LUK 20

Luke 20:1

WEB

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.

BSB

One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and scribes, together with the elders, came up to Him.

KJV

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,

Matthew Henry

Verses 1–8

Luke 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 - epestēsan. 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, Luk 20:7, Luk 20:8.

Cross-references: Luke 20:7 · Luke 20:8

Greek interlinear

G2532

καίkaí/kahee/

and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet

Derivation: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force;

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

KJV: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

G1096

γίνομαιgínomai/ghin'-om-ahee/

arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought

Derivation: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb;

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

KJV: arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.

G1722

ἐνen/en/

about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in)

Derivation: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537);

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.

KJV: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in).

Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.

See also: G1519, G1537.

G1520

εἷςheîs/hice/

a(-n, -ny, certain), + abundantly, man, one (another), only, other, some

(including the neuter (etc.) hen);

Derivation: a primary numeral;

one

KJV: a(-n, -ny, certain), + abundantly, man, one (another), only, other, some.

See also G1527, G3367, G3391, G3762.

See also: G1527, G3367, G3391, G3762.

G3588

ho/ho/

the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc

, including the feminine , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;

Derivation: the definite article;

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)

KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

G2250

ἡμέραhēméra/hay-mer'-ah/

age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years

Derivation: feminine (with G5610 implied) of a derivative of ἧμαι (to sit; akin to the base of G1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle;

day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)

KJV: age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.

See also: G5610, G1476.

G1321

διδάσκωdidáskō/did-as'-ko/

teach

Derivation: a prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb δάω (to learn);

to teach (in the same broad application)

KJV: teach.

G846

αὐτόςautós/ow-tos'/

her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which

Derivation: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward);

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

KJV: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.

Compare G848.

See also: G109, G1438, G848.

G2992

λαόςlaós/lah-os'/

people

Derivation: apparently a primary word;

a people (in general; thus differing from G1218, which denotes one's own populace)

KJV: people.

See also: G1218.

G2413

ἱερόςhierós/hee-er-os'/

holy

Derivation: of uncertain affinity;

sacred

KJV: holy.

G2097

εὐαγγελίζωeuangelízō/yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zo/

declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel)

Derivation: from G2095 and G32;

to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel

KJV: declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel).

See also: G2095, G32.

G2186

ἐφίστημιephístēmi/ef-is'-tay-mee/

assault, come (in, to, unto, upon), be at hand (instant), present, stand (before, by, over)

Derivation: from G1909 and G2476;

to stand upon, i.e. be present (in various applications, friendly or otherwise, usually literal);

KJV: assault, come (in, to, unto, upon), be at hand (instant), present, stand (before, by, over).

See also: G1909, G2476.

G749

ἀρχιερεύςarchiereús/ar-khee-er-yuce'/

chief (high) priest, chief of the priests

Derivation: from G746 and G2409;

the high-priest (literally, of the Jews, typically, Christ); by extension a chief priest

KJV: chief (high) priest, chief of the priests.

See also: G746, G2409.

G1122

γραμματεύςgrammateús/gram-mat-yooce'/

scribe, town-clerk

Derivation: from G1121. a writer, i.e. (professionally) scribe or secretary

KJV: scribe, town-clerk.

See also: G1121.

G4862

σύνsýn/soon/

beside, with

Derivation: a primary preposition denoting union;

with or together (but much closer than G3326 or G3844), i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.

KJV: beside, with.

In composition it has similar applications, including completeness.

See also: G3326, G3844.

G4245

πρεσβύτεροςpresbýteros/pres-boo'-ter-os/

elder(-est), old

Derivation: comparative of πρέσβυς (elderly);

older; as noun, a senior; specially, an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian "presbyter"

KJV: elder(-est), old.

Bible49 app

Get translation compare, commentary, and interlinear study — offline, on iPhone and Mac.

See Bible49