Luke 20:23 (KJV)

What does Luke 20:23 mean?

Luke 20:23 shows Jesus recognizing that the people questioning Him were being sneaky or dishonest, and He directly asks them why they are trying to test or trap Him. The verse highlights Jesus’ awareness of their motives and His refusal to fall into their trap.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to religious leaders who are trying to catch Him in His words with tricky questions about paying taxes to Caesar. The verse uses the word “craftiness” to describe their sly intentions, and Jesus’ response exposes that He sees through their scheme. This moment sets up His wise and careful answer that follows in the passage.

The Greek behind Luke 20:23

• “craftiness” (πανουργία, panourgia): This word means cleverness or cunning, often with a negative sense of trickery or deceit. Here, it shows that Jesus was not fooled by the leaders’ outward politeness but saw their hidden agenda.
• “tempt” (πειράζω, peirazō): This word means to test, try, or tempt, often with the idea of putting someone in a difficult spot to see if they will fail. The leaders were not asking honest questions but were hoping to trap Jesus into saying something they could use against Him.

Why Luke 20:23 matters

• Luke 20:23 clears up any idea that Jesus was caught off guard by His opponents; instead, He was fully aware of their intentions.
• The verse emphasizes that Jesus responds to challenges with wisdom and directness, not falling for manipulative tactics.
• This moment connects to the broader theme in Luke 20, where Jesus faces a series of tests from religious leaders, showing His insight and authority in handling difficult situations.