Luke 20:3-6

Jesus’ reply with a counter-question was common in rabbinic discussions. [Note: Marshall, The Gospel . . ., p. 725.] He used "heaven" as a synonym for God. Luke recorded many instances of this practice. The Jewish leaders had opposed John the Baptist, though the people followed him. Luke alone mentioned the leaders’ fear of stoning. Stoning was the penalty for prophesying falsely (Deuteronomy 13:1-11). Here the leaders feared that they might suffer the same fate for denying the legitimacy of a true prophet. Luke therefore hinted that the people who listened to Jesus were the faithful Israelites and that their leaders who rejected Him were worthy of stoning.