Why did the questioners stop asking Jesus questions in Luke 20:40? Setting the Scene • In Luke 20 Jesus is teaching openly in the temple during His final week before the cross. • Three groups take turns trying to trap Him: chief priests and elders (20:1-8), spies sent by the Sanhedrin (20:20-26), and Sadducees (20:27-38). • Each test is public, calculated to discredit Him before the crowds or make Him liable to Roman arrest. A String of Failed Traps 1. Question of authority – “Tell us by what authority You are doing these things” (20:2). • Jesus turns the tables with a counter-question about John the Baptist; they refuse to answer and are exposed. 2. Question on taxes – “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (20:22). • He replies, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (20:25), leaving them “astonished” and silent (20:26). 3. Question on resurrection – Sadducees pose the seven-brother riddle (20:27-33). • Jesus corrects their theology, finishes with “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living” (20:38), and some scribes admit, “Teacher, You have spoken well” (20:39). Jesus Responds with Divine Authority • Every reply is rooted in Scripture and perfect logic. • He exposes hypocrisy, upholds Roman law without compromising God’s law, and affirms the resurrection the Sadducees deny. • Isaiah 11:2 foretells Messiah’s Spirit-given wisdom; Luke 20 displays it. The Silencing Moment: Luke 20:40 “And they did not dare to question Him any further.” Why They Stopped—Immediate Factors • Public Humiliation: Their clever traps backfired, and the crowd saw it (20:26). • Fear of Exposure: Each new question only highlighted their ignorance of Scripture. • Authority Recognized: Even hostile listeners felt the weight of His answers (compare Matthew 7:28-29). • Loss of Control: The leaders’ strategy to discredit Jesus was failing; further debate would strengthen His influence. • Jesus’ Counter-Question: He asks how David can call his descendant “Lord” (20:41-44), a riddle they cannot solve; silence is the only escape. Why They Stopped—Deeper Spiritual Factors • Prophetic Fulfillment: Psalm 110:1, quoted by Jesus, pictures Messiah’s enemies becoming His footstool; their wordless retreat begins that fulfillment. • Hardened Hearts: Having rejected clear revelation, they close their mouths rather than repent (cf. John 12:37-40). • Fear of the Crowds: Luke 20:19 notes they “feared the people.” Continuing interrogation risked a popular backlash. • Providential Timing: God’s plan moves inexorably toward the cross; the leaders shift from verbal traps to secret plotting (22:1-2). Parallel Witnesses • Matthew 22:46 – “No one was able to answer Him at all, and from that day on no one dared question Him any further.” • Mark 12:34 – “And from then on, no one dared to question Him any further.” These parallels confirm Luke’s statement and emphasize its finality. Takeaways for Believers • Christ’s wisdom is unassailable; trust the total accuracy of His word. • Attempts to undermine Scripture inevitably collapse under its own truth. • Silence before the Lord can mean humble submission or stubborn refusal; choose submission (James 4:7-8). • Like Jesus, answer challenges with Scripture, clarity, and calm confidence. |
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