Lukas 20:19-23

20:19 Then ¹  the experts in the law ²  and the chief priests wanted to arrest ³  him that very hour, because they realized he had told this parable against them. But ⁴  they were afraid of the people.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

20:20 Then ⁵  they watched him carefully and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. ⁶  They wanted to take advantage of what he might say ⁷  so that they could deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction ⁸  of the governor. 20:21 Thus ⁹  they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, ¹⁰  and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ¹¹  20:22 Is it right ¹²  for us to pay the tribute tax ¹³  to Caesar ¹⁴  or not?” 20:23 But Jesus ¹⁵  perceived their deceit ¹⁶  and said to them,

[20:19]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[20:19]  ² tn Or “The scribes” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 5:21.

[20:19]  ³ tn Grk “tried to lay hands on him.”

[20:19]  ⁴ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[20:20]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[20:20]  ⁶ tn Grk “righteous,” but in this context the point is their false sincerity.

[20:20]  ⁷ tn Grk “so that they might catch him in some word.”

[20:20]  ⁸ tn This word is often translated “authority” in other contexts, but here, in combination with ἀρχή (arch), it refers to the domain or sphere of the governor’s rule (L&N 37.36).

[20:21]  ⁹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “thus” to indicate the implied result of the plans by the spies.

[20:21]  ¹⁰ tn Or “precisely”; Grk “rightly.” Jesus teaches exactly, the straight and narrow.

[20:21]  ¹¹ sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question was specifically designed to trap Jesus.

[20:22]  ¹² tn Or “lawful,” that is, in accordance with God’s divine law. On the syntax of ἔξεστιν (exestin) with an infinitive and accusative, see BDF §409.3.

[20:22]  ¹³ tn This was a “poll tax.” L&N 57.182 states this was “a payment made by the people of one nation to another, with the implication that this is a symbol of submission and dependence – ‘tribute tax.’”

[20:22]  ¹⁴ tn Or “to the emperor” (“Caesar” is a title for the Roman emperor).

[20:23]  ¹⁵ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:23]  ¹⁶ tn Or “craftiness.” The term always has negative connotations in the NT (1 Cor 3:19; 2 Cor 4:2; 11:3; Eph 4:14).