Luke 20

Christ being asked by the chief priest and the Pharisees by what authority he did these things answereth by another question whence the baptism of John was ?1 threatens Gods judgment unto them by the similitude of a vineyard let out to husbandman which abused the servants of their Lord and killed his sons 9 answereth the question whether it were lawful to give tribute unto Cesar 20 proveth the resurrection of the dead out of the law of Moses against the seduces propounding seven brethren which had the self same wife successively 27 asketh how Christ is a son of David whereas David calleth him his Lord 41 warneth the people of ambition and hypocrisy of the scribes 45.

1. And it came to pass in one of those days as he taught the people in the temple and published the gospel [Gr evangelized] that the chief priest and the scribes with the elders came upon it

2. And spake unto him saying tell us by what [Gr in what manner of] power [that is authority] thou dost these things? [Namely which are related in the former chapter] or who is that gave thee this power?

3. And he answering said unto them I will also ask you one word [that is one thing or matter Hebrews] and tell it me

4. The baptism of John [see hereof the annotations on Matthew 21:25] was that from heaven [that is from God as Luke 15:18] or of men?

5. And they reasoned amongst themselves [or with themselves] saying if we say from heaven then he will say wherefore then did ye not believe him?

6. And if we say of man then all the people will stone us for they hold it for certain that John was a prophet

7. And they answered that they knew not whence that was [namely the baptism of John]

8. And Jesus said unto them neither do I tell you by [Gr in] what power I do those things

9. And he began to speak to the people this similitude [See the exposition of the similitude Matthew 21 .33] a certain man planted a vineyard and he let out husband men and departed for a long time [Gr sufficient or coven tent times] out of the land

10. And when the times was [namely that the fruits being ripe are gathered in see Matthew 21:34] he sent to the husbandman a servant that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard but the husbandman beat him and sent him away empty

11. And again he sent yet another servant [Gr and he added and sent Heb as also in the following verse] but having beaten and reproached fully handled him also they sent him away empty

12. And again he sent yet a third but they wounded him also and cast him out

13. And the Lord of the vineyard said what shall I do? [These are words expressing not any doubting but after the manner of man speaking a great inclination to bring them to the right as Hosea 5:4] I will send my beloved son it may be seeing him they will respect him

14. But when the husbandmen saw him they reasoned among themselves and said this is the heir come and let us kill him that the inheritance may be ours

15. And when they had cast him out without the vineyard they killed what therefore shall the Lord of the vineyard do unto them?

16. He shall come and destroy these husbandman and shall give the vineyard to others [namely to the gentiles Matthew 21:43] And when they heard that they said that be far [namely that we should kill the son and that such a thing should come upon us as thou here saith]

17. But he looked on them and said what is this then that is written the stone which the builders rejected [see the annotation on Matthew 21:42] the same is become an head of the corner

18. Everyone that falleth on that stone [that is which stumble at him and are disobedient unto him 1 Peter 2:7,8] shall be broken and on whom it falleth [namely by the weight of the judgment and punishment Psalms 2:9] him shall he break to pieces

19. And the chief priest and the scribes sought at that very hour to lay hands on him but they feared the people for they had understood that he had spoken this similitude against them

20. And they observed him and sent forth spies [or layers of snares] which siegned themselves to be righteousness [that is as those that would deal uprightly with him and would not willingly do or suffer anything that was unjust and contrary to Gods command] that they might catch him [that is take or surprise or reprehend his speech] in his speech to deliver him over to the dominion and power of governor

21. And they asked him saying master we know that thou speaketh and teacheth rightly and respectest not the person [Gr face see the exposition Matthew 22:16] but teacheth the way of God in truth

22. It is lawful for us [namely we that are Jews and the people of God to an heathen emperour of this tribute see Matthew 17:24] to give tribute to ceasar or not?

23. And he taking notice of their crastiness said unto them why tempt ye me?

24. Show me penny [Gr Denarius whereof see Matthew 22:19] whose image and superscription hath it? and they answering saith Caesars’

25. And he said unto them give therefore unto Cesar that which is Cesar and unto God that which is Gods

26. And they could not catch him [or take lay hold or find fault with his word] in his word before the people and marveling at his answer they held their peace

27. And there came to him some of the seduces [or the sect of the seduces see more at large Acts 23:8] who contradicting [namely the true doctrine of the article] say that there is no resurrection and asked him

28. Saying master Moses wrote unto us [that is in his writing commanded us Deuteronomy 25:5] if any man brother die who hath a wife and he die without children that is his brother shall take the wife and raise up to seed his brother [that is beget a son by her which should bear the first brothers name and his heir]

29. Now were seven brethren and the first took a wife and he died without a child

30. And the second took the wife and this also died without children

31. And the third took the wife and the manner the seven also [that is to say the other four unto the seven]

32. And at last after all the wife died also

33. In the resurrection therefore whose wife of these shall she be? for those seven had the same to wife

34. And Jesus answering said unto them the children of this world marry [by these are understood not worldly man as Luke 16:8 but those that live in this world for marriage is honourable among all Hebrews 13:4] and are given out in marriage

35. But they that shall be counted worthy [namely by God of grace 2 Thessalonians 1:2,11 so this word is taken also in the following chapter verse 36] to obtain that world [that is everlasting life and the resurrection to glory in the world to come for the ungodly to arise also but the condemnation John 5:29] and the resurrection from the dead shall neither marry nor be given out in marriage

36. For they cannot die anymore for they are little to the angels and they are children of God [namely manifested in glory seeing they are partakers of the blessed resurrection

37. And that the dead shall be raised up even Moses [Christ proveth the resurrection of the dead out of the writings of Moses because the seduces had produced the same against it] set forth[or gave to understand shewed namely in the description of the appearing of the Lord in the thorn-bush] at the thorn-bush when he calleth the Lord the God of God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob[of the force of this consequences see Matthew 22:32]

38. Now God is not a God of the dead but a God of the living for they all live unto him [namely not only according to the soul which is immortal but also according to the body because that shall be raised up again and with God all future things are as already present Romans 4:17]

39. And some of the scribes answering said master thou hast said well

40. And they durst [namely the scribes see Mark 12:34] no more ask him anything

41. And h said unto them how says they that the Christ is Davids son?

42. And David himself saith in the book of Psalms the Lord said unto my Lord sit at my right hand

43. Until I shall have set thy enemies for a footstool of thy feet

44. David therefore calleth him his Lord and how is he his son?[that is he be only a son of David that is a meer man from David how then doth David that was a sovereign king and acknowledged no Lord above him but God alone call him his Lord ? whereunto they could not answer because they held not the Messiah to be true God]

45. And when al the people heard it he said unto his disciples

46. Beware ye of the scribes which will walk in long garments [Gr stolas see Mark 12:38] and love salutations on the market and the foremost seat in the synagogue and the and the foremost places in fiests [Gr the suppers]

47. Which cate up widows houses [that is the means wherewith they should sustain their families] and under a shew make long prayer these shall receive heavier [Gr more abundant] judgment [that is punishment in the judgment.]