Luke 20:21

Luke 20:21, in plain English

The spies butter Him up: 'Teacher, we know You speak truth and don't play favorites. You teach God's way honestly.' Every word is true — but it's being used as a setup.

Why it's here

They're trying to box Jesus in with His own integrity. If He always tells the truth and never plays politics, they think He'll have to give a straight answer that will get Him in trouble.

Who's speaking

The spies approach with calculated flattery, hoping to manipulate Jesus' honesty into a trap.

Where it sits in the story

They dress up their trap in compliments. Everything they say about Jesus is accurate, which makes their dishonesty even more sickening. They're using truth as bait.

The scholarly reading

The spies begin with elaborate flattery, praising Jesus as one who speaks correctly, shows no partiality (ou lambaneis prosōpon), and teaches God's way truthfully. Ironically, every compliment is accurate.

Language and setting

The flattery is strategic — by publicly affirming Jesus' impartiality and truthfulness, they try to make it impossible for Him to give a politically evasive answer. They weaponize His integrity against Him.

Voice

The spies approach Jesus with flattery designed to constrain His response to their coming question.

Significance

The trap is baited with truth — every flattering word about Jesus is actually correct. He does teach truthfully and show no partiality. They're using His own virtues as a weapon, hoping honesty will force a damaging answer.

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.

22Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23But Jesus saw through their duplicity and said to them,

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.