40: Authority of Jesus & Ten tenants & Paying Tax (Luke 20:1 – 26)

This chapter contains the final disputes with the religious leaders and shows their disqualification. 

👉 Read Luke 20:1-26

Q1. When Jesus cleansed the temple, religious leaders came and asked what authority he had. Jesus asked them back, ‘John’s baptism, was it from heaven or from people?' Jesus implied that both Jesus’ authority and John’s authority have the same origin. They said they didn’t know where John’s baptism came from. What blinded their eyes? (5-6)

Seeking self-righteousness. 

Their first concern is not being accused rather than knowing the truth from God. If they had admitted their sinfulness and accepted John’s baptism, they would have believed the gospel of Jesus. 

When John preached a baptism of repentance in the wilderness, the religious leaders largely ignored him. Since they did not consider themselves sinners, they paid little attention to his message. Some may even have viewed his ministry as beneficial, expecting his call to repentance to lead people back to their temple-centered worship. After all, John was the son of Zechariah, a priest.

But when Jesus proclaimed the kingdom of God and overturned the tables in the temple, He challenged both their authority and their interests. That is why they confronted Him and questioned the source of His authority.

Q2. The parable of the tenants portrays the evil attitude of the religious leaders. Why did they kill the owner's son? 

They wanted the vineyard. They thought they could get the vineyard if the legitimate heir is removed. 

The owner thought they would respect his own son. However, they all the more hated him and killed him. This shows their hatred against the owner, not the slaves, nor even the son unless he claimed he came from the Father. “I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.” (John 5:43)

“He will give the vineyard to others” (16) points to the transition from the old covenant order to the new covenant. The vineyard represents God’s people, and the tenants represent the religious leaders who rejected God’s messengers and finally His Son. God would take the responsibility of His kingdom away from the unfaithful leaders and give it to others who would produce the fruit of the kingdom through faith in Christ. 

Q3. “When the people heard this, they said, ‘May this (          ) happen.’ But Jesus looked (          ) at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the (           ) rejected has become the (             )?” 

“When the people heard this, they said, ‘May this ( never ) happen.’ But Jesus looked ( straight ) at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the ( builders ) rejected has become the ( cornerstone )?” 

‘What is the meaning of that which is written’: Jesus means ‘This is God’s providential will. How do you say, ‘May this never happen’?

The builder represents the religious leaders. 

Q4. Religious leaders came to Jesus with an evil intention (20) and flattery (21). They asked Jesus whether it was lawful to pay Caesar’s taxes (22). Their question was superficially about the truth of the tax issue, but their real intention was to trap Jesus so that they could remove Him. What was Jesus’ answer?

“Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Does this answer their question? Yes—but not simply. The Greek word for “give” (apodote) can also carry the sense of “give back” or “return.” It was obvious to return what belonged to Caesar. But this raises deeper questions: “What belongs to Caesar—our money and possessions?” “Should God’s people pay taxes to a worldly authority?” If paying taxes implies acknowledging Caesar’s rule, then who is truly our king—Caesar or God?

This was the deeper tension behind the tax debate. Jesus did not explicitly explain the relationship between Caesar’s kingdom and God’s kingdom. Instead, His answer points to the deeper issue through His words: “Give to God the things that are God’s.” Their hidden intention received a hidden answer.

By flattering Jesus, they tried to confuse His judgment and elicit the answer they wanted. When we become accustomed to seeking human praise and glory, our spiritual eyes become darkened. Be on your guard.

Q5. Jesus’ answer responds to both their question about the tax and their evil intention. Regarding the tax issue, why did they need to pay the tax? And from this, what was Jesus’ answer to their evil intention?

Because the denarius bore Caesar’s image, it belonged to Caesar and should be returned to him. The image on the coin represented his authority as ruler.

But we bear God’s image, so we belong to God and must give ourselves back to Him. We should seek His righteousness and will, rather than our own righteousness or glory, as the religious leaders did. In this sense, “Give to God the things that are God’s” was the real answer to their approach (hidden intention).

Unless we put our hearts and attitudes right before God, we cannot properly grasp the truth.

They expected the kingdom of God to come through the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant, and therefore saw Caesar’s rule and taxation as potentially conflicting with God’s coming kingdom. Jesus distinguished what belongs to Caesar from what belongs to God. The denarius bears Caesar’s image, so it belongs to Caesar. But human beings bear God’s image; therefore, we must give ourselves wholly to God.

“The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed... For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20–21)

The kingdom of God is not primarily about establishing an earthly institution or political organization, but about extending His rule into the hearts of His people. Therefore, God’s kingdom does not compete with Caesar’s kingdom, though God remains sovereign over all earthly authorities. His kingdom comes into our hearts so that we give ourselves fully to God. When Jesus returns, all earthly authorities will be judged and God’s kingdom will be fully revealed, in visible ways.

Jesus answered their tax question while also exposing their deeper problem: they claimed to seek God’s kingdom, but they were unwilling to give God what belonged to Him—their hearts and lives. Their hypocrisy distorted their minds and blinded them to the truth. Therefore, they were unfit to lead God’s people.