Big Idea: In response to two questions designed to trap Jesus, he gives replies that not only avoid the traps but also convey important teaching.

Understanding the Text

Once Jesus has reached Jerusalem, he has set himself up as a regular teacher in the court of the Gentiles (19:47; 20:1). This has quickly provoked the temple-based leadership into challenging his authority (20:1–8), to which Jesus has responded with a parable that in turn questions their legitimacy as leaders of Israel (20:9–19). The two encounters in these verses are with different groups within the “coalition” that makes up the Sanhedrin. Their theological and political agendas were different, but they were united in the desire to discredit Jesus in the eyes of the crowd and to find a basis for destroying his challenge.…