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
The Pharisees G5330 also G2532 with the Sadducees G4523 came, G4334 and G2532 tempting G3985 desired G1905 him G846 that he would shew G1925 them G846 a sign G4592 from G1537 heaven. G3772
The same G1722 G1565 day G2250 came G4334 to him G846 the Sadducees, G4523 which G3588 say G3004 that there is G1511 no G3361 resurrection, G386 and G2532 asked G1905 him, G846 Saying, G3004 Master, G1320 Moses G3475 said, G2036 If G1437 a man G5100 die, G599 having G2192 no G3361 children, G5043 his G846 brother G80 shall marry G1918 his G846 wife, G1135 and G2532 raise up G450 seed G4690 unto his G846 brother. G80 Now G1161 there were G2258 with G3844 us G2254 seven G2033 brethren: G80 and G2532 the first, G4413 when he had married a wife, G1060 deceased, G5053 and, G2532 having G2192 no G3361 issue, G4690 left G863 his G846 wife G1135 unto his G846 brother: G80 Likewise G3668 the second G1208 also, G2532 and G2532 the third, G5154 unto G2193 the seventh. G2033 And G1161 last G5305 of all G3956 the woman G1135 died G599 also. G2532 Therefore G3767 in G1722 the resurrection G386 whose G5101 wife G1135 shall she be G2071 of the seven? G2033 for G1063 they all G3956 had G2192 her. G846 Jesus G2424 answered G611 and G1161 said G2036 unto them, G846 Ye do err, G4105 not G3361 knowing G1492 the scriptures, G1124 nor G3366 the power G1411 of God. G2316 For G1063 in G1722 the resurrection G386 they neither G3777 marry, G1060 nor G3777 are given in marriage, G1547 but G235 are G1526 as G5613 the angels G32 of God G2316 in G1722 heaven. G3772 But G1161 as touching G4012 the resurrection G386 of the dead, G3498 have ye G314 not G3756 read G314 that which G3588 was spoken G4483 unto you G5213 by G5259 God, G2316 saying, G3004 I G1473 am G1510 the God G2316 of Abraham, G11 and G2532 the God G2316 of Isaac, G2464 and G2532 the God G2316 of Jacob? G2384 God G2316 is G2076 not G3756 the God G2316 of the dead, G3498 but G235 of the living. G2198 And G2532 when the multitude G3793 heard G191 this, they were astonished G1605 at G1909 his G846 doctrine. G1322
Then G2532 come G2064 unto G4314 him G846 the Sadducees, G4523 which G3748 say G3004 there is G1511 no G3361 resurrection; G386 and G2532 they asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 Master, G1320 Moses G3475 wrote G1125 unto us, G2254 If G3754 G1437 a man's G5100 brother G80 die, G599 and G2532 leave G2641 his wife G1135 behind him, and G2532 leave G863 no G3361 children, G5043 that G2443 his G846 brother G80 should take G2983 his G846 wife, G1135 and G2532 raise up G1817 seed G4690 unto his G846 brother. G80 Now there were G2258 seven G2033 brethren: G80 and G2532 the first G4413 took G2983 a wife, G1135 and G2532 dying G599 left G863 no G3756 seed. G4690 And G2532 the second G1208 took G2983 her, G846 and G2532 died, G599 G2532 neither G3761 left G863 he G846 any seed: G4690 and G2532 the third G5154 likewise. G5615 And G2532 the seven G2033 had G2983 her, G846 and G2532 left G863 no G3756 seed: G4690 last G2078 of all G3956 the woman G1135 died G599 also. G2532 In G1722 the resurrection G386 therefore, G3767 when G3752 they shall rise, G450 whose G5101 wife G1135 shall she be G2071 of them? G846 for G1063 the seven G2033 had G2192 her G846 to wife. G1135 And G2532 Jesus G2424 answering G611 said G2036 unto them, G846 Do ye G4105 not G3756 therefore G1223 G5124 err, G4105 because ye know G1492 not G3361 the scriptures, G1124 neither G3366 the power G1411 of God? G2316 For G1063 when G3752 they shall rise G450 from G1537 the dead, G3498 they neither G3777 marry, G1060 nor G3777 are given in marriage; G1061 but G235 are G1526 as G5613 the angels G32 which G3588 are in G1722 heaven. G3772 And G1161 as touching G4012 the dead, G3498 that G3754 they rise: G1453 have ye G314 not G3756 read G314 in G1722 the book G976 of Moses, G3475 how G5613 in G1909 the bush G942 God G2316 spake G2036 unto him, G846 saying, G3004 I G1473 am the God G2316 of Abraham, G11 and G2532 the God G2316 of Isaac, G2464 and G2532 the God G2316 of Jacob? G2384 He is G2076 not G3756 the God G2316 of the dead, G3498 but G235 the God G2316 of the living: G2198 ye G5210 therefore G3767 do G4105 greatly G4183 err. G4105
And G1161 as they G846 spake G2980 unto G4314 the people, G2992 the priests, G2409 and G2532 the captain G4755 of the temple, G2411 and G2532 the Sadducees, G4523 came upon G2186 them, G846 Being grieved G1278 that G1223 they G846 taught G1321 the people, G2992 and G2532 preached G2605 through G1722 Jesus G2424 the resurrection G386 from G1537 the dead. G3498
Then G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto them, G846 Take heed G3708 and G2532 beware G4337 of G575 the leaven G2219 of the Pharisees G5330 and G2532 of the Sadducees. G4523
Then G5119 understood they G4920 how that G3754 he bade G2036 them not G3756 beware G4337 of G575 the leaven G2219 of bread, G740 but G235 of G575 the doctrine G1322 of the Pharisees G5330 and G2532 of the Sadducees. G4523
But G1161 when Paul G3972 perceived G1097 that G3754 the one G1520 part G3313 were G2076 Sadducees, G4523 and G1161 the other G2087 Pharisees, G5330 he cried out G2896 in G1722 the council, G4892 Men G435 and brethren, G80 I G1473 am G1510 a Pharisee, G5330 the son G5207 of a Pharisee: G5330 of G4012 the hope G1680 and G2532 resurrection G386 of the dead G3498 I G1473 am called in question. G2919 And G1161 when he G846 had G2980 so G5124 said, G2980 there arose G1096 a dissension G4714 between the Pharisees G5330 and G2532 the Sadducees: G4523 and G2532 the multitude G4128 was divided. G4977 For G1063 G3303 the Sadducees G4523 say G3004 that there is G1511 no G3361 resurrection, G386 neither G3366 angel, G32 nor G3383 spirit: G4151 but G1161 the Pharisees G5330 confess G3670 both. G297
And G2532 their G846 word G3056 will eat G2192 G3542 as G5613 doth a canker: G1044 of whom G3739 is G2076 Hymenaeus G5211 and G2532 Philetus; G5372 Who G3748 concerning G4012 the truth G225 have erred, G795 saying G3004 that the resurrection G386 is past G1096 already; G2235 and G2532 overthrow G396 the faith G4102 of some. G5100
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Luke 20
Commentary on Luke 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 20
Lu 20:1-19. The Authority of Jesus Questioned, and His Reply—Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen.
(See on Mt 21:23.)
2. these things—particularly the clearing of the temple.
4. baptism of John—his whole ministry and mission, of which baptism was the seal.
5. Why then believed ye him not?—that is, in his testimony to Jesus, the sum of his whole witness.
7. could not tell—crooked, cringing hypocrites! No wonder Jesus gave you no answer (Mt 7:6). But what dignity and composure does our Lord display as He turns their question upon themselves!
9-13. vineyard—(See on Lu 13:6). In Mt 21:33 additional points are given, taken literally from Isa 5:2, to fix down the application and sustain it by Old Testament authority.
husbandmen—the ordinary spiritual guides of the people, under whose care and culture the fruits of righteousness might be yielded.
went, &c.—leaving it to the laws of the spiritual husbandry during the whole length of the Jewish economy. (See on Mr 4:26.)
10. beat, &c.—(Mt 21:35); that is, the prophets, extraordinary messengers raised up from time to time. (See on Mt 23:37.)
13. my beloved son—Mark (Mr 12:6) still more affectingly, "Having yet therefore one son, his well-beloved"; our Lord thus severing Himself from all merely human messengers, and claiming Sonship in its loftiest sense. (Compare Heb 3:3-6.)
it may be—"surely"; implying the almost unimaginable guilt of not doing so.
14. reasoned among themselves—(Compare Ge 37:18-20; Joh 11:47-53).
the heir—sublime expression of the great truth, that God's inheritance was destined for, and in due time to come into the possession of, His Son in our nature (Heb 1:2).
inheritance … ours—and so from mere servants we may become lords; the deep aim of the depraved heart, and literally "the root of all evil."
15. cast him out of the vineyard—(Compare Heb 13:11-13; 1Ki 21:13; Joh 19:17).
16. He shall come, &c.—This answer was given by the Pharisees themselves (Mt 21:41), thus pronouncing their own righteous doom. Matthew alone (Mt 21:43) gives the naked application, that "the kingdom of God should be taken from them, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof"—the great evangelical community of the faithful, chiefly Gentiles.
God forbid—His whole meaning now bursting upon them.
17-19. written—(in Ps 118:22, 23. See on Lu 19:38). The Kingdom of God is here a Temple, in the erection of which a certain stone, rejected as unsuitable by the spiritual builders, is, by the great Lord of the House, made the keystone of the whole. On that Stone the builders were now "falling" and being "broken" (Isa 8:15), "sustaining great spiritual hurt; but soon that Stone should fall upon them and grind them to powder" (Da 2:34, 35; Zec 12:3)—in their corporate capacity in the tremendous destruction of Jerusalem, but personally, as unbelievers, in a more awful sense still.
19. the same hour—hardly able to restrain their rage.
Lu 20:20-40. Entangling Questions about Tribute and the Resurrection—The Replies.
20-26. sent forth—after consulting (Mt 22:15) on the best plan.
spies—"of the Pharisees and Herodians" (Mr 12:13). See Mr 3:6.
21. we know, &c.—hoping by flattery to throw Him off His guard.
22. tribute—(See on Mt 17:24).
25. things which be Cæsar's—Putting it in this general form, it was impossible for sedition itself to dispute it, and yet it dissolved the snare.
and unto God—How much there is in this profound but to them startling addition to the maxim, and how incomparable is the whole for fulness, brevity, clearness, weight!
27-34. no resurrection—"nor angel nor spirit" (Ac 23:8); the materialists of the day.
34. said unto them—In Mt 22:29, the reply begins with this important statement:—"Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures," regarding the future state, "nor the power of God," before which a thousand such difficulties vanish (also Mr 12:24).
36. neither … die any more—Marriage is ordained to perpetuate the human family; but as there will be no breaches by death in the future state, this ordinance will cease.
equal—or "like."
unto the angels—that is, in the immortality of their nature.
children of God—not in respect of character but nature; "being the children of the resurrection" to an undecaying existence (Ro 8:21, 23). And thus the children of their Father's immortality (1Ti 6:16).
37, 38. even Moses—whom they had just quoted to entangle Him.
38. not … of the dead, … for all, &c.—To God, no human being is dead, or ever will be; but all sustain an abiding conscious relation to Him. But the "all" here meant "those who shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world." These sustain a gracious covenant relation to God, which cannot be dissolved. In this sense our Lord affirms that for Moses to call the Lord the "God" of His patriarchal servants if at that moment they had no existence, would be unworthy of Him. He "would be ashamed to be called their God, if He had not prepared for them a city" (Heb 11:16). How precious are these glimpses of the resurrection state!
39. scribes … well said—enjoying His victory over the Sadducees.
they durst not—neither party, both for the time utterly foiled.
Lu 20:41-47. Christ Baffles the Pharisees by a Question about David and Messiah, and Denounces the Scribes.
41. said, &c.—"What think ye of Christ [the promised and expected Messiah]? Whose son is He [to be]? They say unto Him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit [by the Holy Ghost, Mr 12:36] call Him Lord?" (Mt 22:42, 43). The difficulty can only be solved by the higher and lower—the divine and human natures of our Lord (Mt 1:23). Mark the testimony here given to the inspiration of the Old Testament (compare Lu 24:44).
46, 47. Beware, &c.—(See on Mt 23:5; and Lu 14:7).
47. devour, &c.—taking advantage of their helpless condition and confiding character, to obtain possession of their property, while by their "long prayers" they made them believe they were raised far above "filthy lucre." So much "the greater damnation" awaits them. What a lifelike description of the Romish clergy, the true successors of "the scribes!"