The Last Word

A ‘catch 22’ is a dilemma where someone can’t escape because of conflicting or contradictory rules and outcomes. This is exactly what one finds in Jesus’ interactions with the Jewish leaders in this section of Luke's Gospel. The last two verses of chapter 19 provide a bit of context for the story that unfolds at the beginning of chapter 20. Jesus has made it to Jerusalem and has begun teaching in the temple. Then, the opposition enters the picture. The Jewish leaders are seeking to destroy Jesus, even though there is no evidence that he is guilty (19:47-48). So, as we’ve seen so many times before in Luke’s Gospel, they set out to trap Jesus. Questioning Jesus on the source of his authority, Jesus turns the tables on them and offers an answer provided that they honestly answer his question first. However, when realizing that to answer Jesus honestly would mean they either admit to rejecting God’s messenger or open themselves up to critique from the public, they choose silence. This passage puts the ignorance and hostility of the Jewish leaders on full display and challenges each of us to ask if we too are guilty of questioning the authority of Jesus.