Luke 20 challenges us to consider Jesus’s authority, our response to it, and the reality of His Kingdom. As we prepare for Advent, let these truths shape our hearts:
- Recognize Jesus’ Authority: The religious leaders resisted acknowledging Jesus’s authority. This Advent, reflect on areas of your life where you need to submit more fully to Christ as Lord.
- Respond with Faith, Not Rejection: The parable of the wicked tenants reminds us that rejecting God’s messengers leads to judgment. Consider how you can embrace Christ’s message of salvation with gratitude and obedience.
- Give to God What Is His: Jesus taught the importance of giving to God what belongs to Him. During Advent, dedicate your time, talents, and treasures to His glory.
- Hope in the Resurrection: Jesus’s teaching about the resurrection assures us of eternal life. Let this hope inspire joy and anticipation as you celebrate His first coming and await His return.
- Beware of Hypocrisy: Jesus rebuked the scribes for their pride and exploitation of others. Advent calls us to examine our hearts, repent of hypocrisy, and walk humbly with God.
As you prepare for Christmas, may you honor Christ as the cornerstone of your faith, submit to His authority, and eagerly anticipate the fulfillment of His kingdom.
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The Authority of Jesus Questioned (20:1-8)[1]
One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up 2 and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” 3 He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” 5 And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” 7 So they answered that they did not know where it came from. 8 And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants (20:9-18)[2]
9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:
“ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”
Paying Taxes to Caesar (20:19-26)[3]
19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. 20 So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. 21 So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” 23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” 25 He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.
The Sadducees and the Resurrection (20:27-40)[4]
27 There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, 28 and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”
34 And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” 39 Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” 40 For they no longer dared to ask him any question.
Whose Son is the Christ? (20:41-44)[5]
41 But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David’s son? 42 For 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 your footstool.” ’
44 David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?”
Beware of the Scribes (20:45-47)[6]
45 And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, 47 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
[1] As Jesus taught in the temple, the religious leaders questioned His authority, asking who gave Him the right to act as He did. Jesus countered with His own question about John the Baptist’s authority—whether it was from heaven or man. Their refusal to answer exposed their unwillingness to accept the truth, and Jesus, in turn, declined to answer their question.
[2] Jesus told a parable about tenants who refused to give the vineyard owner his due, beating and killing his servants and, finally, his son. The owner ultimately destroyed the tenants and gave the vineyard to others. The parable depicted Israel’s rejection of God’s messengers and the coming judgment. Jesus referenced Psalm 118:22, declaring that the rejected stone (Himself) would become the cornerstone, bringing either salvation or judgment.
[3] The religious leaders attempted to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus’ response, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (v. 25) amazed them. He affirmed both the responsibility to earthly authorities and ultimate allegiance to God.
[4] The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, posed a hypothetical question about marriage in the resurrection. Jesus explained that life in the resurrection is different from earthly life—there is no marriage, as people will be like angels. Citing Exodus 3:6, Jesus demonstrated that God is the God of the living, affirming the resurrection.
[5] Jesus questioned how the Messiah could be both David’s son and his Lord, referencing Psalm 110:1. He revealed that the Messiah is greater than David, emphasizing His divine authority.
[6] Jesus warned His disciples about the scribes, who sought honor and exploited others under a guise of piety. Their hypocrisy would bring severe judgment.
Just Keith Harris 
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