THE GOSPEL ACCORDING to
*LUKE

Luke 20

1Christ silenceth those who questioned his authority. 9The parable of the vineyard let out to wicked husbandmen. 19The chief priests and scribes seek matter against him: his reply to their insidious question concerning paying tribute to Caesar. 27He proveth the Sadducees completely wrong concerning the resurrection: 41he offereth an unanswerable proposition concerning a difficulty relating to the character of Christ: 45he warneth his disciples against the ambition and hypocrisy of the scribes.


1AND ita came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and 1preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

a Mat. 21:23; Mark 11:27; Acts 4:7; 7:27.

1 Gr. evangelized.

2And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, 2by what 3authority doest thou 4these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

2 Gr. in what manner.

3 Or, power.

4 Namely, which are related in the previous chapter.

3And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you 5one thing; and answer me:

5 That is, one thing or matter. Hebraism.

46The baptism of John, was it 7from heaven, or of men?

6 See hereof the annotations on Mat. 21 on verse 25.

7 That is, from God, as Luke 15:18.

5And they reasoned 8with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

8 Or, among themselves.

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

7And they answered, that they could not tell whence 9it was.

9 Namely, the baptism of John.

8And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you 10by what authority I do these things.

10 Gr. in.

9Thenb began he to speak to the people 11this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country 12for a long time.

b Psalm 80:8; Isa. 5:1; Jer. 2:21; 12:10; Mat. 21:33; Mark 12:1.

11 See the exposition of this parable, Mat. 21 on verse 33.

12 Gr. sufficient or convenient times.

10And at the 13season 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.

13 Namely, that the fruits, being ripe, are gathered in. See Mat. 21:34.

11And 14again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreatedchim shamefully, and sent him away empty.

14 Gr. And he added thereto and sent. Hebraism. As also in the following verse.

c treated*

12And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

13Then said the lord of the vineyard, 15What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

15 These are words expressing not any doubting, but after the manner of men, speaking a great inclination to bring them on the right path, as Hosea 6:4.

14But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, Thisd is the heir: come,e let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

d Psalm 2:8; Heb. 1:2.

e Gen. 37:18; Psalm 2:1; Mat. 26:3; 27:1; John 11:53.

15So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

16He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to 16others. And when they heard it, they said, 17God forbid.

16 Namely, to the Gentiles, Mat. 21:43.

17 Namely, that we would kill the son and that such a thing would come upon us, as Thou here sayest.

17And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written,f18The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

f Psalm 118:22; Isa. 8:14; 28:16; Mat. 21:42; Mark 12:10; Acts 4:11; Rom. 9:33; 1 Peter 2:4, 7.

18 See the annotations on Mat. 21 on verse 42.

18Whosoeverg shall fall 19upon that stone shall be broken; buth20on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

g Isa. 8:15; Zech. 12:3.

19 That is, who stumble at Him, and are disobedient unto Him, 1 Peter 2:7, 8.

h Dan. 2:34.

20 Namely, by the weight of His judgment and punishment, Psalm 2:9.

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.

20Andi they watched him, and sent forth 21spies, which should feign themselves 22just men, that they might 23take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

i Mat. 22:16; Mark 12:13.

21 Or, layers of snares.

22 That is, as those who would deal uprightly with Him, and would not willingly do or suffer anything that was unjust or contrary to God’s command.

23 That is, catch, or overtake, or censure His speech.

21And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou 24the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:

24 Gr. face. See the exposition, Mat. 22 on verse 16, the 22nd annotation.

22Is it lawful for 25us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

25 Namely, we, who are Jews and the people of God, to an heathen emperor. Of this tribute see Mat. 17 on verse 24.

23But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

24Shew me a 26penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.

26 Gr. denarius, whereof see Mat. 22 on verse 19.

25And he said unto them, Renderj therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

j Mat. 17:25; 22:21; Rom. 13:7.

26And they could not 27take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

27 Or, catch, overtake. Or, find fault with His word.

27¶Thenk came to him certain of the 28Sadducees, which 29deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,

k Mat. 22:23; Mark 12:18; Acts 23:8.

28 Of the sect of the Sadducees see more in detail in Acts 23:8.

29 Gr. contradict, namely, the true doctrine of this article.

28Saying, Master, Mosesl30wrote 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 31seed unto his brother.

l Deut. 25:5.

30 That is, in his writings commanded us, Deut. 25:5.

31 That is, beget a son by her, who would bear the first brother’s name, and be his heir.

29There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.

30And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.

31And the third took her; and in like manner 32the seven also: and they left no children, and died.

32 That is, the other four, unto the seven.

32Last of all the woman died also.

33Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.

34And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of 33this world marry, and are given in marriage:

33 By these are not understood worldly men, as Luke 16:8, but those who live in this world. For, marriage is honorable among all. Heb. 13:4.

35But they which shall be accounted 34worthy to obtain 35that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

34 Namely, by God of grace, 2 Thes. 1:5, 11. As such is this word also taken in Luke 21:36.

35 That is, everlasting life, and the resurrection to glory in the world to come. For, the ungodly shall rise also, but to condemnation, John 5:29.

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

m 1 John 3:2.

36 Namely, manifested in glory, seeing they are partakers of the blessed resurrection. See 1 John 3:2.

37Now that the dead are raised, even 37Moses 38shewed at the bush, 39when he calleth then Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

37Christ proves the resurrection of the dead out of the writings of Moses, because the Sadducees had produced the same against it.

38 Or, gave to understand, namely, in the description of the appearance of the Lord in the bush.

39 Of the force of this syllogism, see Mat. 22:32.

n Exod. 3:6; Acts 7:32; Heb. 11:16.

38For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for 40all live unto him.

40 Namely, not only according to the soul, which is immortal, but also according to the body; because that shall be raised up again, and with God all future things are as already present, Rom. 4:17.

39¶Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.

40And after that 41they durst not ask him any question at all.

41 Namely, the scribes. See Mark 12:34.

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

o Mat. 22:42; Mark 12:35.

42And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, Thep LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,

p Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:34; 1 Cor. 15:25; Heb. 1:13; 10:13.

43Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

44David therefore calleth him Lord, 42how is he then his son?

42 That is, if He be only a son of David, that is, a mere man out of David, how then does David, who was a sovereign king and acknowledged no lord above him but God alone, call Him his Lord? Whereunto they could not answer, because they did not hold the Messiah to be true God.

45¶Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,

46Bewareq of the scribes, which desire to walk in 43long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at 44feasts;

q Mat. 23:5, 6; Mark 12:38, 39; Luke 11:43.

43 Gr. stolais. See Mark 12 on verse 38.

44 Gr. suppers.

47Whichr devour widows’ 45houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive 46greater 47damnation.

r Mat. 23:14; Mark 12:40; 2 Tim. 3:6; Titus 1:11.

45 That is, the means wherewith they would sustain their families.

46 Gr. more abundant.

47 That is, punishment in the judgment.