Luke 20 1

Luke 20:1 kjv

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

Luke 20:1 nkjv

Now it happened on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, that the chief priests and the scribes, together with the elders, confronted Him

Luke 20:1 niv

One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.

Luke 20:1 esv

One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up

Luke 20:1 nlt

One day as Jesus was teaching the people and preaching the Good News in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him.

Luke 20 verses

Luke 20 1 Meaning

Luke 20:1 depicts a critical moment in Jesus' final days in Jerusalem. It concisely sets the scene for a direct confrontation between Jesus, publicly teaching and proclaiming the Kingdom of God within the temple courts, and the unified Jewish religious leadership—the chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders. This verse establishes that Jesus' public ministry and the radical message of the Gospel were perceived as a significant challenge by the established religious authorities, leading them to directly question His authority. It signifies the intensification of the opposition that would culminate in His crucifixion.

Luke 20 1 Context

Luke 20:1 immediately follows Jesus' actions and teachings during His final week in Jerusalem, specifically after His Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:28-40), weeping over the city (Luke 19:41-44), and cleansing the Temple courts of commercial activity (Luke 19:45-46). Luke 19:47-48 notes that Jesus "was teaching daily in the temple" and that the chief priests, teachers of the law, and leaders were "trying to kill him" but could not because the people "all hung on his words."

This verse sets the stage for a series of direct challenges from the unified Jewish religious authorities to Jesus' authority. This confrontation occurs during Passover, a time of heightened nationalistic fervor and religious pilgrimage, which the Roman authorities watched carefully for any unrest. The Sanhedrin, composed of chief priests (primarily Sadducees who controlled the Temple), teachers of the law (Scribes, mainly Pharisees and experts in Jewish law), and elders (prominent lay members, often aristocrats), perceived Jesus as a significant threat to their power, their interpretation of the Law, and the precarious peace they maintained with Rome. They approach Jesus not for instruction, but to publicly discredit Him, hoping to find a charge to justify His arrest and execution. This verse opens the segment where Jesus' authority and wisdom are profoundly tested and reaffirmed in the heart of Jewish spiritual life.

Luke 20 1 Word analysis

• One day (ἐν μιᾷ τῶν ἡμερῶν - en mia tōn hēmerōn): Literally "on one of the days." This phrase signals a particular, significant time within Jesus' ministry, emphasizing it's not a random occurrence but a specific point in the escalating tension during Passion Week, following Jesus' bold entry and actions in the Temple.
• as Jesus was teaching (διδάσκοντος τοῦ Ἰησοῦ - didaskontos tou Iēsou): "Didaskontos" is a present active participle, denoting a continuous action. Jesus' primary ministry involves instructing. It signifies His established authority as a teacher and implies His daily routine in the Temple courts, as noted in Luke 19:47. His teaching was central to His mission.
• the people (τὸν λαόν - ton laon): Refers to the crowds of ordinary Jews, many of whom were pilgrims in Jerusalem for Passover. They represent the popular support Jesus had garnered, which frustrated and intimidated the religious leaders. This collective body often "hung on his words" (Lk 19:48).
• in the temple courts (ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ - en tō hierō): Refers to the broader Temple precincts, not just the inner sanctuary. This was a very public, open space, a center of Jewish life, commerce, and religious teaching. Jesus' teaching here publicly challenged the existing temple authority and ritualism, asserting the priority of spiritual truth. His presence here highlights His authority even over this sacred space.
• and proclaiming the good news (καὶ εὐαγγελιζομένου - kai euangelizomenou): The term "euangelizomenou" is a present middle/passive participle of "euangelizomai," meaning "to evangelize," "to preach the good news" or "gospel." This highlights the core of Jesus' message – the coming of the Kingdom of God, salvation, and forgiveness through Himself. It distinguishes His ministry from mere instruction, emphasizing the message of grace and redemption.
• the chief priests (οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς - hoi archiereis): These were the highest-ranking Sadducean priests, holding significant religious, social, and political power. They managed the Temple's affairs, revenues, and rituals. They were highly vested in maintaining the status quo, fearing Jesus' challenge to their authority and the potential for Roman intervention if Jesus stirred unrest.
• and the teachers of the law (οἱ γραμματεῖς - hoi grammateis): Also known as scribes, these were experts in the Mosaic Law and oral traditions. While often associated with the Pharisees (who emphasized strict adherence to the Law), scribes could belong to different groups. They held considerable interpretive authority over scripture and religious practices.
• together with the elders (σὺν τοῖς πρεσβυτέροις - syn tois presbyterois): These were leading laymen, prominent members of society, often wealthy aristocrats. Along with the chief priests and teachers of the law, they constituted the Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish governing body. Their united presence signifies an official, formal challenge to Jesus' authority by the entirety of the religious and political establishment.
• came up to him (ἐπέστησαν - epestēsan): This verb means to "stand over," "appear suddenly," or "present oneself." It conveys a sense of directness, purposefulness, and potentially confrontational or authoritative approach. They didn't happen upon Him but deliberately came to challenge Him.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Jesus was teaching... and proclaiming the good news": This dual description highlights the comprehensive nature of Jesus' public ministry. He wasn't just imparting knowledge; He was actively announcing the arrival and principles of God's Kingdom, offering salvation and divine truth. This proactive proclamation naturally challenged existing systems.
• "in the temple courts": This phrase underlines the public, authoritative, and provocative nature of Jesus' actions. The Temple was the very center of Jewish religious, social, and national life. By teaching and evangelizing there, Jesus directly entered the domain of the religious authorities, asserting His divine authority where theirs had traditionally held sway.
• "the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders": This group explicitly names the three components of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish ruling body. Their collective presence indicates that this was not a casual encounter but an official, institutional challenge against Jesus, representing the full weight of the established religious and civil power structures.

Luke 20 1 Bonus section

• The timing during Passover week, when Jerusalem was crowded with pilgrims, magnified the visibility and stakes of this confrontation. Both Jesus and the authorities were performing on a grand public stage.
• The Sanhedrin’s coordinated approach reflects their perceived urgency and seriousness regarding the "Jesus problem." They aimed to neutralize His influence.
• Luke, by highlighting Jesus' continuous "teaching" and "proclaiming the good news," underscores the life-giving nature of Jesus' mission in contrast to the rigid, legalistic approach of His adversaries.
• This verse provides the context for the crucial "authority question" in the following verse (Luke 20:2), demonstrating that the core issue was Jesus' claim to divine commission. The leaders' question essentially demanded: "Who gave you permission to operate on God's territory like this?"

Luke 20 1 Commentary

Luke 20:1 marks the culmination of the escalating conflict between Jesus and the Jewish religious establishment. Having previously challenged their corruption through the Temple cleansing and His authoritative teaching (Luke 19:45-48), Jesus' consistent public proclamation of God's Kingdom, especially in the sacred space of the Temple, directly threatened the vested interests and human authority of the chief priests (Sadducees, responsible for the Temple's order and income), teachers of the law (Scribes, custodians of the Law and traditions), and elders (civic leaders). Their approach, "came up to him," denotes a deliberate and confrontational intent, seeking to dismantle Jesus' popular support and find grounds to condemn Him. This verse encapsulates the foundational clash between divine truth incarnate in Jesus and entrenched religious tradition and self-preserving power, a tension that remains relevant in various forms today. This confrontation sets the stage for Jesus to expose the leaders' lack of true spiritual authority while boldly proclaiming His own.