Luke 20:19 kjv
And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
Luke 20:19 nkjv
And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people ?for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.
Luke 20:19 niv
The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
Luke 20:19 esv
The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.
Luke 20:19 nlt
The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them ? they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the people's reaction.
Luke 20 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 19:47-48 | And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words. | Leaders' earlier desire to destroy Jesus and restraint due to popular support. |
| Mt 21:45-46 | When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet. | Matthew's parallel account showing the same perception and fear. |
| Mk 12:12 | And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the crowd, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away. | Mark's parallel account, nearly identical, emphasizing fear of the crowd. |
| Jn 7:30 | So they were seeking to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him, because his hour had not yet come. | Earlier attempts to arrest Jesus foiled by divine timing. |
| Jn 7:44 | Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. | Another instance of desire to seize Jesus without success. |
| Jn 11:47-53 | So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs… if we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”… From that day on they made plans to put him to death. | Sanhedrin's decision to kill Jesus to protect their status, fearing public unrest. |
| Lk 22:2 | And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. | Later continuation of the same murderous intent and fear of the people, leading to Judas' betrayal. |
| Lk 22:6 | So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd. | Judas finding a moment to betray Jesus without a crowd present, overcoming the leaders' obstacle. |
| Mk 11:18 | And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. | Earlier plotting against Jesus due to fear of his influence on the crowds. |
| Lk 20:9-18 | (The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers) | The direct preceding context and source of the leaders' anger. |
| Lk 20:1-8 | (The challenge to Jesus' authority and His counter-question) | The context immediately prior to the parable, establishing the tension over authority. |
| Isa 5:1-7 | (The Song of the Vineyard) | Old Testament parable of a vineyard (Israel) and its unfruitfulness, echoing themes of judgment in Luke's parable. |
| Ps 2:2 | The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed. | Prophetic anticipation of earthly rulers conspiring against God's Messiah. |
| Acts 4:21 | And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. | Leaders restrained from punishing Peter and John due to fear of the people's reaction. |
| Acts 5:26 | Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. | Sanhedrin's continued fear of popular violence when arresting apostles. |
| Jer 23:1-2 | “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord... "you have not attended to them; behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds." | Prophecy against wicked shepherds (leaders) who fail God's people, fitting the parable's indictment. |
| Ez 34:1-10 | (Prophecy against the shepherds of Israel who fed themselves instead of the flock) | Similar prophetic critique of corrupt spiritual leaders who neglect or oppress God's flock. |
| Lk 19:45-46 | He entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” | Jesus' temple cleansing further inflamed the chief priests, who benefited from temple trade. |
| Mt 26:5 | But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be a riot among the people.” | Their tactical avoidance of arresting Jesus during a festival due to fear of public disturbance. |
| Jn 18:28 | Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the Praetorium, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. | Illustrates their hypocrisy, meticulously following ritual law while seeking to murder Jesus. |
| Mt 27:20 | Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. | Later manipulation of the crowds to achieve their goals, showing they could incite violence if desired. |
Luke 20 verses
Luke 20 19 Meaning
Luke 20:19 describes the immediate and intense reaction of the Jewish religious leaders—the scribes and chief priests—following Jesus' parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. They recognized that the parable was a direct accusation against them, condemning their spiritual leadership and forecasting their removal. Driven by this understanding and their wounded pride, they sought to arrest Jesus at once. However, their plan was hindered by a significant impediment: their fear of the general populace, who largely revered Jesus as a prophet or respected teacher. This verse highlights the leaders' profound hostility towards Jesus and the political calculations that constrained their immediate actions.
Luke 20 19 Context
Luke 20:19 takes place during Jesus' final week of earthly ministry in Jerusalem, specifically after his Triumphal Entry and subsequent confrontation with the chief priests and scribes in the Temple. Chapter 20 begins with the Jewish leaders challenging Jesus' authority, to which He responds by asking about John the Baptist's authority. Following this, Jesus tells the parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Lk 20:9-18). In this parable, Israel is likened to a vineyard, and the tenants are the religious leaders who repeatedly rejected God's prophets and ultimately killed His Son. The parable vividly portrays God's coming judgment on these unfaithful stewards and the transfer of His vineyard to others. Verse 19 is the immediate reaction to this direct and powerful indictment. Historically, the chief priests, mostly Sadducees, controlled the Temple and were the religious and political establishment in Jerusalem, while the scribes (mostly Pharisees) were respected legal experts and interpreters of the Law. Both groups, though often in contention, united in their opposition to Jesus, viewing Him as a threat to their authority and the prevailing order. The fear of "the people" reflects their political expediency, prioritizing popular approval and stability over righteousness.
Luke 20 19 Word analysis
- καὶ (kai) - "And": Connects this reaction directly to the preceding parable, indicating a swift and immediate consequence.
- ἐζήτησαν (ezētēsan) - "they sought": Imperfect tense, indicating an ongoing or habitual desire, a persistent underlying intention that was now amplified. It's a deliberate pursuit.
- οἱ γραμματεῖς (hoi grammateis) - "the scribes": Jewish scholars and experts in the Law. They held considerable intellectual and religious authority, particularly among the common people, for their meticulous study and interpretation of the Torah.
- καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς (kai hoi archiereis) - "and the chief priests": The highest-ranking priests, predominantly Sadducees, who controlled the Temple administration and vast sums of money. They represented the dominant political and religious establishment, members of the Sanhedrin, with immense power.
- ἐπιβαλεῖν (epibalein) - "to lay hands on": This is a strong Greek term indicating a forceful seizure or arrest. It goes beyond merely "trying to capture" and suggests immediate, physical apprehension, often associated with violent action.
- ἐπ’ αὐτόν (ep' auton) - "on him": Directly targets Jesus.
- ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ (en autē tē hōra) - "at that very hour": Emphasizes the immediacy and urgency of their desire for action. They wanted to arrest Him on the spot, highlighting their rage and sense of exposed culpability.
- ἔγνωσαν (egnōsan) - "for they perceived" / "they understood": From ginoskō, indicating not merely an intellectual awareness but a profound recognition and full comprehension of the parable's meaning and target. They intuitively grasped its condemning message against them.
- ὅτι πρὸς αὐτοὺς (hoti pros autous) - "that against them" / "concerning them": This clarifies the direct accusatory nature of the parable. Jesus was not speaking generally, but precisely pointed to them as the wicked tenants.
- τὴν παραβολὴν ταύτην (tēn parabolēn tautēn) - "this parable": Refers specifically to the parable of the Wicked Vinedressers in Luke 20:9-18.
- εἶπεν (eipen) - "he had told": Indicating the act of speaking the parable.
- ἐφοβήθησαν τὸν λαόν (ephobēthēsan ton laon) - "but they feared the people": The conjunction "but" (kai in Greek here serves as "and yet" or "but") highlights the contrast between their intent and their action. "Feared" (from phobeō) indicates a genuine dread, not just caution. Their primary concern was not justice or truth, but avoiding a public outcry or riot among the common people who largely supported or at least were favorably disposed towards Jesus.
Words-group analysis:
- "The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour": This phrase reveals the malicious and immediate intent of the combined religious leadership. Their attempt to physically seize Jesus highlights their resort to brute force when arguments fail, driven by perceived threats to their power. The immediacy ("at that very hour") signifies their anger and the direct impact of Jesus' words.
- "for they perceived that he had told this parable against them": This explains the motivation behind their attempted arrest. Jesus' parable successfully conveyed its sharp critique, leaving no doubt in the minds of the religious leaders that they were the targets. This understanding solidified their resolve to eliminate Him.
- "but they feared the people": This crucial phrase reveals the primary obstacle to their immediate action. It underscores their tactical pragmatism and political sensitivity over spiritual integrity. Their desire to eliminate Jesus was outweighed by the potential for popular backlash, demonstrating their concern for their own position and public order above confronting Jesus' truth.
Luke 20 19 Bonus section
- This verse showcases the political shrewdness of the Jewish leaders. Despite their anger, they prioritize public order and their own standing over immediate action, illustrating that their motivations were earthly and self-serving rather than spiritually guided.
- The incident foreshadows Jesus' eventual arrest (Lk 22:2, 47-53). When He is eventually seized, it is at night, away from the crowds, specifically engineered to avoid the very public reaction feared in Luke 20:19, confirming their sustained tactical consideration.
- The parable's impact confirms Jesus' authority and prophetic identity, as His words hit their mark with such precision that the leaders could not deny the message was aimed directly at them, even if they refused to repent.
Luke 20 19 Commentary
Luke 20:19 offers a concise yet powerful insight into the escalating tension in Jerusalem. Having just heard Jesus' parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, which laid bare their spiritual bankruptcy and foretold their rejection as God's chosen stewards, the chief priests and scribes immediately sought Jesus' arrest. Their perception was accurate; the parable was a direct polemic against their corrupt leadership and unjust handling of God's 'vineyard,' Israel. The "very hour" denotes the suddenness and intensity of their fury, stung by Jesus' prophetic insight into their hearts. However, the pivotal restraint was not a change of heart or a realization of their error, but their pragmatic fear of the populace. Many in the crowd saw Jesus as a prophet, and the leaders knew that any public aggression against Him could ignite a popular uprising or backlash, endangering their authority and perhaps drawing Roman intervention. This verse perfectly encapsulates the conflict dynamic: Jesus exposing truth, the leaders reacting with murderous intent, and only worldly fear—rather than divine principle—holding their violent desires at bay. It underscores how close they were to orchestrating Jesus' capture long before it occurred, indicating divine timing was at play until the precise moment appointed for His crucifixion.