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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

CHAPTER TWENTY:
CATCH QUESTIONS AND AN UNANSWERED QUESTION

[“Questions and The Question”]
Key word: Trick-Questions

Luke 20:1-8 – The Question about Authority

|| Matthew 21:23-27; 877 Mark 11:27-33 878

877	Matthew 21:23-27: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

878	Mark 11:27-33: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK20:1 Now it happened on one day when Jesus was teaching, and declaring the Good News to the people in the Temple area, standing by were chief priests, Bible Copyists and Jewish elders. LK20:2 And they asked Jesus, “Tell us, by what authority do you do these things? Or, who is the one who gave you this authority?” LK20:3 Then Jesus answered them: “I will also ask you a question, and you give me your statement. LK20:4 Was John’s baptism from heaven or humans?” LK20:5 Now they all began to reason among themselves, “If we say ‘Heaven’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ LK20:6 But if we say, ‘From men,’ the people will stone us because they are convinced John was a prophet.” LK20:7 And so they answered, “We do not know.” LK20:8 Then Jesus told them: “Neither am I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Luke 20:9-19 – Parable about Rejection of Christ

|| Matthew 21:33-46; 879 Mark 12:1-12 880

879	Matthew 21:33-46: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

880	Mark 12:1-12: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK20:9 Then Jesus began to relate to the people a parable: “A certain person 881 planted a vineyard 882 and leased it out to farmers 883 and then went away for a long time. 884

881	Person: Yehowah, The God of Israel.

882	Vineyard: The nation of Israel in 1513 AD after deliverance from Egypt.

883	Farmers: The Hebrew and Jewish religious hierarchy including the priests, scribes and elders.

884	And then went away for a long time: From this perspective God leaves Israel in the hands of the religious hierarchy.

LK20:10 And in the appointed season he sent the farmers one of his slaves 885 to collect his share of the vineyard’s fruitage. But the farmers went out and after beating the slave sent him back.

885	Slaves: Likely representing various prophets.

LK20:11 So then the Sovereign Lord of the vineyard proceeded to send another slave, but he also was beaten and insulted and sent back empty-handed. LK20:12 Then for a third time He sent someone else and this one they wounded and threw out. LK20:13 Now the Sovereign Lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved Son. 886 Perhaps they will respect this person.’

886	I will send my beloved Son: A possible reference to the pre-existence of Christ.

LK20:14 However, upon seeing the Son 887 the farmers began to reason with one another, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him that we may inherit this vineyard.’

887	Son: Jesus the Nazarene.

LK20:15 Then they drove the Son outside the vineyard and killed him. 888 What do you suppose the Sovereign Lord of the Vineyard will do to them?

888	Killed him: The future execution of Jesus.

LK20:16 He will come and destroy these farmers 889 and give the vineyard to others.” 890 Now having heard this, the Jewish hierarchy said, “Never will that happen!”

889	Destroy these farmers: Fulfilled in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem.

890	Give the vineyard to others: In Matthew Jesus says, “The kingdom will be taken from you and given to a nation produces its fruitage.” [Matthew 21:41, 43; Mark 12:9] These “others” is the New Israel of God [Galatians 6:16; 1 Peter 2:9-11] composed of both Jews and non-Jews. [Ephesians chapter 2]

LK20:17 But after looking at them intently, Jesus said: “What, then, does this mean that was written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the corner-stone’? [Psalm 118:22] LK20:18 Everyone that falls upon that Stone will be shattered to pieces, and whoever that Stone falls upon will be crushed.” LK20:19 Then at that very moment the Bible Copyists and chief priests began to seek a way to seize Jesus, but they were afraid of the people for they were aware that Jesus had spoken this parable against them.

Luke 20:20-26 – A Question about Taxes

|| Matthew 22:15-22; 891 Mark 12:13-17 892

891	Matthew 22:15-22: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

892	Mark 12:13-17: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK20:20 After this the Jewish hierarchy sent out spies who pretended to be righteous so that they might catch Jesus in his speech in order to deliver him over to the rulers and authorities of the governor. LK20:21 Now these questioned Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we know you speak and teach correctly the Way of The God in line with truth and that you do not have any prejudice toward anyone. 893

893

You do not have any prejudice toward anyone: Or, TCN: you do not take any account of a man’s position; WEY: you make no distinctions between one man and another; MOF: you never look to human favour; BER: you are partial to no one; NEB: you pay no deference to no one; BEC: you don’t favor any special persons.

LK20:22 Is it permissible for us to pay a tax to Caesar, or not?” LK20:23 But aware of their deceit Jesus asked them: LK20:24 “Show me a denarius. Whose face and inscription is this?” And they said: “Caesar’s.” LK20:25 Then Jesus told them: “Give to Caesar what belongs to him, but give to The God God’s things.” LK20:26 And so they were unable in the presence of the people to catch Jesus in his speech. They remained silent because all the people were amazed at Jesus’ answers.

Luke 20:27-40 – A Question about the Resurrection

|| Matthew 22:23-33; 894 Mark 12:18-27 895

894	Matthew 22:23-33: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

895	Mark 12:18-27: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK20:27 Then some of the Sadducees who speak against the idea of a resurrection approached Jesus and asked him: LK20:28 “Teacher, Moses wrote to us if someone’s brother dies and leaves a childless wife, this brother should take his brother’s wife and raise up offspring to his brother. [Deuteronomy 25:5] LK20:29 Well there were seven brothers and the first who had the wife died leaving her childless. LK20:30 And so the second LK20:31 and then the third took her until all seven died leaving her childless. LK20:32 Now finally the woman died. LK20:33 So in the resurrection, since they all had her as a wife, which of the seven brothers will be married to her?” LK20:34 Then Jesus said to them: “The sons of this time period marry and are given in marriage. LK20:35 But those who are considered worthy of attaining that future New Age 896 and the resurrection from the dead neither marry or are given in marriage.

896	Those who are considered worthy of attaining that future New Age: Or, KJV: shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world; MON: reach that world; WEY: to find a place in that other age. The Greek is literally, “having been counted worthy of the age that to attain.” [KIT]

LK20:36 Nor is it possible for them to ever die again, 897 for they are equal to the angels as they are God’s sons by being sons of the resurrection.

897	Ever die again: Compare notes on Revelation 20:4, 6.

LK20:37 However, that the dead are to be raised up even Moses revealed at the burning bush, as he calls YHWH The God of Abraham 898 and God of Isaac and God of Jacob. [Exodus 3:15]

898	He calls YHWH The God of Abraham: The Tetragram occurs in Exodus 3:15 and the Greek construct here could permit its use in the original. Jesus’ point is that Yehowah is not God of the dead but of the living.

LK20:38 Because He is not a God of just those dead but of those living, for they are living to Him.” 899

899	For they are living to Him: Or, KJV: for all live unto him; MON: for to him all are alive; KNX: for him, all men are alive; TAY: and from His point of view all men are living. Compare Job 14:11-15 where Job prays God will “remember” him and restore him to life from Hades.

LK20:39 After giving this answer some of the Bible Copyists said, “Teacher you have given an excellent answer!” LK20:40 So after this they no longer dared ask Jesus any question.

Luke 20:41-44 – Jesus Asks a Trick Question

|| Matthew 22:41-45; 900 Mark 12:35-37 901

900	Matthew 22:41-45: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

901	Mark 12:35-37: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK20:41 Then Jesus asked them a question: “Why do you say the Christ [Psalm 2:2; Daniel 9:25] is David’s son? LK20:42 For David himself says in the Bible of Psalms, ‘YHWH said to my Master, 902 “Sit down at my right hand

902

YHWH said to my Master: The Hebrew ‘ADWON like the Greek KYRIOS may be rendered “Master.” [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #113; #2962] The Tetragram occurs in the Hebrew Text of Psalm 110:1 and likely also in the original Septuagint. It is clear from this that the “my Lord” is Christ and YHWH [Yehowah] is another. Christ was not Jehovah as some insist.

LK20:43 until I place your enemies as a footstool for your feet.”’ [Psalm 110:1] LK20:44 Thus David calls him ‘Master’ and so how could he be his son?”

Luke 20:45-47 – Beware the Example of the Scribes

|| Matthew 23:6, 7; 903 Mark 12:38-40 904

903	Matthew 23:6, 7: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

904	Mark 12:38-40: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

LK20:45 Now in the hearing of all the people Jesus told his disciples: LK20:46 “Beware of the Bible Copyists, those who like to walk around in stately robes and love respectful greetings in the market square, and the important seats in the synagogue, and the places of honor at banquets. LK20:47 They devour the homes of widows 905 and they make long prayers with a false pretense. These will all receive a greater judgment.” 906

905	They devour the homes of widows: Or, WEY: swallow up the property of widows; NOR: they rob poor widows of their homes. One may characterize the religious hierarchy of any period by their craving for honor and prestige, special treatment, and their greed for the money and possessions of their flock.

906	A greater judgment: Or, KJV: greater damnation; RHM: a heavier sentence. Likely the meaning is, “because of their responsibility they will be judged more severely.” Compare notes on James 3:1-3 and how the same principle applies to Christian elders.

Review Questions on Chapter Twenty