Luke 20:39

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. For the exposition, see the notes at Mark 12:13....

39._And some of the scribes answering. _As it is probable that all of them were actuated by evil dispositions towards him, this confession was extorted, by a secret exercise of divine power, from _some of them, _that is, from the Pharisees. It may be that, though they could have wished that Christ had been disgracefully vanquished and silenced, when they perceived that his reply has fortified them against the opposite sect, (69) ambition led them to congratulate him on having obtained a victory. Perhaps, too, they burned with envy, and did not wish that Christ should be put down by _the Sadducees. _(70) Meanwhile, it was brought about by the wonderful providence of God, that even his most deadly enemies assented to his doctrine. Their insolence, to was restrained, not only because they saw that Christ was prepared to sustain every kind of attack, but because they f

39-47 The scribes commended the reply Christ made to the Sadducees about the resurrection, but they were silenced by a question concerning the Messiah. Christ, as God, was David's Lord; but Christ, as man, was David's son. The scribes would receive the severest judgement for defrauding the poor widows, and for their abuse of religion, particularly of prayer, which they used as a pretence for carrying on worldly and wicked plans. Dissembled piety is double sin. Then let us beg of God to keep us from pride, ambition, covetousness, and every evil thing; and to teach us to seek that honour which comes from him alone....

See the notes at Mark 12:32....

EXPOSITION LUKE 20:1 _Question of the priests and scribes as to the nature of the authority under which Jesus was acting._ LUKE 20:1, LUKE 20:2 AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT ON ONE OF THOSE DAYS, AS HE TAUGHT THE PEOPLE IN THE TEMPLE, AND PREACHED THE GOSPEL. We are now in the midst of the so-called Passion week. Probably the events related in this chapter took place on the Tuesday. The first day of the week, Palm Sunday, was the day of the public entry into the city. The purification of the temple took place on the Monday, on which day also the barren fig tree was cursed. We are now considering the eve

THEN CERTAIN OF THE SCRIBES, ANSWERING SAID,.... Who believed the doctrine of the resurrection, which the Sadducees denied, and so were pleased with our Lord's reasoning on this subject: MASTER, THOU HAST WELL SAID; thou hast spoken in a beautiful manner, reasoned finely upon this head, and set this matter in a fair and clear light; Mark 12:28...

CHAPTER 20 _ 1. His Authority Demanded and His Answer.(Luke 20:1)_ 2. Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen. (Luke 20:9) 3. Question about Tribute to Caesar. (Luke 20:20) 4. The Question Concerning Resurrection. (Luke 20:27) 5. The Question Christ Asked. (Luke 20:41) 6. Beware of the Scribes! (Luke 20:45 .) The events in this chapter are found in both Matthew's and Mark's Gospels. The parable of the vineyard foretells His death. He is the so

THE QUESTION OF THE RESURRECTION LIFE (Mark 12:18 *, Matthew 22:23 *). The first peculiarity in Lk.'s account is Luke 20:34_ a_, the contrast between people in this world and those deemed worthy to attain the other world and the resurrection (which, as in Luke 14:14, seems limited to the righteous). In Luke 20:36 there is a further addition; in the other world men and women do not die, hence they need not (and so do not) marry. They are sons of the resurrection, _i.e._ have the characteristics of the risen and endless life. With...

BY WHAT AUTHORITY? (Luke 20:1-8)...

_Then certain of the scribes_ Even the Pharisees could not fail to see the luminous wisdom and spiritual depth of our Lord's reply, and while _all_of them would rejoice at this unanswerable confutation of their hereditary opponents, some of them would have the candour to express their approval. Truth will always offend some, but others will value it. After this grateful acknowledgment, however, one of them could not refrain from gratifying the insatiable spirit of casuistry by asking Christ -which is the great commandment of the Law?" (Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34.) This incident is omitted by St Luke, because he has given similar ones before....