Politicising the Tribute: Luke’s Redaction of Lk. 20.20–26 and its Pedagogical Function

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.