Journal for the Study of the New Testament· 2026Q1
Politicising the Tribute: Luke’s Redaction of Lk. 20.20–26 and its Pedagogical Function
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Luke deliberately altered the Tribute passage (Lk. 20.20–26) to frame Jesus and his followers as politically innocent, transforming it from an inner-Jewish discussion into a public encounter with Roman authorities.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Luke's redaction of the Tribute passage (Lk. 20.20–26) was a deliberate political act.
- The passage was transformed from an inner-Jewish discourse into a public encounter with Roman authorities.
- Luke aimed to establish the political innocence of Jesus and his followers.
- The changes provide a model for the Lukan audience to navigate Roman rule and divine loyalty.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Little sustained attention has been paid to the various ways in which the Synoptic versions of the Tribute passage diverge from one another. Through a careful comparative analysis of the Lukan modifications to the text and its distinct placement within Luke’s larger narrative, this article argues that Luke’s redaction of the Tribute passage (Lk. 20.20–26) constitutes a deliberate and politically oriented agenda. This agenda transforms Luke’s version of the story from the inner-Jewish discourse it is in Mark and Matthew into a politically oriented, public encounter before the people. The intended effect of these changes operates on two levels. Firstly, the passage serves a narrative-apologetic function, establishing the innocence of Jesus and his subsequent followers from any charge of insurrection. Secondly, the changes serve a socio-pedagogical function that equips the Lukan audience with a model for navigating the competing demands of Roman imperial rule and loyalty to God.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal for the Study of the New Testament, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Religious studies
Religious studiesArts and Humanities