Who Gave Jesus Authority? An ESL Bible Study on Luke 20:1-8

This Bible study series is for people who are learning English. It is designed for advanced beginner and intermediate learners, but children or adults who prefer simple English may also enjoy it.

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Luke 20:1-8 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 20:1-8 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Have you ever had someone question if you were allowed to do something? What happened?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will hear a story about some leaders asking Jesus a hard question. We will see how Jesus answered them with wisdom. We will later learn that God gives Jesus his power.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

authority: (noun) The power or right to give orders and make decisions.
baptism: (noun) A ceremony using water to show a person wants to follow God.
baptize: (verb) To put someone in water to show they are starting a new life with God.
believe in: (phrase) To trust that someone or something is true or real.
doubt: (verb) To not be sure if something is true.
Jewish: (adjective) Relating to the people, religion, or culture of the Jews.
John the Baptizer: (noun) A man sent by God to tell people that Jesus was coming.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
stone to death: (phrase) To kill someone by throwing many heavy rocks at them.
teacher of the law: (phrase) A person who is an expert in the religious rules given to the Jewish people by God.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

authority: (noun) The power or right to give orders and make decisions.
baptism: (noun) A ceremony using water to show a person wants to follow God.
baptize: (verb) To put someone in water to show they are starting a new life with God.
believe in: (verb) To trust that someone or something is true or real.
death: (noun) The end of a life.
doubt: (verb) To not be sure if something is true.
else: (adverb) Different or more.
Good News: (phrase) The message about Jesus and how he saves people.
Jewish: (adjective) Relating to the people, religion, or culture of the Jews.
John the Baptizer: (noun) A man sent by God to tell people that Jesus was coming.
leader: (noun) A person who is in charge of a group.
older: (adjective) Having lived for more time.
priest: (noun) A man who did special work for God in the Temple.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
question: (noun) A sentence used to ask for information.
stone to death: (phrase) To kill someone by throwing many heavy rocks at them.
talk: (verb) To speak to someone.
teacher of the law: (phrase) A person who is an expert in the religious rules given to the Jewish people by God.
teaching: (verb) The act of showing someone how to do something or helping them learn.
Temple: (noun) The special building in Jerusalem where people worshiped God.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

area: (noun) A part of a place or a country.
authority: (noun) The power or right to give orders and make decisions.
baptism: (noun) A ceremony using water to show a person wants to follow God.
baptize: (verb) To put someone in water to show they are starting a new life with God.
believe in: To trust that someone or something is true or real.
death: (noun) The end of a life.
doubt: (verb) To not be sure if something is true.
each other: (phrase) Two or more people doing the same thing to one another.
else: (adverb) Different or more.
gave: (verb) To have handed something over to another person.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
Good News: (phrase) The message about Jesus and how he saves people.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
Jewish: (adjective) Relating to the people, religion, or culture of the Jews.
John the Baptizer: (noun) A man sent by God to tell people that Jesus was coming.
know: (verb) To have information about something in your mind.
lead: (verb) To show the way by going in front.
leader: (noun) A person who is in charge of a group.
older: (adjective) Having lived for more time.
only: (adverb) A word used to show that no other person or thing is included.
priest: (noun) A man who did special work for God in the Temple.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
someone: (pronoun) A person, but it is not said who.
stone to death: (phrase) To kill someone by throwing many heavy rocks at them.
talk: (verb) To speak to someone.
teacher of the law: (phrase) A person who is an expert in the religious rules given to the Jewish people by God.
teaching: (verb) The act of showing someone how to do something or helping them learn.
tell: (verb) To give information to someone by speaking.
Temple: (noun) The special building in Jerusalem where people worshiped God.
thing: (noun) An event or an action.
too: (adverb) Also.
will: (verb) A word used to talk about the future.

Summary of the Passage

This passage takes place when Jesus was teaching people in the Temple. The Temple was a very important building in Jerusalem. It was a place where people came to pray and worship God. As Jesus was teaching the Good News, some Jewish leaders came to him. These leaders included the leading priests, the teachers of the law, and the older leaders.

These men did not like that Jesus was teaching. They asked Jesus who gave him the authority to do these things. Authority is the power to give orders and make decisions. Jesus knew they did not really want to believe in him. So, he asked them a question too. He asked them if the baptism of John the Baptizer came from God or from people. To baptize is to put someone in water to show they are starting a new life with God.

The leaders started to talk to each other. They had a lot of doubt. They were afraid of the crowd. The people believed that John was a prophet. A prophet is a person who speaks messages from God. If the leaders said John’s power was from people, they were afraid the crowd would stone them to death. This means the people would kill them by throwing heavy rocks.

The leaders told Jesus they did not know the answer. Then, Jesus said he would not tell them who gave him his authority.

This passage teaches us that Jesus is wise. He knows what people are thinking. It shows us that even when leaders doubt him, Jesus still keeps teaching about God’s love.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

Jewish Leaders Doubt Jesus’ Authority
1 One day Jesus was in the Temple area teaching the people.
He was telling them the Good News.
The leading priests, teachers of the law, and older Jewish leaders came to talk to Jesus.
2 They said,
“Tell us what authority you have to do these things.
Who gave you this authority?”
3 Jesus answered,
“I will ask you a question too.
Tell me:
4 When John baptized people, did his authority come from God or was it only from other people?”
5 The priests, the teachers of the law, and the Jewish leaders all talked about this.
They said to each other,
“If we answer,
‘John’s baptism was from God,’
then he will say,
‘Then why did you not believe John?’
6 But if we say that John’s baptism was from someone else, the people will stone us to death.
They all believe that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered,
“We don’t know the answer.”
8 So Jesus said to them,
“Then I will not tell you who gave me the authority to do these things.”
Luke 20:1-8 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 20:1-8 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 20:1-8 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 20:1-8 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 20:1-8 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 20:1-8 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 20:1-8 (ESV)

Luke 20:1-8 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

Where was Jesus teaching in this story?
Who came to ask Jesus a question?
What did the leaders want to know from Jesus?
What question did Jesus ask them first?
Why were the leaders afraid to answer Jesus’ question?
What did the leaders finally say to Jesus?
What did Jesus say back to them?

Application Questions

Have you ever been afraid to answer a hard question?
Why do you think some people do not believe in Jesus?
How does this story show us that Jesus is wise?
What does this story teach us about trusting God even when others question us?

Theological Insights

God gives authority to Jesus.
Jesus teaches us with wisdom.
Some people do not believe in Jesus, but God’s plan still happens.
We should be careful to listen to God’s message and not reject it.
Even when people try to stop Jesus, God’s word keeps going.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you for sending Jesus to teach us about you. Help us to believe your words and trust you each day. Give us wisdom when people ask us hard questions. Amen.