Luke 20:20

¶ And they watched [him], and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

And {G2532} they watched {G3906} him, and sent forth {G649} spies {G1455}, which should feign {G5271}{G1511} themselves {G1438} just men {G1342}, that {G2443} they might take hold {G1949} of his {G846} words {G3056}, that so {G1519} they might deliver {G3860} him {G846} unto the power {G746} and {G2532} authority {G1849} of the governor {G2232}.

So they kept a close watch on the situation. They sent spies who hypocritically represented themselves as righteous, so that they might seize hold of something Yeshua said, as an excuse to hand him over to the jurisdiction and authority of the governor.

So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.

Luke 20:20 opens a dramatic scene in Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, revealing the intense and deceitful opposition He faced from the religious authorities. This verse sets the stage for a calculated attempt to trap Jesus with His own words, aiming to deliver Him into the hands of the Roman government.

Context

Leading up to this verse, Jesus had entered Jerusalem triumphantly and had been teaching daily in the Temple. His actions, including cleansing the Temple, and His parables, such as the parable of the wicked tenants (Luke 20:9-19), directly challenged the authority and exposed the corruption of the chief priests, scribes, and elders. Feeling threatened and unable to arrest Him openly due to His popularity with the crowds, they devised a cunning plan. This verse describes their shift from direct confrontation to covert espionage, seeking a legal pretext to incriminate Him and hand Him over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.

Key Themes

  • Deception and Hypocrisy: The most striking element is the spies' pretense to be "just men." They feigned sincerity and righteousness to gain Jesus' trust and elicit a controversial statement. This act of profound hypocrisy is a recurring theme in Jesus' condemnations of the religious elite (Matthew 23:27-28).
  • The Intent to Trap: Their goal was not to seek truth but to "take hold of his words," meaning to catch Him in a statement that could be used against Him, either as blasphemy under Jewish law or as sedition against Roman rule. This highlights the malicious intent behind their seemingly innocent questions.
  • Shifting Authority to Rome: The Jewish religious leaders lacked the legal authority under Roman occupation to execute Jesus for religious offenses. Their strategy was to force Jesus into a political dilemma so they could deliver Him "unto the power and authority of the governor." This foreshadows the crucial role of Pontius Pilate in Jesus' trial and crucifixion.
  • Divine Wisdom vs. Human Cunning: This verse sets the stage for Jesus' remarkable wisdom and discernment as He navigates this treacherous situation, demonstrating His ability to see through the deceit and respond with divine insight (Luke 20:21-26).

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "feign" (KJV: "feign themselves just men") is hypokrinomai (ὑποκρίνομαι). This is the root of our English word "hypocrite." It literally means "to play a part," "to act a role," or "to put on a false appearance." This term perfectly captures the calculated and deceptive nature of the spies sent by the religious leaders; they were not genuine seekers but actors in a pre-planned scheme to entrap Jesus.

Practical Application

Luke 20:20 provides valuable insights for believers today. It serves as a reminder that:

  • Discernment is Crucial: We must exercise spiritual discernment, recognizing that not everyone who approaches with seemingly sincere questions or intentions is truly genuine. Motives matter.
  • Integrity Over Pretense: The verse stands as a stark warning against hypocrisy and deceit. It encourages us to live lives of integrity, where our outward actions align with our true intentions and beliefs.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Despite the cunning and malice of His enemies, Jesus demonstrated divine wisdom. This reminds us that even when facing opposition or traps, we can trust in God's wisdom and His ability to guide us through difficult situations, knowing that His ultimate plan will prevail.
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 11:54

    Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

  • Matthew 22:15

    ¶ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in [his] talk.

  • Matthew 22:22

    When they had heard [these words], they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

  • Matthew 27:2

    And when they had bound him, they led [him] away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

  • Jeremiah 11:19

    But I [was] like a lamb [or] an ox [that] is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, [saying], Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.

  • Psalms 81:15

    The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever.

  • John 18:28

    ¶ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

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