Luke 20:21 kjv
And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
Luke 20:21 nkjv
Then they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth:
Luke 20:21 niv
So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
Luke 20:21 esv
So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God.
Luke 20:21 nlt
"Teacher," they said, "we know that you speak and teach what is right and are not influenced by what others think. You teach the way of God truthfully.
Luke 20 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 20:20 | "They watched Him and sent spies who pretended to be sincere..." | Context of cunning deception before flattery |
| Mt 22:16 | "And they sent their disciples to Him, with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that you are true...'" | Parallel account, similar flattery |
| Mk 12:14 | "And when they had come, they said to Him, 'Teacher, we know that you are true...'" | Parallel account in Mark's Gospel |
| Jn 2:25 | "And needed no one to tell him about human nature; for he himself knew what was in everyone." | Jesus' divine knowledge of human hearts/intentions |
| Jn 14:6 | "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life...'" | Jesus as the ultimate embodiment of truth and "the way" |
| Jn 8:44 | "...He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him..." | Contrasts Jesus' truth with Satan's deception, like the speakers |
| Rom 2:11 | "For God shows no partiality." | God's character of impartiality echoed in Jesus |
| Acts 10:34 | "Then Peter began to speak: 'I now truly understand that God shows no partiality.'" | Reinforces the divine attribute of impartiality |
| Gal 2:6 | "...God does not show favoritism." | Emphasizes God's unbiased nature |
| Deut 10:17 | "For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality..." | OT foundation for God's impartiality |
| Prov 29:7 | "A righteous man cares for the rights of the poor, but a wicked man has no such concern." | Righteousness associated with justice and care for all, not partiality |
| Prov 26:28 | "A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin." | Warns against the destructive nature of flattery |
| Ps 5:9 | "For there is no truth in their mouth; their inward part is utter destruction; their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue." | Describes hypocritical speech and flattery |
| 1 Pet 2:21-23 | "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps... Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return..." | Jesus' character of enduring false accusations with integrity |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Calls for living by truth, contrasting with those who only "hear" or speak truth deceptively |
| Jer 9:8 | "Their tongue is a deadly arrow; they speak deceitfully..." | Describes speech used for deceit, mirroring the spies' intent |
| Lk 6:8 | "But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, 'Rise and stand here.'" | Jesus' inherent ability to discern thoughts |
| Mt 7:29 | "...for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." | Contrasts Jesus' authoritative teaching with traditional teaching |
| 1 Cor 2:13-16 | "...but teaching spiritual things with spiritual words... For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." | Jesus' teaching is rooted in divine wisdom |
| Heb 4:15 | "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin." | Jesus faced real temptations and trials without compromising truth |
Luke 20 verses
Luke 20 21 Meaning
Luke 20:21 presents a scene where the chief priests and scribes send spies to Jesus, feigning sincerity and asking for His teaching. They begin with exaggerated flattery, proclaiming Jesus' integrity, impartiality, and commitment to teaching the genuine way of God based on truth. This deceptive praise serves as a prelude to a trick question, designed to trap Him politically or religiously, showcasing the speakers' hypocrisy against Jesus' authentic character.
Luke 20 21 Context
Luke 20 begins with religious authorities challenging Jesus' authority after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the cleansing of the Temple. Having been publicly rebuked through the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Lk 20:9-19), the chief priests and scribes now actively seek to seize Jesus. They send "spies, who pretended to be sincere" (Lk 20:20) to lay a trap for Him. The specific question (about paying tribute to Caesar, Lk 20:22) is designed to corner Jesus: if He says 'yes,' He risks alienating the zealous Jewish population who resisted Roman taxation; if He says 'no,' He risks being arrested for sedition against Rome. Verse 21, then, serves as the elaborate, insincere setup for this trap, delivered by these agents (often understood as Pharisees and Herodians based on parallels in Mt 22:16 and Mk 12:13), aiming to elicit a politically damaging answer.
Luke 20 21 Word analysis
- So they asked him, 'Teacher,
- So they asked him (Καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτόν): Indicates the start of their engagement with Jesus, but carries the preceding context of them being "spies" who "pretended to be sincere" (Lk 20:20), revealing their underlying deceitful intention.
- Teacher (διδάσκαλε, didaskale): A common respectful address for a rabbi or instructor. Though ostensibly honoring, their use of this term here is deeply hypocritical, used to flatter and disarm Jesus, not out of genuine respect for His authority.
- we know that you speak and teach what is right,
- we know (οἴδαμεν, oidamen): Emphasizes their claimed certainty, lending a persuasive tone. However, in light of their motive, it signifies a false, manipulative assertion of knowledge.
- that you speak and teach what is right (ὅτι ὀρθῶς λέγεις καὶ διδάσκεις):
- what is right (ὀρθῶς, orthōs): Meaning "straight," "correctly," "properly." This points to the ethical and truthful nature of Jesus' words. It's an acknowledgement of His accurate and upright instruction, even if insincerely uttered. They are forced to acknowledge the apparent righteousness of His public ministry.
- speak (λέγεις, legeis) and teach (διδάσκεις, didaskeis): Differentiates between what Jesus says in general conversation or proclamation and what He formally instructs. They admit His consistency in both.
- and that you do not show partiality
- do not show partiality (οὐ λαμβάνεις πρόσωπον, ou lambaneis prosōpon): Literally, "do not receive/take a face." This is a Hebrew idiom (nasa panim) common in the Septuagint and New Testament, meaning to judge or favor based on external appearance, status, wealth, or power. It refers to a person who is unbiased, impartial, and treats all people fairly, without favoritism. This attribute is often ascribed to God Himself in Scripture. The spies' acknowledgement highlights Jesus' known reputation for egalitarian justice, making their manipulative praise all the more cynical.
- but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.'
- but teach (ἀλλὰ διδάσκεις, alla didaskeis): Continues to praise His teaching ministry, contrasting it with what partiality might involve.
- the way of God (τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, tēn hodon tou theou): A significant biblical phrase. "The Way" frequently refers to a course of life, moral conduct, or doctrine. "The Way of God" signifies divine law, divine will, or the path to righteousness as revealed by God. They implicitly affirm that Jesus is teaching God's authentic instructions for human conduct and salvation.
- in accordance with the truth (ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας, ep’ alētheias): Meaning "on truth," "truly," "genuinely." This emphasizes the foundational nature of truth in Jesus' teaching. His instructions are not based on human opinion or tradition but are rooted in absolute reality and divine veracity. This final piece of flattery summarizes their "tribute" to Jesus' character as one who is completely committed to the truth of God.
Luke 20 21 Bonus section
The phrase "do not show partiality" or "God shows no partiality" (Gk: ou lambaneis prosopon or similar, lit. "not taking a face") is a direct theological attribute of God found throughout the Old and New Testaments. For these agents of the religious elite, who often did show partiality to the wealthy, powerful, or those who upheld their traditions, to admit that Jesus did not show partiality was a powerful, if unwitting, confession of His divine-like character. It indicates Jesus' inclusive approach to all people, regardless of their social standing or religious adherence, which challenged the hierarchical structures of the time. This was a truth they knew but deliberately sought to pervert.
Luke 20 21 Commentary
Luke 20:21 perfectly encapsulates the profound irony and hypocrisy Jesus constantly encountered. The praise lavished upon Him by these spies — acknowledging His righteousness, impartiality, and truthful teaching of God's way — is outwardly flawless and describes Jesus' character accurately. However, the sincerity is utterly absent. The speakers themselves are masters of deception, embodying the very partiality and untruth they deny in Jesus, seeking to use truth itself as a snare. This scene highlights Jesus' authentic divine wisdom and discernment, as He sees through their elaborate flattery to their wicked intent, providing an answer that magnificently navigates their trap while reinforcing His commitment to God's truth. The passage subtly juxtaposes human cunning against divine wisdom.