Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Luke » Chapter 20 » Verse 1-47

Luke 20:1-47 King James Version (KJV)

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.


Luke 20:1-47 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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


Luke 20:1-47 American Standard (ASV)

1 And it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders;

2 and they spake, saying unto him, 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 also will ask you a question; and tell me:

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

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

6 But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

7 And they answered, that they knew not whence `it was'.

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

9 And he began to speak unto the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into another country for a long time.

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

11 And he sent yet another servant: and him also they beat, and handled him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

12 And he sent yet a third: and him also they wounded, and cast him forth.

13 And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him.

14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

15 And they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

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

17 But he looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner?

18 Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.

19 And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake this parable against them.

20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.

21 And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest not the person `of any', but of a truth teachest the way of God:

22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them,

24 Show me a denarius. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Caesar's.

25 And he said unto them, Then render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.

26 And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

27 And there came to him certain of the Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection;

28 and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, that if a man's brother die, having a wife, and he be childless, his brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.

29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died childless;

30 and the second:

31 and the third took her; and likewise the seven also left no children, and died.

32 Afterward the woman also died.

33 In the resurrection therefore whose wife of them shall she be? for the seven had her to wife.

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

35 but they that are accounted worthy to attain to that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

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

37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in `the place concerning' the Bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

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

39 And certain of the scribes answering said, Teacher, thou hast well said.

40 For they durst not any more ask him any question.

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

42 For 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 the footstool of thy feet.

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

45 And in the hearing of all the people he said unto his disciples,

46 Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts;

47 who devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation.


Luke 20:1-47 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it came to pass, on one of those days, as he is teaching the people in the temple, and proclaiming good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came upon `him',

2 and spake unto him, saying, `Tell us by what authority thou dost these things? or who is he that gave to thee this authority?'

3 And he answering said unto them, `I will question you -- I also -- one thing, and tell me:

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

5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying -- `If we may say, From heaven, he will say, Wherefore, then, did ye not believe him?

6 and if we may say, From men, all the people will stone us, for they are having been persuaded John to be a prophet.'

7 And they answered, that they knew not whence `it was',

8 and Jesus said to them, `Neither do I say to you by what authority I do these things.'

9 And he began to speak unto the people this simile: `A certain man planted a vineyard, and gave it out to husbandmen, and went abroad for a long time,

10 and at the season he sent unto the husbandmen a servant, that from the fruit of the vineyard they may give to him, but the husbandmen having beat him, did send `him' away empty.

11 `And he added to send another servant, and they that one also having beaten and dishonoured, did send away empty;

12 and he added to send a third, and this one also, having wounded, they did cast out.

13 `And the owner of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my son -- the beloved, perhaps having seen this one, they will do reverence;

14 and having seen him, the husbandmen reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir; come, we may kill him, that the inheritance may become ours;

15 and having cast him outside of the vineyard, they killed `him'; what, then, shall the owner of the vineyard do to them?

16 He will come, and destroy these husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others.' And having heard, they said, `Let it not be!'

17 and he, having looked upon them, said, `What, then, is this that hath been written: A stone that the builders rejected -- this became head of a corner?

18 every one who hath fallen on that stone shall be broken, and on whom it may fall, it will crush him to pieces.'

19 And the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him in that hour, and they feared the people, for they knew that against them he spake this simile.

20 And, having watched `him', they sent forth liers in wait, feigning themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his word, to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor,

21 and they questioned him, saying, `Teacher, we have known that thou dost say and teach rightly, and dost not accept a person, but in truth the way of God dost teach;

22 Is it lawful to us to give tribute to Caesar or not?'

23 And he, having perceived their craftiness, said unto them, `Why me do ye tempt?

24 shew me a denary; of whom hath it an image and superscription?' and they answering said, `Of Caesar:'

25 and he said to them, `Give back, therefore, the things of Caesar to Caesar, and the things of God to God;'

26 and they were not able to take hold on his saying before the people, and having wondered at his answer, they were silent.

27 And certain of the Sadducees, who are denying that there is a rising again, having come near, questioned him,

28 saying, `Teacher, Moses wrote to us, If any one's brother may die, having a wife, and he may die childless -- that his brother may take the wife, and may raise up seed to his brother.

29 `There were, then, seven brothers, and the first having taken a wife, died childless,

30 and the second took the wife, and he died childless,

31 and the third took her, and in like manner also the seven -- they left not children, and they died;

32 and last of all died also the woman:

33 in the rising again, then, of which of them doth she become wife? -- for the seven had her as wife.'

34 And Jesus answering said to them, `The sons of this age do marry and are given in marriage,

35 but those accounted worthy to obtain that age, and the rising again that is out of the dead, neither marry, nor are they given in marriage;

36 for neither are they able to die any more -- for they are like messengers -- and they are sons of God, being sons of the rising again.

37 `And that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the Bush, since he doth call the Lord, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;

38 and He is not a God of dead men, but of living, for all live to Him.'

39 And certain of the scribes answering said, `Teacher, thou didst say well;'

40 and no more durst they question him anything.

41 And he said unto them, `How do they say the Christ to be son of David,

42 and David himself saith in the Book of Psalms, The Lord said to my lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

43 till I shall make thine enemies thy footstool;

44 David, then, doth call him lord, and how is he his son?'

45 And, all the people hearing, he said to his disciples,

46 `Take heed of the scribes, who are wishing to walk in long robes, and are loving salutations in the markets, and first seats in the synagogues, and first couches in the suppers,

47 who devour the houses of the widows, and for a pretence make long prayers, these shall receive more abundant judgment.'


Luke 20:1-47 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And it came to pass on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and announcing the glad tidings, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up,

2 and spoke to him saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things, or who is it who has given thee this authority?

3 And he answering said to them, *I* also will ask you [one] thing, and tell me:

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

5 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we should say, Of heaven, he will say, Why have ye not believed him?

6 but if we should say, Of men, the whole people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet.

7 And they answered, they did not know whence.

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

9 And he began to speak to the people this parable: A man planted a vineyard and let it out to husbandmen, and left the country for a long time.

10 And in the season he sent to the husbandmen a bondman, that they might give to him of the fruit of the vineyard; but the husbandmen, having beaten him, sent [him] away empty.

11 And again he sent another bondman; but they, having beaten him also, and cast insult upon him, sent [him] away empty.

12 And again he sent a third; and they, having wounded him also, cast [him] out.

13 And the lord of the vineyard said, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: perhaps when they see him they will respect [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 become ours.

15 And having cast him forth out of the vineyard, they killed [him]. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do to them?

16 He will come and destroy those husbandmen, and will give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it they said, May it never be!

17 But he looking at them said, What then is this that is written, The stone which they that builded rejected, this has become the corner-stone?

18 Every one falling on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it shall grind him to powder.

19 And the chief priests and the scribes sought the same hour to lay hands on him, and they feared the people; for they knew that he had spoken this parable of them.

20 And having watched [him], they sent out suborned persons, pretending to be just men, that they might take hold of him in [his] language, so that they might deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.

21 And they asked him saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and acceptest no [man's] person, but teachest with truth the way of God:

22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?

23 But perceiving their deceit he said to them, Why do ye tempt me?

24 Shew me a denarius. Whose image and superscription has it? And answering they said, Caesar's.

25 And he said to them, Pay therefore what is Caesar's to Caesar, and what is God's to God.

26 And they were not able to take hold of him in [his] expressions before the people, and, wondering at his answer, they were silent.

27 And some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is any resurrection, coming up [to him],

28 demanded of him saying, Teacher, Moses wrote to us, If any one's brother, who has a wife, die, and he die childless, his brother shall take the wife and raise up seed to his brother.

29 There were then seven brethren: and the first, having taken a wife, died childless;

30 and the second [took the woman, and *he* died childless];

31 and the third took her: and in like manner also the seven left no children and died;

32 and last of all the woman also died.

33 In the resurrection therefore of which of them does she become wife, for the seven had her as wife?

34 And Jesus said to them, The sons of this world marry and are given in marriage,

35 but they who are counted worthy to have part in that world, and the resurrection from among [the] dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

36 for neither can they die any more, for they are equal to angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

37 But that the dead rise, even Moses shewed in [the section of] the bush, when he called [the] Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob;

38 but he is not God of [the] dead but of [the] living; for all live for him.

39 And some of the scribes answering said, Teacher, thou hast well spoken.

40 For they did not dare any more to ask him anything.

41 And he said to them, How do they say that the Christ is David's son,

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

43 until I put thine enemies [as] footstool of thy feet?

44 David therefore calls him Lord, and how is he his son?

45 And, as all the people were listening, he said to his disciples,

46 Beware of the scribes, who like to walk about in long robes, and who love salutations in the market-places, and first seats in the synagogues, and first places at suppers;

47 who devour the houses of widows, and as a pretext make long prayers. These shall receive a severer judgment.


Luke 20:1-47 World English Bible (WEB)

1 It happened on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the Gospel, that the {TR adds "chief"}priests and scribes came to him with the elders.

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

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

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

5 They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?'

6 But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

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

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

9 He began to tell the people this parable. "A {NU (in brackets) and TR add "certain"}man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time.

10 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.

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

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

13 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.'

14 "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.'

15 They threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore will the lord of the vineyard do to them?

16 He will come and destroy these farmers, and will give the vineyard to others." When they heard it, they said, "May it never be!"

17 But he looked at them, and said, "Then what is this that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the chief cornerstone?'

18 "Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, But it will crush whomever it falls on to dust."

19 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.

20 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.

21 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.

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

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

24 Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?" They answered, "Caesar's."

25 He said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

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

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

28 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.

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

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

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

32 Afterward the woman also died.

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

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

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

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

37 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.'

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

39 Some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you speak well."

40 They didn't dare to ask him any more questions.

41 He said to them, "Why do they say that the Christ is David's son?

42 David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand,

43 Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."'

44 "David therefore calls him Lord, so how is he his son?"

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

46 "Beware of the 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;

47 who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation."


Luke 20:1-47 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And it came about on one of those days, when he was teaching the people in the Temple and preaching the good news,

2 That the chief priests and the scribes and the rulers of the people came to him and said, Make clear to us by what authority you do these things and who gave you this authority.

3 And in answer he said to them, I will put a question to you, and do you give me an answer:

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

5 And they said among themselves, If we say, From heaven; he will say, Why did you not have faith in him?

6 But if we say, Of men; we will be stoned by the people, for they are certain that John was a prophet.

7 And they made answer that they had no idea where it came from.

8 And Jesus said, And I will not make clear to you by what authority I do these things.

9 And he gave the people this story: A man made a vine-garden and gave the use of it to some field-workers and went into another country for a long time.

10 And at the right time he sent a servant to the workers to get part of the fruit from the vines; but the workmen gave him blows and sent him away with nothing.

11 And he sent another servant, and they gave blows to him in the same way, and put shame on him, and sent him away with nothing.

12 And he sent a third, and they gave him wounds and put him out.

13 And the lord of the garden said, What am I to do? I will send my dearly loved son; they may give respect to him.

14 But when the workmen saw him, they said to one another, This is he who will one day be the owner of the property: let us put him to death and the heritage will be ours.

15 And driving him out of the garden they put him to death. Now what will the lord do to these workmen?

16 He will come and put them to destruction and give the garden to others. And when he said this, they said, May it not be so.

17 But he, looking on them, said, Is it not in the Writings, The stone which the builders put on one side, the same has become the chief stone of the building?

18 Everyone falling on that stone will be broken, but the man on whom the stone comes down will be crushed to dust.

19 And the chief priests and the scribes made attempts to get their hands on him in that very hour; and they were in fear of the people, for they saw that he had made up this story against them.

20 And they kept watch on him, and sent out secret representatives, who were acting the part of good men, in order that they might get something from his words, on account of which they might give him up to the government and into the power of the ruler.

21 And they put a question to him, saying, Master, we are certain that your teaching and your words are right, and that you have no respect for a man's position, but you are teaching the true way of God:

22 Is it right for us to make payment of taxes to Caesar or not?

23 But he saw through their trick and said to them,

24 Let me see a penny. Whose image and name are on it? And they said, Caesar's.

25 And he said, Then give to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's.

26 And they were not able to get anything from these words before the people: but they were full of wonder at his answer, and said nothing.

27 And some of the Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no coming back from the dead; and they said to him,

28 Master, Moses said that if a man's brother comes to his end, having a wife, but no children, his brother is to take the wife, and get a family for his brother.

29 Now there were seven brothers, and the first had a wife and came to his end, having no children;

30 And the second;

31 And the third took her; and in the same way, all the seven, without having any children, came to their end.

32 And last of all, the woman came to her end.

33 When they come back from the dead, whose wife will she be? for all the seven had her.

34 And Jesus said to them, The sons of this world are married and have wives;

35 But those to whom is given the reward of the world to come, and to come back from the dead, have no wives, and are not married;

36 And death has no more power over them, for they are equal to the angels, and are sons of God, being of those who will come back from the dead.

37 But even Moses made it clear that the dead come back to life, saying, in the story of the burning thorn-tree, The Lord, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

38 Now he is not the God of the dead but of the living: for all men are living to him.

39 And some of the scribes, in answer to this, said, Master, you have said well.

40 And they had fear of putting any more questions to him.

41 And he said to them, Why do they say that the Christ is the son of David?

42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms, The Lord said to my Lord, Take your seat at my right hand,

43 Till I put under your feet all those who are against you.

44 David then gives him the name of Lord, so how is it possible for him to be his son?

45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples,

46 Keep away from the scribes, whose pleasure it is to go about in long robes, and to have words of respect said to them in the market-places, and to take the chief seats in the Synagogues and the first places at feasts;

47 Who take the property of widows and before the eyes of men make long prayers; they will get a greater punishment.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Luke 20

Commentary on Luke 20 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 20

In this chapter we have,

  • I. Christ's answer to the chief priests' question concerning his authority (v. 1-8).
  • II. The parable of the vineyard let out to the unjust and rebellious husbandmen (v. 9-19).
  • III. Christ's answer to the question proposed to him concerning the lawfulness of paying tribute to Caesar (v. 20-26).
  • IV. His vindication of that great fundamental doctrine of the Jewish and Christian institutes-the resurrection of the dead and the future state, from the foolish cavils of the Sadducees (v. 27-38).
  • V. His puzzling the scribes with a question concerning the Messiah's being the Son of David (v. 39-44).
  • VI. The caution he gave his disciples to take heed of the scribes (v. 45-47).

All which passages we had before in Matthew and Mark, and therefore need not enlarge upon them here, unless on those particulars which we had not there.

Luk 20:1-8

In this passage of story nothing is added here to what we had in the other evangelists; but only in the first verse, where we are told,

  • I. That he was now teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel. Note, Christ was a preacher of his own gospel. He not only purchased the salvation for us, but published it to us, which is a great confirmation of the truth of the gospel, and gives abundant encouragement to us to receive it, for it is a sign that the heart of Christ was much upon it, to have it received. This likewise puts an honour upon the preachers of the gospel, and upon their office and work, how much soever they are despised by a vain world. It puts an honour upon the popular preachers of the gospel; Christ condescended to the capacities of the people in preaching the gospel, and taught them. And observe, when he was preaching the gospel to the people he had this interruption given him. Note, Satan and his agents do all they can to hinder the preaching of the gospel to the people, for nothing weakens the interest of Satan's kingdom more.
  • II. That his enemies are here said to come upon him-epesteµsan. The word is used only here, and it intimates,
    • 1. That they thought to surprise him with this question; they came upon him suddenly, hoping to catch him unprovided with an answer, as if this were not a thing he had himself thought of.
    • 2. That they thought to frighten him with this question. They came upon him in a body, with violence. But how could he be terrified with the wrath of men, when it was in his own power to restrain it, and make it turn to his praise? From this story itself we may learn,
      • (1.) That it is not to be thought strange, if even that which is evident to a demonstration be disputed, and called in question, as a doubtful thing, by those that shut their eyes against the light. Christ's miracles plainly showed by what authority he did these things, and sealed his commission; and yet this is that which is here arraigned.
      • (2.) Those that question Christ's authority, if they be but catechized themselves in the plainest and most evident principles of religion, will have their folly made manifest unto all men. Christ answered these priests and scribes with a question concerning the baptism of John, a plain question, which the meanest of the common people could answer: Was it from heaven or of men? They all knew it was from heaven; there was nothing in it that had an earthly relish or tendency, but it was all heavenly and divine. And this question gravelled them, and ran them aground, and served to shame them before the people.
      • (3.) It is not strange if those that are governed by reputation and secular interest imprison the plainest truths, and smother and stifle the strongest convictions, as these priests and scribes did, who, to save their credit, would not own that John's baptism was from heaven, and had no other reason why they did not say it was of men but because they feared the people. What good can be expected from men of such a spirit?
      • (4.) Those that bury the knowledge they have are justly denied further knowledge. It was just with Christ to refuse to give an account of his authority to them that knew the baptism of John to be from heaven and would not believe in him, nor own their knowledge, v. 7, 8.

Luk 20:9-19

Christ spoke this parable against those who were resolved not to own his authority, though the evidence of it was ever so full and convincing; and it comes very seasonably to show that by questioning his authority they forfeited their own. Their disowning the lord of their vineyard was a defeasance of their lease of the vineyard, and giving up of all their title.

  • I. The parable has nothing added here to what we had before in Matthew and Mark. The scope of it is to show that the Jewish nation, by persecuting the prophets, and at length Christ himself, had provoked God to take away from them all their church privileges, and to abandon them to ruin. It teaches us,
    • 1. That those who enjoy the privileges of the visible church are as tenants and farmers that have a vineyard to look after, and rent to pay for it. God, by setting up revealed religion and instituted orders in the world, hath planted a vineyard, which he lets out to those people among whom his tabernacle is, v. 9. And they have vineyard-work to do, needful and constant work, but pleasant and profitable. Whereas man was, for sin, condemned to till the ground, they that have a place in the church are restored to that which was Adam's work in innocency, to dress the garden, and to keep it; for the church is a paradise, and Christ the tree of life in it. They have also vineyard-fruits to present to the Lord of the vineyard. There are rents to be paid and services to be done, which, though bearing no proportion to the value of the premises, yet must be done and must be paid.
    • 2. That the work of God's ministers is to call upon those who enjoy the privileges of the church to bring forth fruit accordingly. They are God's rent-gatherers, to put the husbandmen in mind of their arrears, or rather to put them in mind that they have a landlord who expects to hear from them, and to receive some acknowledgment of their dependence on him, and obligations to him, v. 10. The Old-Testament prophets were sent on this errand to the Jewish church, to demand from them the duty and obedience they owed to God.
    • 3. That it has often been the lot of God's faithful servants to be wretchedly abused by his own tenants; they have been beaten and treated shamefully by those that resolved to send them empty away. They that are resolved not to do their duty to God cannot bear to be called upon to do it. Some of the best men in the world have had the hardest usage from it, for their best services.
    • 4. That God sent his Son into the world to carry on the same work that the prophets were employed in, to gather the fruits of the vineyard for God; and one would have thought that he would have been reverenced and received. The prophets spoke as servants, Thus saith the Lord; but Christ as a Son, among his own, Verily, I say unto you. Putting such an honour as this upon them, to send him, one would have thought, should have won upon them.
    • 5. That those who reject Christ's ministers would reject Christ himself if he should come to them; for it has been tried, and found that the persecutors and murderers of his servants the prophets were the persecutors and murderers of himself. They said, This is the heir, come let us kill him. When they slew the servants, there were other servants sent. "But, if we can but be the death of the son, there is never another son to be sent, and then we shall be no longer molested with these demands; we may have a quiet possession of the vineyard for ourselves.' The scribes and Pharisees promised themselves that, if they could but get Christ out of the way, they should for ever ride masters in the Jewish church; and therefore they took the bold step, they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
    • 6. That the putting of Christ to death filled up the measure of the Jewish iniquity, and brought upon them ruin without remedy. No other could be expected than that God should destroy those wicked husbandmen. They began in not paying their rent, but then proceeded to beat and kill the servants, and at length their young Master himself. Note, Those that live in the neglect of their duty to God know not what degrees of sin and destruction they are running themselves into.
  • II. To the application of the parable is added here, which we had not before, their deprecation of the doom included in it (v. 16): When they heart it, they said, God forbid, Meµ genoito-Let not this be done, so it should be read. Though they could not but own that for such a sin such a punishment was just, and what might be expected, yet they could not bear to hear of it. Note, It is an instance of the folly and stupidity of sinners that they proceed and persevere in their sinful ways though at the same time they have a foresight and dread of the destruction that is at the end of those ways. And see what a cheat they put themselves, to think to avoid it by a cold God forbid, when they do nothing towards the preventing of it; but will this make the threatening of no effect? No, they shall know whose word shall stand, God's or theirs. Now observe what Christ said, in answer to this childish deprecation of their ruin.
    • 1. He beheld them. This is taken notice of only by this evangelist, v. 17. He looked upon them with pity and compassion, grieved to see them cheat themselves thus to their own ruin. He beheld them, to see if they would blush at their own folly, or if he could discern in their countenances any indication of relenting.
    • 2. He referred them to the scripture: "What is this then that is written? How can you escape the judgment of God, when you cannot prevent the exaltation of him whom you despise and reject? The word of God hath said it, that the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner.' The Lord Jesus will be exalted to the Father's right hand. He has all judgment and all power committed to him; he is the corner-stone and top-stone of the church, and, if so, his enemies can expect no other than to be destroyed. Even those that slight him, that stumble at him, and are offended in him, shall be broken-it will be their ruin; but as to those that not only reject him, but hate and persecute him, as the Jews did, he will fall upon them and crush them to pieces-will grind them to powder. The condemnation of spiteful persecutors will be much sorer than that of careless unbelievers.
  • Lastly, We are told how the chief priests and scribes were exasperated by this parable (v. 19): They perceived that he had spoken this parable against them; and so he had. A guilty conscience needs no accuser; but they, instead of yielding to the convictions of conscience, fell into a rage at him who awakened that sleeping lion in their bosoms, and sought to lay hands on him. Their corruptions rebelled against their convictions, and got the victory. And it was not because they had any fear of God or of his wrath before their eyes, but only because they feared the people, that they did not now fly in his face, and take him by the throat. They were just ready to make his words good: This is the heir, come let us kill him. Note, When the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do evil, the fairest warnings both of the sin they are about to commit and of the consequences of it make no impression upon them. Christ tells them that instead of kissing the Son of God they would kill him, upon which they should have said, What, is thy servant a dog? But they do, in effect, say this: "And so we will; have at him now.' And, though they deprecate the punishment of the sin, in the next breath they are projecting the commission of it.

Luk 20:20-26

We have here Christ's evading a snare which his enemies laid for him, by proposing a question to him about tribute. We had this passage before, both in Matthew and Mark. Here is,

  • I. The mischief designed him, and that is more fully related here than before. The plot was to deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor, v. 20. They could not themselves put him to death by course of law, nor otherwise than by a popular tumult, which they could not depend upon; and, since they could not be his judges, they would willingly condescend to be his prosecutors and accusers, and would themselves inform against him. They hoped to gain their point, if they could but incense the governor against him. Note, It has been the common artifice of persecuting church-rulers to make the secular powers the tools of their malice, and oblige the kings of the earth to do their drudgery, who, if they had not been instigated, would have let their neighbours live quietly by them, as Pilate did Christ till the chief priests and the scribes presented Christ to him. But thus Christ's word must be fulfilled by their cursed politics, that he should be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles.
  • II. The persons they employed. Matthew and Mark told us that they were disciples of the Pharisees, with some Herodians. Here it is added, They were spies, who should feign themselves just men. Note, It is no new thing for bad men to feign themselves just men, and to cover the most wicked projects with the most specious and plausible pretences. The devil can transform himself into an angel of light, and a Pharisee appear in the garb, and speak the language, of a disciple of Christ. A spy must go in disguise. These spies must take on them to have a value for Christ's judgment, and to depend upon it as an oracle, and therefore must desire his advice in a case of conscience. Note, Ministers are concerned to stand upon their guard against some that feign themselves to be just men, and to be wise as serpents when they are in the midst of a generation of vipers and scorpions.
  • III. The question they proposed, with which they hoped to ensnare him.
    • 1. Their preface is very courtly: Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, v. 21. Thus they thought to flatter him into an incautious freedom and openness with them, and so to gain their point. They that are proud, and love to be commended, will be brought to do any thing for those that will but flatter them, and speak kindly to them; but they were much mistaken who thought thus to impose upon the humble Jesus. He was not pleased with the testimony of such hypocrites, nor thought himself honoured by it. It is true that he accepts not the person of any, but it is as true that he knows the hearts of all, and knew theirs, and the seven abominations that were there, though they spoke fair. It was certain that he taught the way of God truly; but he knew that they were unworthy to be taught by him, who came to take hold of his words, not to be taken hold of by them.
    • 2. Their case is very nice: "Is it lawful for us' (this is added here in Luke) "to give tribute to Caesar-for us Jews, us the free-born seed of Abraham, us that pay the Lord's tribute, may give tribute to Caesar?' Their pride and covetousness made them loth to pay taxes, and then they would have it a question whether it was lawful or no. Now if Christ should say that it was lawful the people would take it ill, for they expected that he who set up to be the Messiah should in the first place free them from the Roman yoke, and stand by them in denying tribute to Caesar. But if he should say that it was not lawful, as they expected he would (for if he had not been of that mind they thought he could not have been so much the darling of the people as he was), then they should have something to accuse him of to the governor, which was what they wanted.
  • IV. His evading the snare which they laid for him: He perceived their craftiness, v. 23. Note, Those that are most crafty in their designs against Christ and his gospel cannot with all their art conceal them from his cognizance. He can see through the most politic disguises, and so break through the most dangerous snare; for surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird. He did not give them a direct answer, but reproved them for offering to impose upon him-Why tempt ye me? and called for a piece of money, current money with the merchants-Show me a penny; and asked them whose money it was, whose stamp it bore, who coined it. They owned, "It is Caesar's money.' "Why them,' saith Christ, "you should first have asked whether it was lawful to pay and receive Caesar's money among yourselves, and to admit that to be the instrument of your commerce. But, having granted this by a common consent, you are concluded by your own act, and, no doubt, you ought to give tribute to him who furnished you with this convenience for your trade, protects you in it, and lends you the sanction of his authority for the value of your money. You must therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. In civil things you ought to submit to the civil powers, and so, if Caesar protects you in your civil rights by laws and the administration of justice, you ought to pay him tribute; but in sacred things God only is your King. You are not bound to be of Caesar's religion; you must render to God the things that are God's, must worship and adore him only, and not any golden image that Caesar sets up;' and we must worship and adore him in such way as he had appointed, and not according to the inventions of Caesar. It is God only that has authority to say My son, give me thy heart.
  • V. The confusion they were hereby put into, v. 26.
    • 1. The snare is broken; They could not take hold of his words before the people. They could not fasten upon any thing wherewith to incense either the governor or the people against him.
    • 2. Christ is honoured; even the wrath of man is made to praise him. They marvelled at his answer, it was so discreet and unexceptionable, and such an evidence of that wisdom and sincerity which make the face to shine.
    • 3. Their mouths are stopped; they held their peace. They had nothing to object, and durst ask him nothing else, lest he should shame and expose them.

Luk 20:27-38

This discourse with the Sadducees we had before, just as it is here, only that the description Christ gives of the future state is somewhat more full and large here. Observe here,

  • I. In every age there have been men of corrupt minds, that have endeavoured to subvert the fundamental principles of revealed religion. As there are deists now, who call themselves free-thinkers, but are really false-thinkers; so there were Sadducees in our Saviour's time, who bantered the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come, though they were plainly revealed in the Old Testament, and were articles of the Jewish faith. The Sadducees deny that there is any resurrection, any future state, so anastasis may signify; not only no return of the body to life, but no continuance of the soul in life, no world of spirits, no state of recompence and retribution for what was done in the body. Take away this, and all religion falls to the ground.
  • II. It is common for those that design to undermine any truth of God to perplex it, and load it with difficulties. So these Sadducees did; when they would weaken people's faith in the doctrine of the resurrection, they put a question upon the supposition of it, which they thought could not be answered either way to satisfaction. The case perhaps was matter of fact, at least it might be so, of a woman that had seven husbands. Now in the resurrection whose wife shall she be? whereas it was not at all material whose she was, for when death puts an end to that relation it is not to be resumed.
  • III. There is a great deal of difference between the state of the children of men on earth and that of the children of God in heaven, a vast unlikeness between this world and that world; and we wrong ourselves, and wrong the truth of Christ, when we form our notions of that world of spirits by our present enjoyments in this world of sense.
    • 1. The children of men in this world marry, and are given in marriage, hyioi tou aioµnos toutou-the children of this age, this generation, both good and bad, marry themselves and give their children in marriage. Much of our business in this world is to raise and build up families, and to provide for them. Much of our pleasure in this world is in our relations, our wives and children; nature inclines to it. Marriage is instituted for the comfort of human life, here in this state where we carry bodies about with us. It is likewise a remedy against fornication, that natural desires might not become brutal, but be under direction and control. The children of this world are dying and going off the stage, and therefore they marry and give their children in marriage, that they may furnish the world of mankind with needful recruits, that as one generation passeth away another may come, and that they may have some of their own offspring to leave the fruit of their labours to, especially that the chosen of God in future ages may be introduced, for it is a godly seed that is sought by marriage (Mal. 2:15), a seed to serve the Lord, that shall be a generation to him.
    • 2. The world to come is quite another thing; it is called that world, by way of emphasis and eminency. Note, There are more worlds than one; a present visible world, and a future invisible world; and it is the concern of every one of us to compare worlds, this world and that world, and give the preference in our thoughts and cares to that which deserves them. Now observe,
      • (1.) Who shall be the inhabitants of that world: They that shall be accounted worthy to obtain it, that is, that are interested in Christ's merit, who purchased it for us, and have a holy meetness for it wrought in them by the Spirit, whose business it is to prepare us for it. They have not a legal worthiness, upon account of any thing in them or done by them, but an evangelical worthiness, upon account of the inestimable price which Christ paid for the redemption of the purchased possession. It is a worthiness imputed by which we are glorified, as well as righteousness imputed by which we are justified; kataxioµthentes, they are made agreeable to that world. The disagreeableness that there is in the corrupt nature is taken away, and the dispositions of the soul are by the grace of God conformed to that state. They are by grace made and counted worthy to obtain that world; it intimates some difficulty in reaching after it, and danger of coming short. We must so run as that we may obtain. They shall obtain the resurrection from the dead, that is, the blessed resurrection; for that of condemnation (as Christ calls it, Jn. 5:29), is rather a resurrection to death, a second death, an eternal death, than from death.
      • (2.) What shall be the happy state of the inhabitants of that world we cannot express or conceive, 1 Co. 2:9. See what Christ here says of it.
        • [1.] They neither marry nor are given in marriage. Those that have entered into the joy of their Lord are entirely taken up with that, and need not the joy of the bridegroom in his bride. The love in that world of love is all seraphic, and such as eclipses and loses the purest and most pleasing loves we entertain ourselves with in this world of sense. Where the body itself shall be a spiritual body, the delights of sense will all be banished; and where there is a perfection of holiness there is no occasion for marriage as a preservative from sin. Into the new Jerusalem there enters nothing that defiles.
        • [2.] They cannot die any more; and this comes in as a reason why they do not marry. In this dying world there must be marriage, in order to the filling up of the vacancies made by death; but, where there are no burials, there is no need of weddings. This crowns the comfort of that world that there is no more death there, which sullies all the beauty, and damps all the comforts, of this world. Here death reigns, but thence it is for ever excluded.
        • [3.] They are equal unto the angels. In the other evangelists it was said, They are as the angels-oµs angeloi, but here they are said to be equal to the angels, isangeloi-angels' peers; they have a glory and bliss no way inferior to that of the holy angels. They shall see the same sight, be employed in the same work, and share in the same joys, with the holy angels. Saints, when they come to heaven, shall be naturalized, and, though by nature strangers, yet, having obtained this freedom with a great sum, which Christ paid for them, they have in all respects equal privileges with them that were free-born, the angels that are the natives and aborigines of that country. They shall be companions with the angels, and converse with those blessed spirits that love them dearly, and with an innumerable company, to whom they are now come in faith, hope, and love.
        • [4.] They are the children of God, and so they are as the angels, who are called the sons of God. In the inheritance of sons, the adoption of sons will be completed. Hence believers are said to wait for the adoption, even the redemption of the body, Rom. 8:23. For till the body is redeemed from the grave the adoption is not completed. Now are we the sons of God, 1 Jn. 3:2. We have the nature and disposition of sons, but that will not be perfected till we come to heaven.
        • [5.] They are the children of the resurrection, that is, they are made capable of the employments and enjoyments of the future state; they are born to that world, belong to that family, had their education for it here, and shall there have their inheritance in it. They are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Note, God owns those only for his children that are the children of the resurrection, that are born from above, are allied to the world of spirits, and prepared for that world, the children of that family.
  • IV. It is an undoubted truth that there is another life after this, and there were eminent discoveries made of this truth in the early ages of the church (v. 37, 38): Moses showed this, as it was shown to Moses at the bush, and he hath shown it to us, when he calleth the Lord, as the Lord calleth himself, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were then dead as to our world; they had departed out of it many years before, and their bodies were turned into dust in the cave of Machpelah; how then could God say, not I was, but I am the God or Abraham? It is absurd that the living God and Fountain of life should continue related to them as their God, if there were no more of them in being than what lay in that cave, undistinguished from common dust. We must therefore conclude that they were then in being in another world; for God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Luke here adds, For all live unto him, that is, all who, like them, are true believers; though they are dead, yet they do live; their souls, which return to God who gave them (Eccl. 12:7), live to him as the Father of spirits: and their bodies shall live again at the end of time by the power of God; for he calleth things that are not as though they were, because he is the God that quickens the dead, Rom. 4:17. But there is more in it yet; when God called himself the God of these patriarchs, he meant that he was their felicity and portion, a God all-sufficient to them (Gen. 17:1), their exceeding great reward, Gen. 15:1. Now it is plain by their history that he never did that for them in this world which would answer the true intent and full extent of that great undertaking, and therefore there must be another life after this, in which he will do that for them that will amount to a discharge in full of that promise-that he would be to them a God, which he is able to do, for all live to him, and he has wherewithal to make every soul happy that lives to him; enough for all, enough for each.

Luk 20:39-47

The scribes were students in the law, and expositors of it to the people, men in reputation for wisdom and honour, but the generality of them were enemies to Christ and his gospel. Now here we have some of them attending him, and four things we have in these verses concerning them, which we had before:-

  • I. We have them here commending the reply which Christ made to the Sadducees concerning the resurrection: Certain of the scribes said, Master, thou hast well said, v. 39. Christ had the testimony of his adversaries that he said well; and therefore the scribes were his enemies because he would not conform to the traditions of the elders, but yet when he vindicated the fundamental practices of religion, and appeared in the defence of them, even the scribes commended his performance, and owned that he said well. Many that call themselves Christians come short even of this spirit.
  • II. We have them here struck with an awe of Christ, and of his wisdom and authority (v. 40): They durst not ask him any questions at all, because they say that he was too hard for all that contended with him. His own disciples, though weak, yet, being willing to receive his doctrine, durst ask him any question; but the Sadducees, who contradicted and cavilled at his doctrine, durst ask him none.
  • III. We have them here puzzled and run aground with a question concerning the Messiah, v. 41. It was plain by many scriptures that Christ was to be the Son of David; even the blind man knew this (ch. 18:39); and yet it was plain that David called the Messiah his Lord (v. 42, 44), his owner, and ruler, and benefactor: The Lord said to my Lord. God said it to the Messiah, Ps. 110:1. Now if he be his Son, why doth he call him his Lord? If he be his Lord, why do we call him his Son? This he left them to consider of, but they could not reconcile this seeming contradiction; thanks be to God, we can; that Christ, as God, was David's Lord, but Christ, as man, was David's Son. He was both the root and the offspring of David, Rev. 22:16. By his human nature he was the offspring of David, a branch of his family; by his divine nature he was the root of David, from whom he had his being and life, and all the supplies of grace.
  • IV. We have them here described in their black characters, and a public caution given to the disciples to take heed of them, v. 45-47. This we had, just as it is here, Mk. 12:38, and more largely Mt. 23. Christ bids his disciples beware of the scribes, that is,
    • 1. "Take heed of being drawn into sin by them, of learning their way, and going into their measures; beware of such a spirit as they are governed by. Be not you such in the Christian church as they are in the Jewish church.'
    • 2. "Take heed of being brought into trouble by them,' in the same sense that he had said (Mt. 10:17), "Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils; beware of the scribes, for they will do so. Beware of them, for,'
      • (1.) "They are proud and haughty. They desire to walk about the streets in long robes, as those that are above business (for men of business went with their loins girt up), and as those that take state, and take place.' Cedant arma togae-Let arms yield to the gown. They loved in their hearts to have people make their obeisance to them in the markets, that many might see what respect was paid them; and were very proud of the precedency that was given them in all places of concourse. They loved the highest seats in the synagogues and the chief rooms at feasts, and, when they were placed in them, looked upon themselves with great conceit and upon all about them with great contempt. I sit as a queen.
      • (2.) "They are covetous and oppressive, and make their religion a cloak and cover for crime.' They devour widows' houses, get their estates into their hands, and then by some trick or other make them their own, or they live upon them, and eat up what they have; and widows are an easy prey to them, because they are apt to be deluded by their specious pretences: for a show they make long prayers, perhaps long prayers with the widows when they are in sorrow, as if they had not only a piteous but a pious concern for them, and thus endeavour to ingratiate themselves with them, and get their money and effects into their hands. Such devout men may surely be trusted with untold gold; but they will give such an account of it as they think fit.

Christ reads them their doom in a few words: These shall receive a more abundant judgment, a double damnation, both for their abuse of the poor widows, whose houses they devoured, and for their abuse of religion, and particularly of prayer, which they had made use of as a pretence for the more plausible and effectual carrying on of their worldly and wicked projects; for dissembled piety is double iniquity.