Luke 20:39-40 Meaning: Unwilling Praise

³⁹Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you speak well.”

⁴⁰They didn’t dare to ask him any more questions.

Meaning in one sentence

Enemies of Jesus admitted He spoke well and stopped questioning Him. What does this forced compliment reveal about the power of truth?

Luke New Testament Greek

Context

This scene takes place in the temple courtyard during the last week of Jesus' life. The religious leaders have been trying to trap Him in public debate. First the chief priests ask about His authority. Then the Pharisees and Herodians question Him about paying taxes. Now the Sadducees, who deny the resurrection, pose a trick question about a woman married to seven brothers. Jesus answers them in a way that is both wise and deeply rooted in Scripture. Some of the scribes who were listening were Pharisees themselves, and they believed in the resurrection. They could not help but acknowledge that Jesus had spoken well. After this, no one from any party dared to test Him again.

Key Words

The scribes call Jesus didaskalos, Teacher, a title they rarely used of Him with genuine respect. It suggests a grudging recognition of His authority. Their praise uses the word kalos, meaning 'rightly, beautifully, well.' It is more than just 'correct', it carries the sense of something fitting and admirable. They saw that His answer was not only true but masterfully given. The second verse uses the verb tolmaō (to dare, to be bold). In the negative it means their boldness evaporated. They had come ready to challenge Him, but now they did not have the nerve. The word pictures a person who once had the courage to step forward and now shrinks back. What silenced them was not fear of punishment but the sheer force of truth they could not refute.

How Christians Read This Verse

Many commentators see the scribes' compliment as genuine but limited. They were glad to see the Sadducees defeated on a doctrine both the scribes and Jesus affirmed. Some traditions note that this was not a conversion, they praised the content of His answer without accepting His authority. Calvin observed that God's power 'extorted' this confession even from unwilling hearts. Others point out that the silence that followed shows the leaders had exhausted their public strategies. Across traditions, Christians see in this moment a reminder that truth can draw a word of recognition even from those who oppose it. But recognition is not the same as surrender.

A common misunderstanding

Some readers assume these scribes had a change of heart and began following Jesus. In fact, they were still part of the same group that would soon conspire with the chief priests. Their compliment was narrow: they agreed with Jesus on one point where they shared common ground. It did not signal repentance or discipleship. Even sincere praise can coexist with hardened opposition to the One we praise.

Living This Out

You may have someone in your life who disagrees with you about deep things. A coworker, a family member, someone from a different church tradition. This week, when that person speaks a truth you can see, try saying so out loud. Not to win approval, but because the truth deserves to be named whoever speaks it. The scribes showed that even an opponent can give credit where it is due. And if you are the one who has been challenged by Jesus' words, ask yourself whether you are only falling silent or actually following. Silence can be the beginning of faith, or just a pause before you walk away.

Main takeaway: Even those who resist Jesus can be silenced by the force of His truth, but silence is not the same as submission.

For Families

For ages 5, 8

Some people who did not like Jesus still said He gave a good answer. Even people who disagree with you can sometimes say you are right.

For ages 9, 12

The scribes were experts in God's law, but many of them were against Jesus. Yet when He answered the Sadducees, they had to admit He spoke wisely. That shows how powerful Jesus' words are. Sometimes people who don't agree with you can still recognise when you are right. The hard part is letting that recognition turn into real change.

Questions People Ask

Why did the scribes praise Jesus if they were His enemies?

The scribes belonged to the Pharisees, who believed in the resurrection. Jesus had just given an answer that defeated the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection. They were pleased that their opponents had been silenced, even by Jesus. Their praise was real but limited, they approved of the answer without accepting the Teacher.

What does it mean that they 'durst not ask him any question'?

The Greek word for 'dare' (tolmaō) means to have the boldness or nerve to do something. After Jesus answered so thoroughly, the religious leaders lost their confidence. They had come to trap Him, but they realised they could not win in open debate. So they stopped trying to test Him publicly and turned to other plans.

Does this mean the scribes started following Jesus?

No. The same scribes and Pharisees continued to oppose Jesus and were part of the group that eventually had Him arrested. This moment shows that even enemies can recognise truth, but recognition by itself is not the same as faith. The heart remains unchanged until it chooses to follow.

How does this connect to the resurrection debate?

The Sadducees had asked about a woman married to seven brothers, whose wife would she be in the resurrection? Jesus answered that in the resurrection people do not marry, and He proved the resurrection itself from Moses' writings. The scribes, as believers in resurrection, could see He had won the argument decisively.

Why did the religious leaders stop questioning Jesus after this?

Several attempts to trap Him had failed. The Pharisees failed on taxes, the Sadducees on resurrection, and now the scribes saw that no one could match His wisdom. Public debate was no longer a useful strategy. From this point they moved to plotting His arrest and death, as the Gospels show.

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