Jamieson–Fausset–Brown CommentaryLuke 20

CHAPTER 20

Lu 20:1-19. The Authority of Jesus Questioned, and His Reply--Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen.

(See on Mt 21:23.) 2. these things--particularly the clearing of the temple.

4. baptism of John--his whole ministry and mission, of which baptism was the seal.

5. Why then believed ye him not?--that is, in his testimony to Jesus, the sum of his whole witness.

7. could not tell--crooked, cringing hypocrites! No wonder Jesus gave you no answer (Mt 7:6). But what dignity and composure does our Lord display as He turns their question upon themselves!

9-13. vineyard--(See on Lu 13:6). In Mt 21:33 additional points are given, taken literally from Is 5:2, to fix down the application and sustain it by Old Testament authority. husbandmen--the ordinary spiritual guides of the people, under whose care and culture the fruits of righteousness might be yielded. went, &c.--leaving it to the laws of the spiritual husbandry during the whole length of the Jewish economy. (See on Mr 4:26.)

14. reasoned among themselves--(Compare Ge 37:18-20; Joh 11:47-53). the heir--sublime expression of the great truth, that God's inheritance was destined for, and in due time to come into the possession of, His Son in our nature (He 1:2). inheritance ... ours--and so from mere servants we may become lords; the deep aim of the depraved heart, and literally "the root of all evil."

15. cast him out of the vineyard--(Compare He 13:11-13; 1Ki 21:13; Joh 19:17).

16. He shall come, &c.--This answer was given by the Pharisees themselves (Mt 21:41), thus pronouncing their own righteous doom. Matthew alone (Mt 21:43) gives the naked application, that "the kingdom of God should be taken from them, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof"--the great evangelical community of the faithful, chiefly Gentiles. God forbid--His whole meaning now bursting upon them.

17-19. written--(in Psa 118:22, 23. See on Lu 19:38). The Kingdom of God is here a Temple, in the erection of which a certain stone, rejected as unsuitable by the spiritual builders, is, by the great Lord of the House, made the keystone of the whole. On that Stone the builders were now "falling" and being "broken" (Is 8:15), "sustaining great spiritual hurt; but soon that Stone should fall upon them and grind them to powder" (Da 2:34, 35; Zec 12:3)--in their corporate capacity in the tremendous destruction of Jerusalem, but personally, as unbelievers, in a more awful sense still.

Lu 20:20-40. Entangling Questions about Tribute and the Resurrection--The Replies.

20-26. sent forth--after consulting (Mt 22:15) on the best plan. spies--"of the Pharisees and Herodians" (Mr 12:13). See Mr 3:6.

27-34. no resurrection--"nor angel nor spirit" (Ac 23:8); the materialists of the day.

36. neither ... die any more--Marriage is ordained to perpetuate the human family; but as there will be no breaches by death in the future state, this ordinance will cease. equal--or "like." unto the angels--that is, in the immortality of their nature. children of God--not in respect of character but nature; "being the children of the resurrection" to an undecaying existence (Ro 8:21, 23). And thus the children of their Father's immortality (1Ti 6:16).

37-38. even Moses--whom they had just quoted to entangle Him.

39. scribes ... well said--enjoying His victory over the Sadducees. they durst not--neither party, both for the time utterly foiled.

Lu 20:41-47. Christ Baffles the Pharisees by a Question about David and Messiah, and Denounces the Scribes.

41. said, &c.--"What think ye of Christ [the promised and expected Messiah]? Whose son is He [to be]? They say unto Him, The son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit [by the Holy Ghost, Mr 12:36] call Him Lord?" (Mt 22:42, 43). The difficulty can only be solved by the higher and lower--the divine and human natures of our Lord (Mt 1:23). Mark the testimony here given to the inspiration of the Old Testament (compare Lu 24:44).

46-47. Beware, &c.--(See on Mt 23:5; and Lu 14:7).