Luke 20:19

Luke 20:19, in plain English

The scribes and chief priests realize Jesus told this parable about them. They want to arrest Him right then and there, but they're afraid of the crowd.

Why it's here

Their reaction proves the parable was accurate. Instead of hearing the warning and changing course, they double down on their hostility. They are the tenants, doing exactly what the tenants did.

Who's speaking

Luke describes the leaders' angry realization and frustrated inability to act on it.

Where it sits in the story

They get it. And instead of falling to their knees, they clench their fists. The parable was a mirror, and they hate what they see — but not enough to change.

The scholarly reading

The scribes and chief priests realize Jesus spoke the parable against them (pros autous) and want to arrest Him immediately but fear the people's reaction. Their understanding confirms the parable's accuracy.

Language and setting

Their recognition that the parable targets them, combined with their desire to arrest Jesus, proves they are exactly the tenants Jesus described — they respond to truth with hostility rather than repentance.

Voice

Luke narrates the leaders' recognition of the parable's target and their frustrated desire to arrest Jesus.

Significance

The leaders understand perfectly: the parable is about them. Their response proves the parable true — instead of repenting, they want to seize Jesus. They are the wicked tenants, reacting exactly as the story predicted.

17But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?

18Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

19When the scribes and chief priests realized that Jesus had spoken this parable against them, they sought to arrest Him that very hour. But they were afraid of the people.

20So they watched Him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere. They were hoping to catch Him in His words in order to hand Him over to the rule and authority of the governor.

21“Teacher,” they inquired, “we know that You speak and teach correctly. You show no partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

Read all of Luke 20 — The religious leaders challenge Jesus' authority. He answers with a parable about murderous tenants that leaves them furious and afraid.