Luke 20:19 - The chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.

Generated Verse: Luke 20:19

What does "Luke 20:19" mean?


This verse from Luke 20:19 describes the immediate reaction of the religious leaders (chief priests and scribes) to a parable Jesus had just told. Let's break it down:

"The chief priests and the scribes...": These were the influential religious authorities in Jerusalem. They held positions of power and influence within the Jewish community.
"...sought to lay hands on him that very hour...": This means they wanted to arrest Jesus immediately. "Laying hands on" is a common idiom for arresting or seizing someone.
"...but they feared the people...": The religious leaders were hesitant to act openly because they were afraid of how the crowd would react. Jesus was popular with the common people, and the leaders worried that arresting him publicly would cause a riot or unrest.
"...for they knew he had spoken this parable against them.": This is the key reason for their anger and desire to arrest Jesus. They understood that the parable Jesus had just told was a direct criticism of their actions and leadership.

In essence, the verse tells us that:

The religious leaders were infuriated by Jesus' parable (likely the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, Luke 20:9-18), which they recognized as a condemnation of their behavior. They wanted to arrest Jesus immediately, but they were afraid of a public backlash because of Jesus' popularity with the people. They feared that openly arresting Jesus would lead to a revolt or disturbance.

The verse highlights the growing conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities and sets the stage for the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. The leaders' recognition of the parable's meaning shows their understanding of Jesus' challenge to their authority and legitimacy. Their fear of the people emphasizes the power dynamic at play and the precariousness of their position.

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