Luke 20:23

But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?

But {G1161} he perceived {G2657} their {G846} craftiness {G3834}, and said {G2036} unto {G4314} them {G846}, Why {G5101} tempt ye {G3985} me {G3165}?

But he, spotting their craftiness, said to them,

But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them,

But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them,

Commentary

Luke 20:23 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, highlighting His divine insight and unwavering authority in the face of cunning opposition. This verse immediately precedes the famous "Render unto Caesar" passage, setting the stage for Jesus' profound wisdom.

Context

This verse finds Jesus teaching in the temple during the last week of His earthly ministry, just days before His crucifixion. The religious leaders—specifically, the chief priests, scribes, and elders—were constantly seeking to discredit Him and find a reason to arrest Him. In Luke 20:20, we learn that they sent "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." Their trap was a politically charged question: "Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?" (Luke 20:22). This was a no-win situation for them, designed to force Jesus to either defy Roman authority (and be accused of sedition) or endorse it (and alienate the Jewish populace who resented Roman rule).

Key Themes

  • Jesus' Divine Discernment: The primary theme is Jesus' supernatural ability to perceive the hidden motives and intentions of His adversaries. He saw through their outward pretense of piety to their underlying "craftiness" and malice. This highlights His omniscience, a key attribute of His divinity.
  • Human Deceit and Malice: The verse exposes the depths of human wickedness and the cunning strategies employed by those opposed to God's truth. The religious leaders were not interested in truth but in trapping and destroying Jesus.
  • The Nature of Temptation/Testing: The question posed to Jesus was not a genuine inquiry but a malicious "temptation" or test designed to ensnare Him. Jesus' immediate response exposes their true agenda.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "perceived" comes from the Greek term katanoeo (κατανοέω), which means "to understand fully," "to observe attentively," or "to discern." It implies a deep, comprehensive understanding, not merely a casual observation. Jesus didn't just notice their presence; He fully comprehended their sinister design.

"Craftiness" is translated from the Greek panourgia (πανουργία), which literally means "all working" or "capable of everything," but in a negative sense, it refers to cunning, trickery, unscrupulousness, and deceitful cleverness. It emphasizes the insidious and manipulative nature of their plot.

"Tempt ye me" uses the Greek peirazo (πειράζω), meaning "to test," "to try," or "to put to the proof." In this context, it signifies a hostile test, an attempt to trap or lead into sin, rather than an innocent inquiry.

Related Scriptures

  • A parallel account of this encounter is found in Matthew 22:18 and Mark 12:15, both emphasizing Jesus' awareness of their malice.
  • Jesus' subsequent wise response, which left His adversaries speechless, is found in Luke 20:25-26.
  • The concept of spiritual discernment, by which believers can understand hidden motives, is also discussed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:14.

Practical Application

Luke 20:23 serves as a powerful reminder of Jesus' divine knowledge and our need for spiritual discernment. In a world often filled with deceptive motives and hidden agendas, believers are called to be "wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). Just as Jesus saw through the craftiness of His adversaries, we are encouraged to pray for wisdom and discernment to understand the true intentions behind words and actions, whether in personal interactions or in broader societal issues. Ultimately, this verse instills confidence in Jesus' unparalleled wisdom and His ability to navigate any challenge, offering a model for how to confront deceit with truth and grace.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Corinthians 3:19

    For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

  • Matthew 22:18

    But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, [ye] hypocrites?

  • Luke 11:16

    And others, tempting [him], sought of him a sign from heaven.

  • Luke 11:17

    But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house [divided] against a house falleth.

  • Psalms 95:9

    When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.

  • Luke 5:22

    But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

  • Luke 11:53

    And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge [him] vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: