Luke 20:19

And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

And {G2532} the chief priests {G749} and {G2532} the scribes {G1122} the same {G1722}{G846} hour {G5610} sought {G2212} to lay {G1911} hands {G5495} on {G1909} him {G846}; and {G2532} they feared {G5399} the people {G2992}: for {G1063} they perceived {G1097} that {G3754} he had spoken {G2036} this {G5026} parable {G3850} against {G4314} them {G846}.

The Torah-teachers and the head cohanim would have seized him at that very moment, because they knew that he had aimed this parable at them, but they were afraid of the people.

When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.

And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake this parable against them.

Luke 20:19 captures the immediate, hostile reaction of the Jewish religious authorities to Jesus' profound teaching. After hearing one of His most pointed parables, the chief priests and scribes recognized themselves as the targets of His message, fueling their desire to apprehend Him.

Context

This verse follows directly after Jesus delivered the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers (Luke 20:9-18). In this parable, Jesus depicted God as the vineyard owner, Israel as the vineyard, and the religious leaders as the wicked vinedressers who repeatedly rejected and killed the owner's servants (prophets) and ultimately, his beloved son (Jesus Himself). The parable concluded with a stark warning about the owner destroying those vinedressers and giving the vineyard to others. Jesus also referenced Psalm 118:22, speaking of the stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone.

The chief priests and scribes, who had just challenged Jesus' authority (Luke 20:1-8), immediately understood that this parable was a direct indictment of their spiritual leadership and their impending rejection of the Messiah. Their desire to "lay hands on him" signifies their intent to arrest Him, but they were restrained by their fear of the common people, who largely regarded Jesus as a prophet.

Key Themes

  • Rejection of Divine Authority: The religious leaders clearly understood Jesus' claim to be God's Son and messenger, yet they chose to reject Him. Their actions here foreshadow their ultimate role in His crucifixion.
  • Fear of Man vs. Fear of God: The verse highlights the leaders' primary motivation: fear of the people rather than fear of God. They prioritized maintaining their popularity and position over acknowledging divine truth. This fear of the populace prevented them from acting immediately, showing their concern for public opinion.
  • Perception of Truth: Despite their spiritual blindness and hostility, the chief priests and scribes accurately "perceived" that Jesus' parable was directed against them. This indicates that the truth of Jesus' message was undeniable, even to His adversaries.
  • Hypocrisy and Self-Preservation: The leaders' immediate thought was to eliminate Jesus, not to repent or consider His words. This reveals their deep-seated hypocrisy and commitment to self-preservation above all else.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "perceived" is synēkan (συνῆκαν), which means to understand, comprehend, or grasp fully. It's not merely a suspicion but a clear, cognitive recognition. They didn't just guess; they knew exactly what Jesus meant and that He was speaking about them.

Practical Application

  • Truth Can Be Uncomfortable: Sometimes, God's truth, like Jesus' parable, can expose our own failings and sins. Our response should be repentance and humility, not hostility or defensiveness.
  • The Danger of Fearing Man: This passage serves as a warning against prioritizing human approval or worldly power over obedience to God. Proverbs 29:25 reminds us that "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."
  • Recognizing Spiritual Blindness: The religious leaders, despite their knowledge of the Law, were spiritually blind to the Messiah standing before them. We must pray for open hearts and minds to truly see and follow Christ.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 19:47

    And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,

  • Luke 19:48

    And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

  • Luke 20:14

    But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.

  • Matthew 21:45

    And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

  • Matthew 21:46

    But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

  • Mark 12:12

    And they sought to lay hold on him, but feared the people: for they knew that he had spoken the parable against them: and they left him, and went their way.

  • Matthew 26:3

    Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

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