Jesus' Authority Challenged
Luke 20:1-8
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Luke.20.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- μια: NUM,nom,sg,f
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ημερων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
- διδασκοντος: VERB,pres,act,ptc,gen,m,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- λαον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ιερω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- ευαγγελιζομενου: VERB,pres,mp,ptc,gen,m,sg
- επεστησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αρχιερεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- γραμματεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- συν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- πρεσβυτεροις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 21:23 (verbal): Matthew parallels the same scene: Jesus teaching in the temple when the chief priests and elders confront him, using very similar wording and narrative placement.
- Mark 11:27 (verbal): Mark records the same temple confrontation (questioning Jesus' authority) with chief priests, scribes and elders, closely matching Luke's account in structure and dialogue that follows.
- Luke 19:47-48 (structural): Earlier in Luke the evangelist notes Jesus' daily teaching in the temple and the leaders' hostile intent, providing immediate narrative context for the confrontation described in 20:1.
- John 7:14 (thematic): John also situates Jesus teaching in the temple during a festival, highlighting the recurring theme of Jesus' public teaching in the temple precincts that provokes opposition from religious leaders.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it came about, as he was teaching in the temple, that the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him,
- And it came to pass on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him.
Luke.20.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ειπαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- λεγοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,masc
- προς: PREP
- αυτον·Ειπον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- εν: PREP
- ποια: PRON,dat,sg,f
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ποιεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δους: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- εξουσιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ταυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 21:23 (verbal): The chief priests and elders confront Jesus with an almost identical question about the authority by which he acts and teaches in the temple.
- Mark 11:28 (verbal): Mark’s parallel to Luke 20:2, posing the same challenge—'By what authority are you doing these things?'—from the religious leaders.
- Acts 4:7 (verbal): After Peter and John heal a man, the Jewish council asks them, 'By what power or by what name have you done this?'—a close verbal and situational parallel about challenged authority.
- John 10:24 (thematic): The Jews demand that Jesus declare plainly whether he is the Christ—another instance of religious leaders pressuring Jesus to identify or justify his authority and identity.
Alternative generated candidates
- and they said, "By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you this authority?"
- They spoke to him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority?"
Luke.20.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αποκριθεις: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- αυτους·Ερωτησω: PRON,acc,pl,m; VERB,fut,act,ind,1,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- καγω: CONJ+PRON,nom,sg,1
- λογον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ειπατε: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- μοι·: PRON,dat,sg,1
Parallels
- Matthew 21:24 (verbal): Nearly identical wording — Jesus replies to the question about his authority by saying he will ask them one question and they must answer.
- Mark 11:28 (verbal): Parallel wording and placement in Mark’s account: Jesus responds with an interrogative turn ('I will also ask you one thing; answer me') to the challengers.
- Matthew 21:25 (structural): Continuation of the same exchange in Matthew — Jesus immediately counters by asking about the origin of John the Baptist’s baptism (the same strategy Luke records).
- Mark 11:30 (structural): Mark’s parallel where Jesus asks whether John’s baptism was from heaven or from men, mirroring Luke’s subsequent question and showing the shared synoptic structure.
Alternative generated candidates
- He answered them, "I will ask you one question; answer me:"
- He answered them, "I will ask you one thing; answer me:
Luke.20.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Το: ART,nom,sg,n
- βαπτισμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- Ιωαννου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εξ: PREP
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,masc
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- εξ: PREP
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 21:25 (verbal): Matthew contains the near-identical question—'The baptism of John, was it from heaven or from men?'—as part of the same confrontation about Jesus' authority.
- Mark 11:30 (verbal): Mark records the same precise challenge to Jesus regarding the origin of John's baptism within the parallel episode (very close verbal parallel to Luke 20:4).
- Matthew 21:23-27 (structural): Longer Matthean parallel to Luke 20:1–8: the chief priests and elders question Jesus' authority and use the issue of John's baptism to trap him (same narrative function and sequence).
- John 1:31-34 (thematic): John the Baptist's testimony about his role and the divine origin of his ministry (e.g., John 1:31,33–34) addresses the underlying issue raised by the question whether John's baptism was 'from heaven.'
- Acts 19:4 (thematic): Paul's summary of John's baptism ('John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one to come') treats John's baptism as directed toward the coming Messiah rather than merely a human institution, engaging the same concern about its authority.
Alternative generated candidates
- "Was the baptism of John from heaven, or was it from men?"
- Was the baptism of John from heaven, or was it from men?"
Luke.20.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- συνελογισαντο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- προς: PREP
- εαυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- λεγοντες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,masc
- οτι: CONJ
- Εαν: COND
- ειπωμεν·Εξ: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,masc
- ερει·Δια: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- ουκ: PART,neg
- επιστευσατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 21:25-27 (verbal): Almost identical account of the leaders debating how to answer about John’s authority—if they say 'from heaven' Jesus will ask why they did not believe him; same dilemma and wording.
- Mark 11:31-33 (verbal): Parallel narrative with the same threefold dilemma concerning John’s origin (from heaven or from men) and the leaders’ concern about his vindication, closely matching Luke’s wording and logic.
- Luke 20:6 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same episode showing the alternative response ('From men') and the leaders’ fear of the crowd—completes the same argumentative structure begun in v.5.
- John 1:19-21 (thematic): Priests and Levites question John’s identity and authority, raising the broader theme of official leaders testing prophetic authority and the people’s belief—parallels the issue of how to treat John’s divine endorsement.
Alternative generated candidates
- They began to debate among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'"
- They discussed it among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'",
Luke.20.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- ειπωμεν·Εξ: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl
- ανθρωπων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- λαος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- απας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- καταλιθασει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- πεπεισμενος: PARTCP,perf,pass,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- Ιωαννην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- προφητην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ειναι·: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- Matthew 21:25-26 (verbal): Same setting and nearly identical wording: the authorities debate whether John's baptism was from heaven or from men, fearing the people's belief that John was a prophet.
- Mark 11:31-32 (verbal): Parallel account with matching concern—'they feared the people, for all held John as a prophet'—echoing Luke's statement about popular conviction regarding John.
- Luke 7:26-28 (thematic): Jesus' earlier affirmation that John was a prophet (and more than a prophet) reflects the widespread recognition of John's prophetic role that underlies the leaders' fear in Luke 20:6.
- Matthew 11:9-14 (thematic): Jesus' identification of John as the prophesied forerunner/Elijah and as a prophet supports the background assumption in Luke 20:6 that the people regarded John as a genuine prophet.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they all regard John as a prophet."
- but if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they were persuaded that John was a prophet."
Luke.20.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- απεκριθησαν: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- μη: PART
- ειδεναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- ποθεν: ADV
Parallels
- Matthew 21:23-27 (structural): Parallel pericope: the chief priests and elders question Jesus' authority and he replies by asking about John's baptism; the leaders likewise refuse to answer directly.
- Matthew 21:25-26 (verbal): Same exchange about John's baptism; the leaders reason they cannot say (or 'do not know') because of fear of the crowd—provides the motive behind the evasive reply.
- Mark 11:27-33 (verbal): Mark's parallel of the authority-question scene: Jesus counters with the question about John's baptism and the officials answer evasively ('we cannot tell'/'we do not know'), then refuse to answer Jesus.
- Luke 20:2-6 (structural): Immediate Lukan context of the same episode: Jesus asks by what authority he acts and raises the question of John's baptism; the officials' unwillingness to answer culminates in the line 'we do not know.'
Alternative generated candidates
- So they answered Jesus, "We do not know."
- So they answered that they did not know where it came from.
Luke.20.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις·Ουδε: PRON,dat,pl,3
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- εν: PREP
- ποια: PRON,dat,sg,f
- εξουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- ποιω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 21:27 (verbal): Almost identical wording and use of the retort: after the religious leaders refuse to answer Jesus about John's baptism, Jesus likewise refuses to answer about his own authority.
- Mark 11:33 (verbal): Part of the parallel pericope in Mark where Jesus responds to the leaders' refusal with the same declaration that he will not tell them by what authority he acts.
- Matthew 21:23 (thematic): Sets up the same challenge to Jesus' authority by the chief priests and elders; provides the broader Matthean context for the exchange that culminates in Jesus' refusal to disclose his authority.
- Luke 20:2 (structural): The immediate narrative antecedent in Luke: the chief priests and scribes ask Jesus 'By what authority are you doing these things?'—the question to which verse 8 is Jesus' reciprocal refusal to answer.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
- And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."
And it came to pass on one of those days, as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes and the leaders of the people came to him,
and they said to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you this authority?"
He answered them, "I will ask you one thing; answer me:
Was the baptism of John from heaven, or was it from men?"
They debated among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?'
but if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet." So they answered that they did not know where it was from. And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."