Caught in a Trap? Jesus Has the Perfect Answer (Luke 20:20-40)
In Luke 20:20–40, Jesus is once again put to the test by religious leaders who are trying to trap Him with tricky questions. But instead of getting caught, Jesus answers in a way that surprises everyone and reveals deep truth. Let’s take a closer look.
Trying to Trap Jesus
Some religious leaders didn’t like Jesus. They were jealous of His popularity and didn’t agree with His teachings. So they came up with a plan. They sent spies pretending to be sincere followers. Their goal? To get Jesus to say something that would either make Him unpopular with the people or get Him in trouble with the Roman government.
They asked Him a sneaky question:
“Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
This was a clever trap. If Jesus said “yes,” the people might think He supported the Romans, who ruled over them harshly. If He said “no,” He could be arrested for rebelling against the government.
Jesus’ Wise Answer
Jesus saw right through their trick. He asked them to show Him a Roman coin.
Then He asked,
“Whose image is on it?”
They answered, “Caesar’s.”
And Jesus replied,
“Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
Boom. Trap avoided. Jesus made it clear that people should respect the government’s rules—like paying taxes—but they must also give their hearts and lives to God.
A Second Challenge
Next, a group called the Sadducees came to challenge Jesus. These men didn’t believe in resurrection—they thought that once a person died, that was the end. They told Jesus a strange story about a woman who had been married to seven brothers (one after the other, as each one died), and they asked,
“In the resurrection, whose wife will she be?”
They were trying to make the idea of life after death seem silly.
Jesus Explains Eternal Life
Jesus answered them with deep wisdom. He said that life after death is not like life on earth. In heaven, people won’t marry like they do here. They’ll be like angels—living forever and belonging to God.
Then Jesus reminded them of something from Scripture. When God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, He said,
“I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Jesus pointed out that God is their God—not was. That means they are still alive to Him. God is the God of the living, not the dead.
What We Can Learn
These stories show us that Jesus wasn’t just wise—He understood people’s hearts. The leaders came with traps, but Jesus responded with truth and love.
Here are a few simple lessons we can take away:
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Be honest in your questions—Jesus welcomes those who truly want to learn, not just argue.
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Give respect where it’s due (like paying taxes), but give your soul and devotion to God.
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Life after death is real, and it’s more wonderful than we can imagine.
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God is the God of the living—those who trust in Him have eternal life.
Even when people try to confuse or challenge faith, the truth of Jesus shines through. His words still guide us today.
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.