Luke 20:20

20 ¹So they ²watched him and sent spies, who ³pretended to be sincere, that they might ⁴catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of ⁵the governor.

Luke 20:20 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 20:20

And they watched him
What he said, and what he did, and where he went, that they might take an advantage against him, or know where he was, to send to him, as they should think fit, and take the best opportunity of so doing. The Syriac and Persic versions leave out this clause:

and sent forth spies which should feign themselves just men:
of virtue and religion, conscientious men, that would do nothing but what was just and right, and were desirous of being exactly informed of the truth of things, that they might act right in every punctilio:

that might take hold of his words;
improve them, and form a charge upon them, of sedition and treason:

that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of
the governor;
the Roman governor, and by him be put to death. These men were some of them the disciples of the Pharisees, and others were Herodians; see ( Matthew 22:16 ) .

Luke 20:20 In-Context

18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him."

19 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.

20 So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.

21 So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God.

22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?"

Cross References

• 1. For ver. 20-38, see Matthew 22:15-32; Mark 12:13-27
• 2. Luke 14:1; Mark 3:2
• 3. [1 Kings 14:6]
• 4. ver. 26; Luke 11:54
• 5. Matthew 27:2, 11; Matthew 28:14; See Acts 23:24