*Luke 20:20-40
Jesus avoids traps set by his opponents with answers regarding paying taxes to Caesar and the afterlife.
- Attempt to Trap Jesus with a Question about Taxes:
- Spies sent by the religious leaders pretend to be sincere as they question Jesus, aiming to trap him in his words.
- They ask whether it is lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, hoping to incriminate him.
- Jesus, perceiving their intentions, asks them to show a denarius coin and inquires whose image is on it.
- They reply, “Caesar’s.”
- Jesus responds, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
- The spies are unable to trap him, and they marvel at his answer, remaining silent.
- Sadducees Question Jesus on Resurrection:
- The Sadducees, who deny the concept of resurrection, present a hypothetical question to Jesus.
- They refer to the Mosaic Law, where a man must marry his deceased brother’s widow if the brother leaves no children, to continue the family line.
- They describe a scenario involving seven brothers who each marry the same woman successively after the previous brother dies, all dying without children.
- They ask Jesus whose wife she will be in the resurrection since all seven had been married to her.
- Jesus’ Response on the Resurrection:
- Jesus explains that life in the resurrection is different from earthly life.
- In the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage, but will be like angels and cannot die.
- He emphasizes that the resurrected are “children of God” and “children of the resurrection.”
- Evidence from Moses:
- Jesus points to Moses’ encounter with the burning bush to illustrate the reality of resurrection.
- He recalls God’s words to Moses, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” indicating that God is the God of the living, not the dead.
- Reaction:
- Some of the teachers of the law praise Jesus for his answer, acknowledging that he answered well.
- No one dares to question him further, recognizing his wisdom and understanding.
Luke 20:20-40 teaches us to be wise and truthful in how we respond to challenges, just as Jesus answered tricky questions with wisdom and honesty. It also reminds us that God’s truth is greater than human arguments. When the religious leaders tried to trap Jesus, He stayed calm and focused on what really mattered—honoring God. This passage encourages us to seek wisdom in difficult situations, stay true to our faith, and trust that God’s ways are higher than our own.
Luke 20:20-40 (WEB)
20:20 They watched him and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor. 21 They asked him, “Teacher, we know that you say and teach what is right, and aren’t partial to anyone, but truly teach the way of God. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test me? 24 Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”They answered, “Caesar’s.”25 He said to them, “Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”26 They weren’t able to trap him in his words before the people. They marveled at his answer and were silent. 27 Some of the Sadducees came to him, those who deny that there is a resurrection. 28 They asked him, “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should take the wife and raise up children for his brother. 29 There were therefore seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died childless. 30 The second took her as wife, and he died childless. 31 The third took her, and likewise the seven all left no children, and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them will she be? For the seven had her as a wife.”34 Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 For they can’t die any more, for they are like the angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he called the Lord ‘The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for all are alive to him.”39 Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you speak well.” 40 They didn’t dare to ask him any more questions.