See on Lu 13:6). In Mt 21:33 additional points are given, taken literally from Isa 5:2, to fix down the application and sustain it by Old Testament authority.
husbandmen—the ordinary spiritual guides of the people, under whose care and culture the fruits of righteousness might be yielded.
went, &c.—leaving it to the laws of the spiritual husbandry during the whole length of the Jewish economy. (See on Mr 4:26.)
10. beat, &c.—(Mt 21:35); that is, the prophets, extraordinary messengers raised up from time to time. (See on Mt 23:37.)
13. my beloved son—Mark (Mr 12:6) still more affectingly, "Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved"; our Lord thus severing Himself from all merely human messengers, and claiming Sonship in its loftiest sense. (Compare Heb 3:3-6.)
it may be—"surely"; implying the almost unimaginable guilt of not doing so.
14. reasoned among themselves—(Compare Ge 37:18-20; Joh 11:47-53).
the heir—sublime expression of the great truth, that God's inheritance was destined for, and in due time to come into the possession of, His Son in our nature (Heb 1:2).
inheritance … ours—and so from mere servants we may become lords; the deep aim of the depraved heart, and literally "the root of all evil."
15. cast him out of the vineyard—(Compare Heb 13:11-13; 1Ki 21:13; Joh 19:17).
16. He shall come, &c.—This answer was given by the Pharisees themselves (Mt 21:41), thus pronouncing their own righteous doom. Matthew alone (Mt 21:43) gives the naked application, that "the kingdom of God should be taken from them, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof"—the great evangelical community of the faithful, chiefly Gentiles.
God forbid—His whole meaning now bursting upon them.
17-19. written—(in Ps 118:22, 23. See on Lu 19:38). The Kingdom of God is here a Temple, in the erection of which a certain stone, rejected as unsuitable by the spiritual builders, is, by the great Lord of the House, made the keystone of the whole. On that Stone the builders were now "falling" and being "broken" (Isa 8:15), "sustaining great spiritual hurt; but soon that Stone should fall upon them and grind them to powder" (Da 2:34, 35; Zec 12:3)—in their corporate capacity in the tremendous destruction of Jerusalem, but personally, as unbelievers, in a more awful sense still.
19. the same hour—hardly able to restrain their rage.
Lu 20:20-40. Entangling Questions about Tribute and the Resurrection—The Replies.
20-26. sent forth—after consulting (Mt 22:15) on the best plan.
spies—"of the Pharisees and Herodians" (Mr 12:13). See Mr 3:6.
21. we know, &c.—hoping by flattery to throw Him off His guard.
22. tribute—(See on Mt 17:24).
25. things which be Cæsar's—Putting it in this general form, it was impossible for sedition itself to dispute it, and yet it dissolved the snare.
and unto God—How much there is in this profound but to them startling addition to the maxim, and how incomparable is the whole for fulness, brevity, clearness, weight!
27-34. no resurrection—"nor angel nor spirit" (Ac 23:8); the materialists of the day.
34. said unto them—In Mt 22:29, the reply begins with this important statement:—"Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures," regarding the future state, "nor the power of God," before which a thousand such difficulties vanish (also Mr 12:24).
36. neither … die any more—Marriage is ordained to perpetuate the human family; but as there will be no breaches by death in the future state, this ordinance will cease.
equal—or "like."
unto the angels—that is, in the immortality of their nature.
children of God—not in respect of character but nature; "being the children of the resurrection" to an undecaying existence (Ro 8:21, 23). And thus the children of their Father's immortality (1Ti 6:16).
37, 38. even Moses—whom they had just quoted to entangle Him.
38. not … of the dead, … for all, &c.—To God, no human being is dead, or ever will be; but all sustain an abiding conscious relation to Him. But the "all" here meant "those who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world." These sustain a gracious covenant relation to God, which cannot be dissolved. In this sense our Lord affirms that for Moses to call the Lord the "God" of His patriarchal servants if at that moment they had no existence, would be unworthy of Him. He "would be ashamed to be called their God, if He had not prepared for them a city" (Heb 11:16). How precious are these glimpses of the resurrection state!
39. scribes … well said—enjoying His victory over the Sadducees.
they durst not—neither party, both for the time utterly foiled.
Lu 20:41-47. Christ Baffles the Pharisees by a Question about David and Messiah, and Denounces the Scribes.
41. said, &c.—"What think ye of Christ [the promised and expected Messiah]? Whose son is He [to be]? They say unto Him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit [by the Holy Ghost, Mr 12:36] call Him Lord?" (Mt 22:42, 43). The difficulty can only be solved by the higher and lower—the divine and human natures of our Lord (Mt 1:23). Mark the testimony here given to the inspiration of the Old Testament (compare Lu 24:44).
46, 47. Beware, &c.—(See on Mt 23:5; and Lu 14:7).
47. devour, &c.—taking advantage of their helpless condition and confiding character, to obtain possession of their property, while by their "long prayers" they made them believe they were raised far above "filthy lucre." So much "the greater damnation" awaits them. What a lifelike description of the Romish clergy, the true successors of "the scribes!"