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Luke 20

47 verses

TL;DR

Jesus confronts the religious leaders about his authority, uses a parable to expose their hypocrisy, answers questions on paying taxes and the resurrection, and warns his disciples against the prideful scribes.

Summary

In the temple, the chief priests and scribes question Jesus’ authority, to which he responds by challenging them on the nature of John the Baptist’s baptism. He then tells the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, depicting the owners’ fate and hinting at his own death. The leaders try to trap him with a question about paying tribute to Caesar; Jesus cleverly instructs them to give Caesar what is Caesar’s and God what is God’s. Sadducees then ask about the resurrection, and Jesus explains that the dead will be raised and will not marry. Finally, the disciples question how Christ could be the son of David, and Jesus warns them about the pride of scribes, condemning their exploitation of widows and their love of honor.

Outline
  1. 1. Authority questioned & Parable of the Vineyard
  2. 2. Tribute to Caesar
  3. 3. Resurrection debate
  4. 4. Christ as David’s son & warning to disciples
Themes
Authority and divine legitimacyJudgment and accountabilityResurrection and eternal lifePride and hypocrisy of the religious elite
Keywords
authorityparabletributeCaesarresurrectionDavidscribesJesus
People
JesusJohn the BaptistChief PriestsScribesSadduceesCaesarDavidDisciples
Places
TempleJerusalemFar country (implied)
Things
VineyardStone (cornerstone)PennyAuthorityResurrectionTaxes
Key Verses
  • Luke 20:8: Jesus’ refusal to reveal his authority invites the main theme of divine legitimacy.
  • Luke 20:13-17: The parable illustrates the judgment of the wicked and foreshadows Christ’s fate.
  • Luke 20:22-26: The tribute question demonstrates Jesus’ wisdom in addressing political tension.
  • Luke 20:27-38: The resurrection debate resolves a major theological controversy of the time.
Questions
  • Why does Jesus ask about the authority of John the Baptist instead of answering directly?
  • What does the vineyard parable reveal about the nature of the kingdom of God?
  • How does Jesus’ answer about paying tribute to Caesar reconcile religious duty with civic obligations?
  • In what ways does the resurrection discussion challenge the Sadducees’ worldview?
  • What is the significance of Jesus’ warning to his disciples regarding the scribes’ behavior?
  • How does the concept of the ‘stone of the builders’ function in the context of this chapter?
Sentiment

neutral
The chapter presents a mix of confrontation, teaching, and warning without overtly positive or negative emotional language.