Series: Things Jesus Wants Us To Know
Part 20 - And The Answer Is…
Today we are going to read Luke chapter 20. Before you get alarmed, I am not going to deal with but a portion of it. It does set the tone for what is going on in Christ's ministry.
Luke 20:1 - 47
1
And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,2
And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?3
And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:4
The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?5
And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?6
But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.7
And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.8
And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.9
Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.10
And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.11
And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.12
And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.13
Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.14
But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.15
So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?16
He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.17
And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?18
Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.19
And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.20
And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.21
And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:22
Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?23
But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?24
Show me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s.25
And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.26
And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.27
Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,28
Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.29
There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.30
And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.31
And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.32
Last of all the woman died also.33
Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.34
And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:35
But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:36
Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.37
Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.38
For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.39
Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.40
And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.41
And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David’s son?42
And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,43
Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.44
David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?45
Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,46
Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;47
Which devour widows’ houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.INTRO: Today we are continuing with the series, Things Jesus Wants Us To Know. Jesus is nearing the end of His ministry and He continues to send information to His disciples to prepare them for His departure. He also has not let up on the religious Jews of that day.
Why would He be so hard on them? Well, it all boiled down to their hypocrisy, and their attempts to silence Him (through His death). Hypocrisy is not a pretty thing. It causes all kinds of problems. It is hypocrisy and their zeal to out do Christ that brings this confrontation in today's scripture.
First before we start in the text, I want to look at some of the verse we have read and my…
Observations on how we react or accept Christ in our lives:
Vs. 2 - we see anti-authority (unless it is one of their own buddies)
Vs. 7 - Self-promotion (what is in it for me attitude)
We also see…
Vs. 7 - Indifference to God's Spirit (dangerous action)
Vs. 16 - Hostility shown when the truth hurts
Vs. 19a - Resistance all the way to open rebellion
Vs. 19b - Fearful of others' judgment
Vs. 19c - Indignant of His judgment
Vs. 20a - Curiosity - (watched)
Vs. 20b - Doubters - (spies to find and prove fault)
Vs. 20c - Deceitful - (feign themselves just men)
Vs. 20c - Desperate - (take hold of His words)
Vs. 21-22 Skeptical - (a trap set by them)
Here is where I want to look at what Jesus would have us to know.
We should…
Be honest with Him - 23
He knows our true motives no matter how we camouflage them- 23a
He knows what we face in life - 24a
The opposite of this is…
He knows our deceit
He knows our excuses
He knows our retreats and failures
We also find He wants us to…
Be honest with others (render unto Caesar…)
We are guided in principle here to
Pay taxes honestly (Jewish Talmud taught okay to treat tax collectors with deception about wealth - authoritative record of rabbinic discussions on Jewish law, Jewish ethics, customs, legends, and stories.)
Earn an honest wage with honest labor
Deal honestly with our neighbors, friends, and even strangers
Reminded of Chevy Chase in Vacation movie where he asks the tow truck operator how much will it cost. The driver asks, "How much do you have?" He of course was going to and did take it all.
Several times in the scripture Christ took us to the golden rule - this covers that here
He also reminds us in verse 34 …
Be sure life goes on day by day
We worry about things we cannot change - we cannot start, stop or stall them
We worry about things that will not last
We worry about things that do not matter
Be aware life truly goes on in a better place - 35-36
Inference is be prepared
There will be no death to haunt us
There will be a God (Jehovah) who will stand by us
There will be a place worth finding and acquiring
And last we see He warns us to…
Be watchful of the religious - they will rub off on you- 45-47
They want to be noticed for how they appear - human nature
They want to be noticed by all (love the greetings - i.e. - The Most Right Reverend)
They want the honored seats and all the accolades and fanfare that go with them
They are "better" than others and want the bonuses that show it
BUT - they are not godly
They are only for the show
They area not going to be saved
They will suffer for their lack of trusting Christ in a free pardon of sins
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 081207am