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22 KiB
Luke 20
Luke 20:1
Connecting Statement:
The chief priests, scribes, and elders question Jesus in the temple.
It came about
This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-newevent)
in the temple
"in the temple courtyard" or "at the temple"
Luke 20:2
General Information:
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Luke 20:3
General Information:
Jesus responds to the chief priests, scribes, and elders.
He answered and said to them
"Jesus replied"
I will also ask you a question, and you tell me
The words "I will ... ask you a question" are a statement. The words "you tell me" are a command.
Luke 20:4
Was it from heaven or from men
Jesus knows that John's authority comes from heaven, so he is not asking for information. He asks the question so the Jewish leaders will have to tell what they think to all who are listening. This question is rhetorical, but you will probably have to translate it as a question. Alternate translation: "Do you think John's authority to baptize people came from heaven or from men" or "Was it God who told John to baptize people, or did people tell him to do it" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
from heaven
"from God." Jewish people avoided referring to God by his name "Yahweh." Often they used the word "heaven" to refer to him. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Luke 20:5
They reasoned
"They discussed" or "They considered their answer"
with themselves
"among themselves" or "with each other"
If we say, 'From heaven,' he
Some languages might prefer an indirect quote. Alternate translation: "If we say that John's authority is from heaven, he" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-quotations)
From heaven
"From God." Jewish people avoided referring to God by his name "Yahweh." Often they used the word "heaven" to refer to him. See how these words are translated in Luke 20:4. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
he will say
"Jesus will say"
Luke 20:6
if we say, 'From men,'
Some languages might prefer an indirect quote. Alternate translation: "if we say that John's authority is from men," (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-quotations)
stone us
"kill us by throwing stones on us." God's Law commanded that his people stone those of his people who mocked him or his prophets. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Luke 20:7
So they answered
"So the chief priests, scribes and elders answered." The word "so" marks an event that happened because of something else that happened first. In this case, they had reasoned with themselves (Luke 20:5-6), and they did not have an answer they wanted to say.
they answered that they did not know where it came from.
This could be stated as a direct quote. Alternate translation: "they said, 'We do not know where it came from.'" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-quotations)
where it came from
"where John's baptism came from." Alternate translation: "where John's authority to baptize came from" or "who authorized John to baptize people"
Luke 20:8
Neither will I tell you
"And I will not tell you." Jesus knew they were not willing to tell him the answer, so he responded in the same manner. Alternate translation: "Just as you will not tell me, I will not tell you"
Luke 20:9
General Information:
Jesus begins to tell a parable to the people in the temple courtyard. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parables)
rented it out to vine growers
"allowed some vine growers to use it in exchange for payment" or "allowed some vine growers to use it and pay him later." Payment might be in the form of money or a portion of the harvest.
vine growers
These are people who tend grape vines and grow grapes. Alternate translation: "grape farmers"
Luke 20:10
the appointed time
"the time they had agreed to pay him." This would have been at the harvest time.
of the fruit of the vineyard
"some of the grapes" or "some of what they produced in the vineyard." It could also refer to the things they made from grapes or the money they earned by selling the grapes.
sent him away empty-handed
An empty hand is a metaphor for "nothing." Alternate translation: "sent him away without paying him" or "sent him away without the grapes" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Luke 20:11
beat him
"beat that servant"
treated him shamefully
"humiliated him"
sent him away empty-handed
Having an empty hand is a metaphor for having nothing. Alternate translation: "sent him away without paying him" or "sent him away without any grapes" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Luke 20:12
yet a third
"even a third servant" or "yet another servant." The word "yet" hints at the fact that the landowner should not have had to send the second servant, but he went beyond that and sent a third servant. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal)
wounded him
"injured that servant"
threw him out
"threw him out of the vineyard"
Luke 20:13
What will I do?
This question emphasizes that the vineyard owner thought carefully about what he was going to do. Alternate translation: "Here is what I will do:" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Luke 20:14
when the vine growers saw him
"when the farmers saw the owner's son"
Let us kill him
They were not asking permission. The said this to encourage each other to kill the heir.
Luke 20:15
They threw him out of the vineyard
"The vine growers forced the son out of the vineyard"
What then will the lord of the vineyard do to them?
Jesus uses a question to get his listeners to pay attention to what the owner of the vineyard will do. Alternate translation: "So now, listen to what the lord of the vineyard will do to them." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Luke 20:16
Connecting Statement:
Jesus finishes telling his parable to the crowd.
May it never be
"May it never happen"
Luke 20:17
Connecting Statement:
Jesus continues teaching the crowd.
But Jesus looked at them
"But Jesus stared at them" or "But he looked straight at them." He did this to hold them accountable to understand what he was saying.
What is the meaning of that which is written: 'The stone ... cornerstone'?
Jesus uses a question to teach the crowd. Alternate translation: "You should be able to understand that which is written: 'The stone ... cornerstone.'" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
that which is written
"this scripture"
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone
This is the first of three metaphors in a prophecy from the book of Psalms. This one refers to the Messiah as if he were a stone that builders chose not to use, but that God made the most important stone. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
The stone that the builders rejected
"The stone that the builders said was not good enough to use for building." In those days people used stones to build the walls of houses and other buildings.
the builders
This refers to the religious rulers who are rejecting Jesus as Messiah.
the cornerstone
"the chief stone of the building" or "the most important stone of the building"
Luke 20:18
Every one who falls ... broken to pieces
This second metaphor speaks of people who reject the Messiah as if they fall over a stone and are injured. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
will be broken to pieces
This is a result of falling onto the stone. It can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "will break up into pieces" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
the one on whom it falls
"the one that stone falls on." This third metaphor speaks about the Messiah judging those who reject him as if he were a large stone that would crush them. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Luke 20:19
sought to lay hands on him
In this verse, to "lay hands on" someone is to arrest that person. Alternate translation: "looked for a way to arrest Jesus" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
in that very hour
"immediately"
they were afraid of the people
This is the reason that they did not arrest Jesus right away. The people respected Jesus, and the religious leaders were afraid of what the people might do if they arrested him. Alternate translation: "they did not arrest him because they were afraid of the people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Luke 20:20
they sent out spies
"the scribes and chief priests sent spies to watch Jesus"
that they might find fault with his speech
"because they wanted to accuse Jesus of saying something bad"
to the rule and to the authority of the governor
"Rule" and "authority" are two ways of saying that they wanted the governor to judge Jesus. It can be translated with one or both expressions. Alternate translation: "so that the governor would punish Jesus" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Luke 20:21
Connecting Statement:
This is the beginning of the next event in the story. Some time has passed since Jesus was questioned in the temple by the chief priests. The spies are now questioning Jesus.
They asked him
"The spies asked Jesus"
Teacher, we know ... way of God
The spies were trying to deceive Jesus. They did not believe these things about Jesus.
we know
"we" refers only to the spies. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
are not partial to anyone
Possible meanings are 1) "you tell the truth even if important people do not like it" or 2) "you do not favor one person over another" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
but you teach the truth about the way of God
This is part of what the spies were saying that they knew about Jesus.
Luke 20:22
Is it lawful ... or not?
They hoped that Jesus would say either "yes" or "no." If he said "yes," then the Jewish people would be angry with him for telling them to pay taxes to a foreign government. If he said "no," then the religious leaders could tell the Romans that Jesus was teaching the people to break the Roman laws.
Is it lawful
They were asking about God's law, not about Caesar's law. Alternate translation: "Does our law permit us"
Caesar
Because Caesar was the ruler of the Roman government, they could refer to the Roman government by Caesar's name. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Luke 20:23
But Jesus understood their craftiness
"But Jesus understood how tricky they were" or "But Jesus saw that they were trying to trap him." The word "their" refers to the spies.
Luke 20:24
a denarius
This is a Roman silver coin worth a day's wages. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-bmoney)
Whose image and name is on it?
Jesus uses a question to respond to those who were trying to trick him. Alternate translation: "Tell me, whose image and name do you see on it?" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
image and name
"picture and name"
Luke 20:25
He said to them
"Then Jesus said to them"
Caesar
Here "Caesar" refers to the Roman government. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
and to God
The word "give" is understood from the previous phrase. It can be repeated here. Alternate translation: "and give to God" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)
Luke 20:26
Connecting Statement:
This is the end of this event about the spies and the part of the story which began in Luke 20:1.
They were not able to find fault with what he had said
"The spies could not find anything wrong with what he said"
but marveling at his answer, they were silent
"but they were amazed at his answer and did not say anything"
Luke 20:27
General Information:
We do not know where this takes place, though it possibly takes place in the temple courtyard. Jesus is talking with some Sadducees.
the ones who say that there is no resurrection
This phrase identifies the Sadducees as being the group of Jews that say that no one would rise from the dead. It does not imply that some Sadducees believed that there is a resurrection and some did not. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-distinguish)
Luke 20:28
if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and being childless
"if a man's brother dies when he has a wife but does not have children"
the man should take the brother's wife
"the man should marry his dead brother's widow"
have a child for his brother
The Jews considered the first son born to a woman who married her dead husband's brother as if he were the son of the woman's first husband. This son inherited the property of his mother's first husband and carried on his name. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Luke 20:29
General Information:
The Sadducees tell Jesus a short story in verses 29-32. This is a story they made up as an example. In verse 33, they ask Jesus a question about the story they told.
There were seven brothers
This may have happened, but it is probably a story that they made up to test Jesus.
the first
"brother number one" or "the oldest" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal)
died childless
"died without having any children" or "died, but did not have any children"
Luke 20:30
the second as well
The Sadducees kept the story short by not repeating many of the details. Alternate translation: "the second married her and the same thing happened" or "the second brother married her and died without having any children" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-ellipsis)
the second
"brother number two" or "the oldest brother who was still alive" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal)
Luke 20:31
The third took her
"The third married her"
The third
"Brother number three" or "The oldest brother who was still alive" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal)
and in the same way the seven also left no children and died
The speakers kept the story short by omitting details. Alternate translation: "in the same way the rest of the seven brothers married her and died without having any children" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
the seven
"all seven of the brothers" or "each of the seven brothers"
Luke 20:32
General Information:
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Luke 20:33
Connecting Statement:
The Sadducees finish asking Jesus their question.
In the resurrection
"When people are raised from the dead" or "When dead people become alive again." Some languages have a way of showing that the Sadducees did not believe that there would be a resurrection, such as "In the supposed resurrection" or "When dead people are supposedly raised from the dead."
Luke 20:34
Connecting Statement:
Jesus begins to answer the Sadducees.
The sons of this age
"The people of this world" or "The people of this time." This is in contrast with those in heaven or the people who live after the resurrection.
marry and are given in marriage
In that culture they spoke of men marrying women and women being given in marriage to their husband. This can also be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "get married" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Luke 20:35
those who are regarded as worthy in that age
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the people in that age whom God will consider to be worthy" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
to receive the resurrection from the dead
"to be raised from the dead" or "to rise from death"
from the dead
From among all those who have died. The expression "the dead" describes all dead people together in the underworld. To receive resurrection from among them speaks of becoming alive again.
will neither marry nor be given in marriage
In that culture they spoke of men marrying women and women being given in marriage to their husband. This can also be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "will not marry" or "will not get married." This is after the resurrection. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Luke 20:36
Neither can they die anymore
This is after the resurrection. Alternate translation: "They will not be able to die anymore" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection
"are children of God because he has brought them back from the dead"
Luke 20:37
Connecting Statement:
Jesus finishes answering the Sadducees.
But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed
The word "even" is here because the Sadducees might not have been surprised that some scriptures say that the dead are raised, but they did not expect Moses to have written something like that. Alternate translation: "But even Moses showed that dead people rise from the dead" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
the dead are raised
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God causes the dead to live again" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
in the place concerning the bush, where he calls the Lord
The implied information can be supplied. Alternate translation: "in the scripture about the burning bush, where he wrote about the Lord being" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob
"the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." They all worshiped the same God.
Luke 20:38
Now
This word is used here to mark a break in the main teaching. Here Jesus explains how this story proves that people rise from the dead.
he is not the God of the dead, but of the living
These two phrases have similar meaning. They are used together for emphasis. Some languages have different ways of showing emphasis. Alternate translation: "the Lord is the God of living people only" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
but of the living
"but the God of living people." Since these people died physically, they must still be alive spiritually. Alternate translation: "but the God of people whose spirits are alive, even though their bodies may have died" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
because all live to him
"because in God's sight they all are still alive" or "because their spirits are alive in God's presence"
Luke 20:39
Some of the scribes answered
"Some of the scribes said to Jesus." There were scribes present when the Sadducees were questioning Jesus. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Luke 20:40
For they
It is unclear if this refers to the scribes, or the Sadducees, or both. It is best to keep the statement general.
they did not dare ask him any more questions
"they were afraid to ask him any more questions" or "they did not risk asking him any more questions." They understood that they did not know as much as Jesus did, but they did not want to say that. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "they did not ask him any more tricky questions because they feared that his wise answers would make them appear foolish again" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Luke 20:41
General Information:
Jesus asks the scribes a question.
How do they say ... son?
"Why do they say ... son?" Jesus uses a question to make the scribes think about who the Messiah is. Alternate translation: "Let's think about them saying ... son." or "I will talk about them saying ... son." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
they say
The prophets, the religious rulers, and the Jewish people in general knew that the Messiah was the son of David. Alternate translation: "everyone says" or "people say" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
David's son
"King David's descendant." The word "son" is used here to refer to a descendant. In this case it refers to the one who would reign over God's kingdom. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Luke 20:42
The Lord said to my Lord
This is a quotation from the book of Psalms which says "Yahweh said to my Lord." But the Jews stopped saying "Yahweh" and often said "Lord" instead. Alternate translation: "The Lord God said to my Lord" or "God said to my Lord"
my Lord
David was referring to the Christ as "my Lord."
Sit at my right hand
To sit at the "right hand of God" is a symbolic action of receiving great honor and authority from God. Alternate translation: "Sit in the place of honor beside me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
Luke 20:43
until I make your enemies your footstool
The Messiah's enemies are spoken of as if they were furniture on which he would rest his feet. This was an image of submission. Alternate translation: "until I make your enemies like a footstool for you" or "until I conquer your enemies for you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Luke 20:44
David therefore calls the Christ 'Lord,'
In the culture of that time, a father was more respected than a son. David's us of the title 'Lord' for the Christ implies that he was greater than David. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
so how is he David's son?
"so how can the Christ be David's son?" This can be a statement. Alternate translation: "and this shows that the Christ is not merely David's descendant" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Luke 20:45
Connecting Statement:
Jesus now directs his attention to his disciples and speaks mainly to them.
Luke 20:46
Beware of
"Be on guard against"
who desire to walk in long robes
Long robes would show that they were important. Alternate translation: "who like to walk around wearing their important robes" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Luke 20:47
They also devour widows' houses
"They also eat up widows' houses." The scribes are spoken of as if they were hungry animals that eat up the widows' houses. The word "houses" is a synecdoche for both where the widow lives and all the possessions she puts in her home. Alternate translation: "They also take away from widows all their possessions" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
for a show they make long prayers
"they pretend to be righteous and make long prayers" or "they make long prayers so that people will see them"
Men like this will receive greater condemnation
"They will receive a more severe judgment." This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God will certainly punish them very severely" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)