LUKE 20

Some of Jesus’ best teaching occurred during the Passion Week, and he spent much of His time that week desperately preaching to the Jewish religious leaders. While we understand that some of them eventually (post-resurrection) “got it”, most did not, and all they could do at this time was question Him in hopes of catching Him in some error.

Here, His authority is questioned, and the Master Teacher fires back with a question of his own. Knowing that John the Baptist had a great reputation among Israel, Jesus knows they cannot answer His question. If the leaders said John was from heaven, then they must answer as to why they did not follow him. If they answer that he was from man, they lose credibility, because the people thought John to have been a sent prophet. So they sheepishly, accidentally-wisely, say, “I don’t know.” Neither will Jesus tell them on whose authority He teaches.

The parable of the vine-growers spoke directly to this leadership. The servants who were sent would refer to the prophets of old, proclaiming God’s message of repentance. The son is a clear reference to God’s Son, sent in person to proclaim the message. He (like Jesus will be) is killed, and the owner gives the vineyard to another group. The religious leaders were appalled by the story and how it ended, feeling indignant to the vine-growers in the story, though they represented those very leaders.

Jesus, author of all Scripture, quotes His Word as recorded in Psalms, mentioning the corner stone. This stone (Christ) is there for all to be “broken” by “falling” on it. We must die to ourselves when we encounter Christ. For those who reject Christ, in the end judgment, they will be scattered like dust by this “stone” which will “fall” on them, judged eternally for that rejection.

Note how the scribes, the chief priests, and others try so hard to look the part of the righteous, and openly connive and plot devious schemes. They send spies to pretend to be righteous to ask Him a question about taxes. They loved their money, and hated paying taxes to Rome, so they thought they might have a common cause with Jesus when it came to paying taxes. Not quite. Jesus has much more pertinent issues to deal with than taxes. Verse 26 says they were amazed by His answer, and they became silent.

The Sadducees were the sect of Jewish leaders who were primarily businessmen, laymen and not so religious, but more political. They catered to the well-to-do. And their theology did not support a literal resurrection. So they invent a story of a woman who had seven eventual husbands, one dying after the other. The question: who will she be married to in the resurrection (in which they did not even believe)?

From Jesus’ answer, we learn that we will be like the angels, we will not BE angels, but like them in that we will apparently not be married in heaven. Not to fret, we will be sons of God, never to die physically again once we have our resurrected bodies. Boggles the mind. So He answers the question, but then also adds a great point, speaking very pointedly at this group. He calls God the God of the living. Abraham and the others mentioned there were long since dead physically, but apparently their spirits were somewhere with God, still alive, awaiting that resurrection themselves. Only living people have a God, was His point. As a result, some of the scribes gave up asking any more questions, no longer having the courage to ask. The answers were too convicting.

Last, Jesus asks an unprovoked question about David, another one they simply cannot answer. Israel’s greatest historic king calls his son “Lord” (the Christ was to be – genealogically - the son of David). The Messiah must, then, be greater than David. And instead of waiting for an answer, Jesus publicly warns the people of these scribes and their hypocrisy. They know better, or at least they should, and their condemnation is great as a result.

SO WHAT...?

So, am I willing to read God’s Word and allow its truth to convict, especially when I know of areas of my life so badly needing to be addressed?

So, am I, are you, truly a product of having fallen on that corner stone? Have I, have you, allowed Christ to change me/you?

So, even when it seems hopeless or pointless, will I keep trying to reach those who still desperately need the gospel?