Devine Scripture

Luke 20:2

What does Luke 20:2 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 20:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 20:2 means

The religious leaders' question, "By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?" was a direct challenge to Jesus' right to teach and act as He did. They were demanding to know the source of His power and authorization. They believed that only those sanctioned by the recognized religious leadership had the right to speak or perform miracles in the Temple. This was not a sincere inquiry seeking understanding, but a trap designed to discredit Him. If He claimed divine authority, they could accuse Him of blasphemy. If He claimed human authority, they could dismiss Him as a rogue teacher.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

That the chief priests and the scribes and the rulers of the people came to him and said, Make clear to us by what authority you do these things and who gave you this authority.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and spake unto him, saying, `Tell us by what authority thou dost these things? or who is he that gave to thee this authority?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And spoke to him, saying: Tell us, by what authority dost thou these things? Or, who is he that hath given thee this authority?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and spoke to him saying, Tell us by what authority thou doest these things, or who is it who has given thee this authority?

Context

This hostile question immediately follows Jesus' teaching in the Temple, setting the adversarial tone for the rest of the chapter. It's the first in a series of traps laid by the religious authorities. Jesus' response to this question, rather than a direct answer, will be a counter-question that exposes their hypocrisy, serving to turn their own challenge back upon them rather than satisfying their desire for an accusation.

v.1And it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders;

v.2This passage

v.3And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 7:51

    Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.

  • Exodus 2:14

    And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? thinkest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely the thing is known.

  • Matthew 21:23

    And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

  • Acts 7:35

    This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? him hath God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel that appeared to him in the bush.

  • John 5:22

    For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he hath given all judgment unto the Son;

  • John 2:18

    The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

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