Luke 20 23

Luke 20:23 kjv

But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

Luke 20:23 nkjv

But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me?

Luke 20:23 niv

He saw through their duplicity and said to them,

Luke 20:23 esv

But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them,

Luke 20:23 nlt

He saw through their trickery and said,

Luke 20 verses

Luke 20 23 Meaning

Luke 20:23 reveals Jesus's divine omniscience and unmatchable wisdom in discerning the malicious intent behind a seemingly innocent question. He immediately understood that the inquiry about paying taxes to Caesar was a cunning trap designed by His adversaries—scribes, chief priests, and elders—to either politically implicate Him with Rome or religiously discredit Him with the Jewish people. Rather than directly answering the deceptive query, Jesus exposed their hypocritical and deceptive motive, rebuking them for attempting to test or entrap Him.

Luke 20 23 Context

Luke 20:23 is part of a series of confrontations between Jesus and the religious authorities in Jerusalem during His final week before His crucifixion. Following His cleansing of the Temple, the chief priests, scribes, and elders challenged His authority (Lk 20:1-8). Jesus then told the parable of the wicked vinedressers (Lk 20:9-19), clearly implicating them as those who reject God's messengers and Son. This verse immediately precedes the famous incident where His adversaries, "spies who pretended to be righteous" (Lk 20:20), posed a seemingly innocuous question: "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" This question was a calculated trap, designed to corner Jesus. If He said yes, He would alienate the nationalist Jews who resented Roman rule and taxation. If He said no, He would be an enemy of Rome, liable to arrest for sedition. Historically, Roman occupation meant heavy taxation, a deeply sensitive issue for the Jewish people who considered God as their only King. The religious leaders' question, cloaked in piety ("lawful"), aimed to destroy Jesus's reputation and power base, regardless of His answer.

Luke 20 23 Word analysis

• But He perceived: The Greek is Αὐτὸς δὲ κατανοήσας (Autos de katanoēsas).
  • Αὐτὸς (Autos): "He Himself." Emphatic, highlighting Jesus's direct and personal action.
  • δὲ (de): "But," "and." A transition particle, signaling a change or contrast to their intentions.
  • κατανοήσας (katanoēsas): A participle from the verb katanoeō, meaning "to understand fully," "to perceive clearly," "to grasp comprehensively." It signifies a profound discernment that goes beyond mere observation. It implies seeing the underlying truth, not just the surface appearance. This reflects Jesus's divine insight, seeing directly into their hearts and motives, not just hearing their words.
• their craftiness: The Greek is αὐτῶν τὴν πανουργίαν (autōn tēn panourgian).
  • αὐτῶν (autōn): "of them," "their." Refers to the spies, chief priests, scribes, and elders.
  • τὴν (tēn): The definite article "the."
  • πανουργίαν (panourgian): From panourgia, meaning "cunning," "craftiness," "trickery," "deceitful plotting," "unscrupulousness." This term typically carries a negative connotation, referring to skill used for malicious, wicked, or underhanded purposes. It describes an intelligence used not for good, but for manipulation and deception. This is a direct polemic, revealing the true character and intention of those posing the question. They were skilled in villainy.
• and said to them: Greek: εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς (eipen de pros autous). Direct, declarative statement by Jesus in response to their hidden motive.
• "Why do you test Me?": Greek: Τί με πειράζετε; (Ti me peirazete?)
  • Τί (Ti): "What?" or "Why?" Here, clearly "Why?" interrogative.
  • με (me): "Me." Direct object, referring to Jesus Himself.
  • πειράζετε (peirazete): From the verb peirazō, meaning "to test," "to try," "to examine." In this context, it implies a malicious test, an attempt to entrap, ensnare, or challenge His authority/divinity in a hostile way, rather than a genuine inquiry. It evokes Old Testament warnings against testing God (Ex 17:2; Deut 6:16). Their "test" was a challenge to provoke a reaction that could be used against Him.
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • "But He perceived their craftiness": This phrase highlights Jesus's divine awareness against human deceit. It establishes Jesus's supernatural ability to look beyond the facade of religious pretense and see the wickedness residing in the hearts of His questioners. This stands in stark contrast to their panourgia, which is earthly cunning, versus His katanoeō, which is heavenly discernment.
  • "and said to them, 'Why do you test Me?'": This response is a direct and penetrating rebuke. Jesus does not engage with the false premise of their question, nor does He allow them to dictate the terms of the conversation. Instead, He exposes their agenda immediately. The question "Why do you test Me?" not only acknowledges their malicious intent but also serves as a warning, reminding them that they are attempting to entrap someone who cannot be outsmarted, someone who implicitly understands their action as an affront to His divine Person. It's a statement of authority and omniscience.

Commentary

Luke 20:23 captures a pivotal moment of divine wisdom confronting human deceit. The religious leaders approached Jesus under the guise of sincere inquiry, but their hearts were full of "craftiness" (panourgia), intending to ensnare Him politically or religiously. However, Jesus, by His divine nature, "perceived" (katanoeō) their true motives with complete clarity. This perception was not a mere guess or keen observation but a profound insight into their spiritual condition and wicked intent. His immediate response, "Why do you test Me?", exposed their hypocrisy without answering the deceptive question itself. This brief sentence served as a powerful rebuke, stripping away their pretense and revealing them as those who dared to "test" God, akin to the Israelites who tested the Lord in the wilderness. Jesus's discerning response affirms His supreme authority and His unyielding control over every situation, demonstrating that no human cunning can ever outwit divine wisdom. His question forced them to confront their own manipulative hearts before they could even receive a direct answer, foreshadowing His triumph over all adversaries.

Bonus section

This verse subtly showcases Jesus's absolute sovereignty and invulnerability to human manipulation. His wisdom not only exposes evil but renders the opponents' sophisticated trap utterly useless before they even fully spring it. The very foundation of their scheme was shattered by Jesus's piercing discernment. It also reinforces the biblical truth that God cannot be mocked or truly tested; attempts to do so only reveal the foolishness and rebellion of those who try. This particular instance serves as a prelude to Jesus's perfect answer regarding "rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" (Lk 20:25), a response made possible because He first saw past their superficial query to their malevolent intent.

Luke 20 23 Bonus section

Luke 20 23 Commentary