Luke 20

On one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Good News, the priests and scribes came to him with the elders.

They asked him, “Tell us: by what authority do you do these things? Or who is giving you this authority?”

He answered them, “I also will ask you one question. Tell me:

the baptism of John, was it from heaven, or from men?”

They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’

But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”

They answered that they didn’t know where it was from.

Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

He began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time.

At the proper season, he sent a servant to the farmers to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty.

He sent yet another servant, and they also beat him and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

He sent yet a third, and they also wounded him and threw him out.

The lord of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. It may be that seeing him, they will respect him.’

“But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.’

Then they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them?

He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others.” When they heard that, they said, “May that never be!”

But he looked at them and said, “Then what is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected was made the chief cornerstone’?

Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but it will crush whomever it falls on to dust.”

The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.

They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.

They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God.

Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me?

Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” They answered, “Caesar’s.”

He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer and were silent.

Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection.

They asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife and raise up children for his brother.

There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless.

The second took her as wife, and he died childless.

The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died.

Afterward the woman also died.

Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.”

Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage.

But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage.

For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.

But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.”

Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you speak well.”

They didn’t dare to ask him any more questions.

He said to them, “Why do they say that the Christ is David’s son?

David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’

“David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?”

In the hearing of all the people, he said to his disciples,

“Beware of those scribes who like to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts;

who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter records a series of confrontations between Jesus and the religious leaders in the temple during the final days of his earthly ministry. As Jesus teaches the people and proclaims the gospel, the chief priests, scribes, and elders challenge his authority. In response, Jesus defends his divine commission, exposes their hypocrisy through a parable and sharp questioning, and reveals deeper truths about the resurrection and the nature of the Messiah. The chapter centers on the conflict over authority, identity, and the coming judgment, setting the stage for the culmination of Jesus’ mission.

Flow.

Jesus deflects a challenge to his authority by questioning the leaders about John the Baptist, highlighting their unbelief and refusal to acknowledge divine origins.
He tells the parable of the wicked tenants, illustrating Israel’s history of rejecting God’s messengers and foretelling the rejection and death of the Son—and God’s coming judgment on the leaders and transfer of blessings to others.
The leaders try to trap Jesus with a political question about paying taxes to Caesar, but he silences them with a profound distinction between civil and divine obligations.
The Sadducees, who deny resurrection, pose a hypothetical to mock the afterlife, but Jesus corrects their misunderstanding of Scripture and reveals the nature of life beyond death.
Jesus then demonstrates the Messiah’s divine authority by appealing to Psalm 110, showing that the Christ is not only David’s son but also his Lord.
Finally, he warns the disciples against the pride and exploitation of the scribes, pronouncing stronger judgment on those who misuse spiritual leadership.

Connections.
Following chapter 19, where Jesus enters Jerusalem and laments over the city’s rejection of peace, this chapter intensifies the conflict between Jesus and Jerusalem’s leaders, showing their repeated attempts to discredit him. The tension that began with Jesus’ triumphal entry now escalates into open debate and hostility, particularly over his authority and identity. The parable of the vineyard directly connects to Israel’s rejection of prophets and the coming judgment on the temple system, which chapter 21 will explore further in Jesus’ prophecy of Jerusalem’s fall. At the same time, Jesus’ teaching on resurrection and the Messiah anticipates the vindication of his person and mission, which the resurrection in chapter 24 fulfills.

What it teaches.
Jesus asserts his divine authority as the Son sent by God, placing himself above the religious leaders and even David (WCF 8.2). The parable of the vineyard reveals God’s patience and final judgment on unfaithful stewards, pointing to the transfer of covenant blessings to others (WCF 7.6; BC Art. 21). His teaching on the resurrection affirms the future life of the righteous, where mortal distinctions like marriage no longer apply, grounded in God’s identity as the God of the living (WCF 32.1; HC LD 22). By citing Psalm 110, Jesus reveals the Messiah’s divine authority and heavenly session, showing that he is not merely a political heir of David but the Lord at God’s right hand (WCF 8.5; BC Art. 19). True worship honors God’s authority and avoids outward show that masks inward corruption (WCF 22.3).

Apply.
Honor God’s authority in Christ by submitting to his lordship in every area of life, knowing he holds the final word over death and judgment.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.