Luke 20:19
And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 29
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐζήτησαν
sought
G2212
ἐζήτησαν
sought
Strong's:
G2212
Word #:
2 of 29
to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by hebraism) to worship (god), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life)
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
G749
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
Strong's:
G749
Word #:
4 of 29
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
5 of 29
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἐπιβαλεῖν
to lay
G1911
ἐπιβαλεῖν
to lay
Strong's:
G1911
Word #:
8 of 29
to throw upon (literal or figurative, transitive or reflexive; usually with more or less force); specially (with g1438 implied) to reflect; impersonal
ἐπ'
on
G1909
ἐπ'
on
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
9 of 29
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
αὐτοὺς
him
G846
αὐτοὺς
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
10 of 29
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τὰς
G3588
τὰς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
χεῖρας
hands
G5495
χεῖρας
hands
Strong's:
G5495
Word #:
12 of 29
the hand (literally or figuratively (power); especially (by hebraism) a means or instrument)
αὐτοὺς
him
G846
αὐτοὺς
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
14 of 29
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
17 of 29
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐφοβήθησαν
they feared
G5399
ἐφοβήθησαν
they feared
Strong's:
G5399
Word #:
18 of 29
to frighten, i.e., (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e., revere
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
19 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
λαόν
the people
G2992
λαόν
the people
Strong's:
G2992
Word #:
20 of 29
a people (in general; thus differing from g1218, which denotes one's own populace)
ἔγνωσαν
they perceived
G1097
ἔγνωσαν
they perceived
Strong's:
G1097
Word #:
21 of 29
to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed)
γὰρ
for
G1063
γὰρ
for
Strong's:
G1063
Word #:
22 of 29
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
ὅτι
that
G3754
ὅτι
that
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
23 of 29
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
πρὸς
against
G4314
πρὸς
against
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
24 of 29
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
αὐτοὺς
him
G846
αὐτοὺς
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
25 of 29
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
26 of 29
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
παραβολὴν
parable
G3850
παραβολὴν
parable
Strong's:
G3850
Word #:
27 of 29
a similitude ("parable"), i.e., (symbolic) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apothegm or adage
Historical Context
This occurs during Holy Week (circa AD 30), in the Jerusalem temple courts where Jesus taught publicly. The Sanhedrin's power was real but limited by Roman oversight and popular sentiment—Jesus's Galilean following and recent triumphal entry made him politically dangerous to arrest openly.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you recognized truth but suppressed it due to fear of consequences or loss of status?
- How does political calculation corrupt spiritual leadership, and what safeguards protect against this?
- What does the leaders' immediate recognition of Jesus's parable reveal about the clarity of their guilt?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
They perceived that he had spoken this parable against them—The religious leaders' immediate recognition (ἔγνωσαν, egnōsan, 'they knew') that Jesus's parable of the wicked tenants condemned them demonstrates their guilt-laden consciences. Luke emphasizes the temporal urgency: the same hour (ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ, en autē tē hōra) they sought to arrest him.
Yet they feared the people (ἐφοβήθησαν τὸν λαόν, ephobēthēsan ton laon)—a theme throughout Luke's passion narrative. The religious elite recognized Jesus's prophetic indictment but were constrained by political expediency rather than convicted unto repentance. Their desire to lay hands on him foreshadows the arrest in Gethsemane.