The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easy to miss here is the immediate, visceral reaction of the religious leaders. The text says they "the same hour sought to lay hands on him," revealing that Jesus' parable didn't just make them think, it ignited a burning desire to arrest him right then. Their outward fear of the crowds was the only thing that restrained their violent intentions.
The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just delivered a pointed parable, the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, which the religious leaders immediately recognized as a direct accusation against them. Enraged, they sought to arrest him right then and there, but they hesitated because the crowds present revered Jesus as a prophet and they feared a public uproar.
Jesus just told a story that clearly described his enemies. They knew it was about them, but their reaction wasn't repentance. What does that tell us about how people respond to truth?
Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants (Luke 20:9-16) was a direct accusation against the religious leaders. They were the 'husbandmen' who had mistreated God's 'servants' (the prophets) and were now plotting to kill God's 'son' (Jesus himself).
When Jesus asked them what the vineyard owner would do, they declared the tenants would be 'miserably destroyed' and the vineyard given to 'others' (Luke 20:16). Their own words condemned them! The text says, 'The scribes and the chief priests... perceived that he had told this parable against them' (Luke 20:19). They weren't confused; they understood the message perfectly. The 'aha!' moment for them was realizing Jesus had exposed their wicked hearts and future judgment. Yet, instead of repenting, their response was immediate plotting to kill him. This shows how deeply entrenched sin can be, blinding people even to truth spoken directly to them.
They knew Jesus was speaking truth, and they wanted him silenced. So why didn't they act immediately? It wasn't godly conviction, but a much less noble fear.
The leaders' desire to arrest Jesus was immediate: 'The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour' (Luke 20:19). However, they were restrained by something else: 'they feared the people.'
This wasn't a fear that honors God; it was a fear of man. They were worried about the crowd's reaction, likely because the people saw Jesus as a prophet or even the Messiah. They feared losing their influence and facing a public uprising more than they feared God's judgment, which they had just pronounced upon themselves through their own words in the parable.
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This highlights a crucial distinction: fearing man can paralyze us from doing right, while fearing God empowers us to do what's right, even when it's difficult or unpopular.
Understand the original words
grammateis · Greek Noun
A title for religious scholars and interpreters of the Mosaic Law in Israel. They were responsible for teaching the Law but often clashed with Jesus due to their legalism and rejection of His authority.
archiereis · Greek Noun
The highest-ranking religious leaders in Judaism, responsible for the temple administration and the Sanhedrin. They were the primary political and religious antagonists of Jesus during His earthly ministry.
parabolen · Greek Noun
An earthly narrative device used by Jesus to convey profound spiritual and kingdom truths, often provoking the listener to self-reflection or revealing the hardness of the hearer's heart.
ephobethesan · Greek Verb
Awe or terror, in this context specifically directed toward the common people, which prevented the religious leaders from acting openly against Jesus. In a wider theological sense, it often refers to the respectful fear of God.
This verse captures the peak of the conflict between Jesus and the religious elite in Jerusalem, occurring during the final week of his earthly ministry. The parable Jesus told was a thinly veiled accusation that the religious leaders were mismanaging God's people, and their immediate, yet fearful, desire to arrest him shows the escalating tension.
c. 27-30 AD
Jesus' Ministry and Teachings
During this period, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee and Judea, teaching, healing, and gathering followers. His teachings often challenged the religious authorities.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Confrontations with Religious Leaders
Jesus increasingly clashed with the chief priests and scribes, particularly in Jerusalem. These encounters often involved challenging their interpretations of the Law and their authority, leading to growing hostility.
One week before Passover, c. 33 AD
The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus entered Jerusalem with a large crowd hailing him as king, further alarming the religious leaders and increasing his popularity among the people.
The same week as the Triumphal Entry, c. 33 AD— this verse
Jesus Teaches in the Temple
Jesus taught publicly in the temple courts, delivering parables and engaging in debates that directly condemned the religious establishment.
Immediately after the parable in Luke 20— this verse
Plot to Arrest Jesus
Following Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants, the chief priests and scribes recognized the condemnation against them and sought to arrest Jesus, but feared the popular reaction.
A few days later, c. 33 AD
The Arrest and Crucifixion of Jesus
Despite their fear of the crowds, the religious leaders, with Roman cooperation, eventually arrested Jesus in Gethsemane and had him crucified.
This passage describes the chief priests and Pharisees understanding Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants was directed at them and seeking to arrest Him, mirroring the situation in Luke 20:19.
Mark 12:12Similar to Luke 20:19, this verse also records the chief priests and scribes looking for a way to arrest Jesus immediately after He told the parable of the wicked tenants, due to their understanding of its meaning.
Psalm 118:22Jesus quotes this verse in the context of the parable (Matthew 21:42, Mark 12:10, Luke 20:17), highlighting the rejection of the 'stone' by the builders, which directly applied to the leaders' rejection of Him and fueled their anger.
Jeremiah 18:18This Old Testament passage shows a parallel where religious leaders plotted against Jeremiah because they perceived his prophecies were against them, similar to how the chief priests and scribes perceived Jesus' parable against them.
John 11:47-53This passage describes the chief priests and Pharisees plotting Jesus' death after seeing His miracles and fearing His influence on the people, demonstrating the same kind of murderous intent and political calculation seen in Luke 20:19.
pooleLuke 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."
Ver. 19,20. There is nothing in these verses, but what we before met with, and is opened in the notes on Matthew 21:45,46 , or Mark 12:12,13 . They let us see as in a glass the spirit and genius of wicked men filled with malice against the gospel. They are continually seeking to destroy such as have any relatio…
pulpitLuke 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."
Verse 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. Again the Sanhedrim take counsel. They long to arrest him on some capital charge; but they dared not, for the people, joined by…
What's easy to miss here is the immediate, visceral reaction of the religious leaders. The text says they "the same hour sought to lay hands on him," revealing that Jesus' parable didn't just make them think, it ignited a burning desire to arrest him right then. Their outward fear of the crowds was the only thing that restrained their violent intentions.
Jesus has just delivered a pointed parable, the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, which the religious leaders immediately recognized as a direct accusation against them. Enraged, they sought to arrest him right then and there, but they hesitated because the crowds present revered Jesus as a prophet and they feared a public uproar.
Jesus has just delivered a pointed parable, the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, which the religious leaders immediately recognized as a direct accusation against them. Enraged, they sought to arrest him right then and there, but they hesitated because the crowds present revered Jesus as a prophet and they feared a public uproar.
"The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people." — What's easy to miss here is the immediate, visceral reaction of the religious leaders. The text says they "the same hour sought to lay hands on him," revealing that Jesus' parable didn't just make th…
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Last reviewed October 2026