FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS TO Luk_20:1-47
This chapter is a series of confrontations.
A. Religious leaders attack Jesus
1. the chief priest, scribes, and elders (i.e., the Sanhedrin) ask the crucial question about the source of Jesus' authority, Luk_20:1-8
2. the Sanhedrin sends spies to try to catch Him by asking controversial, political questions meant to provide accusations which could be presented to the Roman authorities, Luk_20:19-26
3. the Sadducees ask a theological question related to the resurrection, Luk_20:27-40
B. Jesus challenges the attackers
1. He responds to the Sanhedrin's question
a. with a question, Luk_20:3-8
b. with a parable of God's rejection of Israel and her leadership, Luk_20:9-18
2. He responds to those trying to catch Him in a controversial political issue by a powerful, practical answer relating to human responsibility to God and government, Luk_20:23-25
3. He responds to the Sadducees' tricky, ridiculous question about Leverite (brother-in-law) marriage by asking them a question, Luk_20:41-44
4. He responds to all of them by a stern warning to the crowd, Luk_20:45-47
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. Why was the issue of the authority behind John's baptism so crucial to the question the Sanhedrin asked Jesus?
2. What is the central truth of the parable in Luk_20:9-16? To whom does it refer?
3. Why has so much been made of Luk_20:25 in America?
4. What implication does Luk_20:36 have for our view of heaven and sexuality?