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Steven Cole · Citado em PreceptAustin
Lucas 20
Cole has an interesting introduction to this section on authority imagining himself as a reporter in Jerusalem interviewing a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin. On one of the days while He was teaching (didasko in present tense - continually) the people in the Temple (hieros) and preaching the gospel (euaggelizo) - When is one of the days? Most say this is probably Tuesday morning, but MacArthur thinks it is Wednesday (because he feels that "Palm Sunday" really occurred on Monday! See his logic here) Where in the Temple? We don't know for certain, but the biggest space would have been the Court of the Gentiles (about 10 football fields in size - see diagram above) which had just been purged of the perversion being practiced. That Jesus was teaching is only fitting for that is how He began His "3 Year Race" - "And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all." (Lk. 4:15+) So He began in a synagogue and ended in the Temple. What an example for every pastor and teacher all across the world (1Peter 2:21+, 1 Jn 2:6+)! And remember that the Jewish crowd acknowledged that Jesus' teaching was different "for He was teaching them as one having authority (exousia), and not as their scribes.Matthew recording." (Matthew 7:29+) Mark's version gives more background of what Jesus did each day (Note MacArthur's scene would advance each day, so Sunday is really Monday, etc) - Sunday PM - Mk 11:11; Monday AM - Mk 11:12-18 (Fig tree cursing not in Luke), Monday PM - Mk 11:19 Tuesday AM - Mk 11:20-26 (Not found in Luke) It is notable that in Jesus' final days of life He made teaching and preaching in the Temple the focal point of His last days ministry. It is not surprising that these same two verbs (teaching and preaching) were used to describe His followers who walked in His steps (Acts 5:42; 15:35, cf 1 Pe 2:21-note). We do well to follow their example! Teaching (cf Lk 19:47+)(1321)(didasko) indicates that Jesus was the passing on information focused on content, with the purpose of discovering the truth Synagogue teaching, as illustrated by that of Jesus, was basically expository. The root meaning of didasko carries with it the idea of systematic teaching or systematic training. It is the word that is used to refer to a choir director who trains a choir over a long period of rehearsals until they are able to perform. In Scripture to teach means to pass on the truth about the Word of God, the God of the Word and the faith of the saints, with the goal of influencing the understanding and stimulating obedience to the truth taught and resultant Spirit energized transformation and Christ-likeness. The essence of a disciple in fact is that he or she is a learner. The teacher teaches and the disciple hears and processes what is heard so that this truth affects his or her innermost being. Ultimately the purpose of didasko is to shape the will of the one taught. And this is what Jesus was trying to do in these last of His last days! Luke's uses of didasko - Lk. 4:15; Lk. 4:31; Lk. 5:3; Lk. 5:17; Lk. 6:6; Lk. 11:1; Lk. 12:12; Lk. 13:10; Lk. 13:22; Lk. 13:26; Lk. 19:47; Lk. 20:1; Lk. 20:21; Lk. 21:37; Lk. 23:5; Acts 4:2; Acts 4:18; Acts 5:21; Acts 5:25; Acts 5:28; Acts 5:42; Acts 11:26; Acts 15:1; Acts 15:35; Acts 18:11; Acts 18:25; Acts 20:20; Acts 21:21; Acts 21:28; Acts 28:31 Preaching the gospel (good news)(present tense - continually) (2097)(euaggelizo/euangelizo from eu = good, well + aggéllo = proclaim, tell; English = evangelize) means to announce good news concerning something. Euaggelizo was often used in the Septuagint for preaching a glad or joyful message (cf. 1Sam. 31:9; 2 Sa 1:20; 4:10). Euaggelizo/euangelizo in its original sense could be used to refer to an announcement or declaration of any kind of good news, but in the NT it refers especially to the glad tidings of salvation obtained through Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection. One wonders if this was what He was preaching even as the day of His death came ever closer. Luke's uses of euaggelizo - Lk. 1:19; Lk. 2:10; Lk. 3:18; Lk. 4:18; Lk. 4:43; Lk. 7:22; Lk. 8:1; Lk. 9:6; Lk. 16:16; Lk. 20:1; Acts 5:42; Acts 8:4; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:25; Acts 8:35; Acts 8:40; Acts 10:36; Acts 11:20; Acts 13:32; Acts 14:7; Acts 14:15; Acts 14:21; Acts 15:35; Acts 16:10; Acts 17:18 Matthew adds that Jesus also continued to perform miraculous healing recording "And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna ("Save now") to the Son of David (recognized Messianic title),” they became indignant (aganakteo)." (Mt 21:14-15) The religious leaders saw the miracles, but still refused to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah. As noted, they never refuted the miracles per se, just the Miracle Worker! Point - Miracles per se don't save anyone! The Gospel has the inherent power (dunamis) to save everyone who believes (Ro 1:16+). What is the message - Preach the Gospel in season and out of season (2Ti 4:2+)! Three groups of the most important religious leaders in Israel confront the authority of Jesus. The fact that all three conspire together is indicative of the great alarm Jesus had created among the religious crowd. And keep in mind that these three groups had Jewish sects that were not usually congenial (e.g., Sadducees were often in priesthood, Pharisees would be among the Scribes). This unlikely amalgamation was an example of the ancient proverb "The enemy of my enemy is my friend!" Of course Jesus was the common "enemy" of all three groups leading to their alliance. These three groups comprised the Sanhedrin, which was in effect the "Supreme Court" of Israel which was composed of 70 members with the head of the group being the Jewish high priest. We see this religious triad mentioned by Jesus in a prophecy in Lk 9:22+ declaring that “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.” Comment: Note that this evil triad of Jewish leaders was instrumental in bringing His crucifixion to fruition. Of course the reader also knows that they were but instruments in God’s sovereign plan. And the Romans carried out the actual crucifixion. And then we see them at Jesus' mock trial Luke recording " When it was day, the Council of elders (probably a reference to the Jewish Sanhedrin, the council of seventy leaders.) of the people assembled, both chief priests and scribes, and they led Him away to their council chamber." 67 “If You are the Christ, tell us.” But He said to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe; (Lk 22:66-67, cf Lk 23:10) We see a similar "unholy triad" confront Jesus' Peter and the disciples with him in Acts 4:1-2+, As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. The treatment of the disciples in the early Church recalls Jesus' words of warning in His final time intimate teaching time with His 11 disciples just before His Sacrificial Death on the Cross... "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (John 15:20, cf 2 Ti 3:12+) Comment: Notice that this is a Prophetic Promise, but you won't find this one in most book collections of "God's Promises!" As one of my mentors used to say "Preach the Word and duck!" And if you have preached or taught the pure milk of the Word for any length of time, undoubtedly you have had to "duck!" All of the men in these three groups should have been the wisest men in Israel and yet they prove themselves to be the most foolish. They all undoubtedly had great knowledge of the Law of Moses and the traditions, but their eyes were blinded to the deeper heart meaning of God's Word. Over and over in His Sermon on the Mount Jesus says "you have heard the ancients were told..." (e.g. do not commit murder) following up with "but I say to you.." as He proceeded to unfold the true meaning of God's Holy Law. (eg, Mt 5:21, 22, Mt 5:27, 28, etc). Their legalistic hearts were hardened to the truth of God's Word.
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Cole has a practical, personal application regarding Jesus' authority - The problem that those Jewish religious leaders faced is the same problem that every person who comes into contact with Jesus faces: His authority confronts my authority. At first, maybe it’s just an irritating sermon that makes you a bit uncomfortable. You don’t like it, but you brush it aside and continue on with your agenda for your life. Then, perhaps you have another encounter with Jesus: a passage in the Bible steps on your toes. Your level of discomfort goes up a notch. You realize that if He takes over your life, there are going to be some radical changes, and you’re not sure that you want to give up control. So you scramble to dodge the implications of who Jesus is. You raise all sorts of intellectual questions so that you don’t have to face the fact that He is Lord. But, He keeps coming to town and confronting your authority to run your own life. Sooner or later, you come to a crisis point where you have to deal with the question that these Jewish religious leaders asked: “By what authority does Jesus say and do these things?” The bottom line for them is the same for us today: If Jesus is acting by God’s authority, then we had better submit to Him. Authority is a fundamental question of life: Who has the right to govern? J C
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Cole - Their question, turned back against them, is a basic question in life that we all must answer: Who or what is the final authority in life? Who determines what is right or wrong? Who said that you could act as you do? Have you answered it for your life? Who is your final authority? You say, “I let my conscience be my guide.” What informs your conscience? You say, “I just feel inside what is right.” Really? I’ve read of hired killers who could shoot a man in the face without a twinge of conscience! Perhaps you say, “I obey the laws of the land.” What about when those laws say that it’s okay to kill babies or gas the Jews? Does that make it right? Do you obey the state when you don’t like its laws or just when they agree with you? Maybe you obey reason? Whose reason? There are proponents on both sides of most moral questions. By what authority do you live your life? Our society generally used to agree that the Judeo-Christian standards of the Bible were moral absolutes. But now that we have rejected that moral base, our judicial system is in crisis. You often hear, “You can’t legislate morality.” Really? Aren’t rape, murder, molesting children, and racial discrimination moral issues? The crucial question is, how do we determine whose morals we are going to legislate and uphold in our courts? If we throw out God’s moral standards in the Bible, we have no basis for determining right and wrong, other than majority opinion. “By what authority” is a fundamental question of life each of us must answer. Will you live your life under God’s authority or under some human authority, be it yourself or someone else? By What Authority? ILLUSTRATION - The late Bill Klem was one of major league baseball’s best-known and powerful umpires. When he was behind the plate, he made it clear that he was completely in charge of everything that mattered. In one important game, it was the ninth inning. The batter hit the ball to left field. The runner on third ran for home with the potential winning run. The catcher crouched to make the tag. The runner, the catcher, and the umpire all collided and were laid out in the dirt. From one dugout, the players were screaming, “He’s safe! He’s safe!” In the other dugout, they were shouting, “He’s out! He’s out!” The fans in the stands were going wild. In the midst of all the confusion and noise, Bill Klem stood up, looked directly into the stands, raised his fist and exclaimed, “He ain’t nothin’ till I’ve called it!” Bill Klem made it clear that everyone had to submit to his authority. Gotquestions on Baptism of John: Question: "What was the meaning and importance of the baptism of John the Baptist?" Answer: Though today the word baptism generally evokes thoughts of identifying with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection (cf Ro 6:2-3-note, Col 2:9-12-note), baptism did not begin with Christians. For years before Christ, the Jews had used baptism in ritual cleansing ceremonies of Gentile proselytes. John the Baptist took baptism and applied it to the Jews themselves—it wasn’t just the Gentiles who needed cleansing. Many believed John’s message and were baptized by him (Matthew 3:5–6). The baptisms John performed had a specific purpose. In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist mentions the purpose of his baptisms: “I baptize you with water for repentance.” Paul affirms this in Acts 19:4: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” John’s baptism had to do with repentance—it was a symbolic representation of changing one’s mind and going a new direction. “Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River” (Matthew 3:6). Being baptized by John demonstrated a recognition of one’s sin, a desire for spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow God’s law in anticipation of the Messiah’s arrival. There were some, like the Pharisees, who came to the Jordan to observe John’s ministry but who had no desire to step into the water themselves. John rebuked them sternly: “When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance’” (Matthew 3:7–8). Even the religious leaders needed to repent of their sin, although they saw no need of it. Christian baptism today also symbolizes repentance, cleansing, and commitment, but Jesus has given it a different emphasis. Christian baptism is a mark of one’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is representative of a cleansing that is complete and a commitment that is the natural response of one who has been made new. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross completely washes away our sins, and we are raised to new life empowered by the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17–21; Romans 6:1–11). With John’s baptism, a person repented of sin and was therefore ready to place his faith in Jesus Christ. John’s baptism foreshadowed what Jesus would accomplish, much as the Old Testament sacrificial system did. John prepared the way for Christ by calling people to acknowledge their sin and their need for salvation. His baptism was a purification ceremony meant to ready the peoples’ hearts to receive their Savior. (Gotquestions.org - this site is highly recommended) Related Resources: What is the baptism of/by/with fire? Is baptism necessary for salvation? In what way was John the Baptist the greatest (Matthew 11:11)? What is the symbolism of water baptism? What is the origin of baptism? Luke 20:5 They reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' Luke 20:5KJV And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? Why did you not believe him John 1:15-18,30,34; 3:26,36; 3:26,36; 5:33-35; Acts 13:25 Luke 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 19:45-20:8 By What Authority? - Steven Cole Luke 20:1-8 Rejecting the King's Authority - John MacArthur REASONING OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS They reasoned among (sullogizomai) themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why did you not believe (pisteuo) him?' - The religious leaders are at least smart enough to know they are "in a pickle."(in a quandary or some other difficult position.) (see interesting origin of phrase). From heaven means from God. In other words, the authority of John's baptism was from God, and they did not believe or receive John's baptism, so they rejected God's authority over their lives and religious service. Wuest on reasoned among themselves - Conference in groups was scarcely possibly at this time. The same thought flashed through their minds. If they would accept the divine mission of the Baptist, they would charge themselves as a class with having rejected his baptism. This would give our Lord an advantage which He would not be slow to use. If they said that John’s baptism was of purely human origin, they would place themselves in a dangerous position with regard to the crowds, even to the place of being stoned. The people might look upon their attribution to man’s words, that which they held to be of God. Furthermore, John’s martyrdom had deepened the regard with which he was held by the people. (Wuest Word Studies - Eerdman Publishing Company Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 - used by permission -- or Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader ) Reasoned among (4817)(sullogizomai from sun = with, speaks of intimacy + logizomai = to reason, calculate) describes thinking and talking over something with someone else. Liddell-Scott - "-to collect and bring at once before the mind, to compute fully, sum up." The idea is to ponder or discuss various possibilities relating to a matter, in this case Jesus' question. This is the only use in the NT. There are 5 uses in the Septuagint - Lev. 25:27; Lev. 25:50; Lev. 25:52; Num. 23:9; Isa. 43:18. Matthew 21:25 has dialogizomai which means to ponder, to inwardly think about thoroughly.
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Cole - A few years ago, a family living in a beautiful home in West Palm Beach, Florida, told a film crew that it was okay to use the front lawn as a set for filming an episode of a TV show. They knew that cars would be crashing violently in front of the house. While the front yard was being destroyed, the owner of the home was tipped off and called from New York, demanding to know what was happening to his house. It seems that the people living in the house were only tenants who had no right to allow the property to be destroyed while the cameras rolled. Some awful mistakes can happen when those who are tenants begin acting as if they were owners. The more valuable the property they occupy, the more responsibility they have to treat it carefully. Can you imagine tenants in a beautiful mansion who refuse to pay rent and who threaten or beat up those whom the owner sends to collect rent? They argue, “We live here; it’s our house now.” No one making that claim would stand a chance in a court of law. The owner has the right to receive rent and to have his property treated rightly. To follow up the challenge of the Jewish leaders to Jesus about the source of His authority, He tells a parable about some wicked tenants of a vineyard, who had wrongfully assumed ownership of that which was not their own. It is one of only three parables that occur in all three synoptic gospels (the sower and the mustard seed are the other two). The parable answers the question that the leaders had just asked Jesus: “By what authority are you doing these things?” If God owns the vineyard and Jesus is the Son and rightful heir to it, then He is acting under God’s authority. The Jewish leaders have wrongfully usurped the authority of God, the rightful owner. Thus the fundamental question that not only these Jewish leaders, but also all who hear the parable, need to answer is, “Who owns the vineyard?” Keeping in mind the answer to that question will determine how we live. (Who Owns the Vineyard? ) And - Notice this connecting copulative, which clearly links the following parable with the prior confrontation regarding Jesus' authority. He began to tell the people this parable (parable) - (Mt 21:33 begins "Listen - aorist imperative = listen so as to heed) This parable is a story about Israel and her Messiah, looking back through Israel's history and forward to Messiah's crucifixion and then to the future history of the nation of Israel (this latter may surprise you). The people are the huge crowd of Jews (recall it is Passover and Jerusalem could have swollen to as many as 2 million people) who had exuberantly celebrated what they interpreted as the coming of their King, their Messiah, to overthrow Rome. Presumably this story is told in the largest Temple venue, the Court of the Gentiles (up to 10 football fields in size) as Lk 20:1 says Jesus was teaching and preaching during the day. In addition to the Jewish laity, undoubtedly the chief priests and the scribes with the elders were also in the crowd. And indeed this story is about the religious leaders of Israel, so it is a story they needed to hear! The ESV Study Bible note makes a good point that "This parable, while spoken to the people (Lk 20:1, 9, cf Mk 12:1, 12), is directed to Jesus’ opponents (Lk 19:47; 20:1, 19) and is intended as an analogy (with many referents) to show that God (the “owner,” Lk 20:13) is taking away the kingdom from Israel (see note on Mark 12:1-12)....The story draws on everyday life. Disputes between absentee landlords, their representatives (in this case, a servant), and tenants were common." (ESV Study Bible - this resource can be borrowed) Parable (3850)(parabole from para = beside, near + ballo = throw, cast; English "parable") is literally a throwing beside or placing of one thing by the side of another (juxtaposition as of ships in battle in classic Greek). A parable is an illustration thrown in alongside of a truth to make the latter easier to understand the truth. In this case Jesus chose to illustrate His truth with a vineyard, an agrarian or agricultural metaphor which would be familial to all Jews. A man ("landowner" oikodespotes - head of house - Mt 21:33) planted a vineyard (ampelon) - Israel is hilly and vineyards were planted on the hillsides which were terraced. They would surround the vineyard with a hedge or wall for protection. The vineyard would usually have a winepress (picture and description of ancient wine press) as well as a tower for protection. As an aside there are only 4 uses of the Greek word (lenos) for wine press, a literal use in Matthew's parallel parable (Mt 21:33) and three uses in the Revelation all speaking of God's righteous wrath using the metaphor of a wine press. (Rev. 14:19-20+; Rev. 19:15+). Wiersbe on planted a vineyard - This parable is based on Isaiah 5:1-7, and in it Jesus reminded the Jews of God's goodness to them as a nation. God delivered them from Egypt and planted them in a rich land of milk and honey. He gave them material and spiritual blessings and asked only that they bear fruit for His glory. (Borrow Be courageous Luke 14-24) God is the "landowner" (Mt 21:33) who planted the "vineyard" of Israel, even as in the story in Isa 5:7+ "For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah His delightful plant. Thus He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; For righteousness, but behold, a cry of distress." Israel is God's chosen people formed out of the loins of Abraham, this lineage carried through the patriarchs Isaac and Jacob, with the 12 tribes flourishing into a full nation and being redeemed from slavery in Egypt. When one redeems a slave, that slave belongs to the one who provided the redemption price. In this case God provided the redemption price (blemish-free lamb Ex 12:5) and thus the nation belonged to Him not only by His planting (Isaiah 5:1-7+) but even by His redemption provided by the blood of the lamb (pointing of course to the Lamb of God Jn 1:29, 36, to Christ our Passover 1 Cor 5:7+). Isaiah 5:1-7+ summarizes God's planting, provision and protection to maximize production... Let me sing now for my well-beloved (Lxx = agapao in perfect tense = speaks of Jehovah's enduring unconditional love in spite of Israel's unfaithful, rebellious hearts! Woe!) a song of my beloved concerning His vineyard (Lxx = ampelon). My well-beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill (THE PROMISED LAND OF CANAAN - A FERTILE LAND OF "MILK AND HONEY"!). 2 He dug it all around, removed its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. And He built a tower in the middle of it and also hewed out a wine vat in it; Then He expected it to produce good grapes, But it produced only worthless ones (beushim = stinking, derived from beosh = stench as from corpses in Amos 4:10!). 3 “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge between Me and My vineyard. 4 “What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones (beushim = stinking)? 5 “So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard: I will (THIS IS GOD'S JUDICIAL DECREE) remove its hedge and it will be consumed. I will (GOD INITIATES THIS!) break down its wall and it will become trampled ground. 6 “I will lay it waste (FULFILLED IN 586 BC WHEN NEBUCHADNEZZAR RAZED JERUSALEM); It will not be pruned or hoed, but briars and thorns will come up. I will also charge the clouds to rain no rain on it.” 7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel And the men of Judah His delightful plant. Thus He looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; For righteousness, but behold, a cry of distress. Comment: Matthew and Mark's versions of this parable begin with a direct quote from the Septuagint (not the Hebrew) of Isaiah 5:2. Notice the words in ALL CAPS in Mark 12:1 "And He began to speak to them in parables: “A man PLANTED A VINEYARD AND PUT A WALL AROUND IT, AND DUG A VAT UNDER THE WINE PRESS AND BUILT A TOWER, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey." The NASB is one of the few translations that puts direct OT quotes in ALL CAPS which is very helpful in identifying these references from the OT. Sadly other modern versions lack this helpful feature. Another feature absent in most modern versions but found in the NAS is that it ITALICIZES words that have been added to the English translation but are not in the original Greek or Hebrew text. E.g., compare Mark 12:10NASB with the popular version Mark 12:10ESV and note that "stone" is in italics in the NAS but not in the ESV. "Stone" is not present in the Greek text in this verse. We see a another description of Israel depicted as a VINE in Psalm 80... You removed a VINE from Egypt; You drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground before it, And it took deep root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shadow, And the cedars of God with its boughs. 11 It was sending out its branches to the sea And its shoots to the River. 12 Why have You broken down its hedges, So that all who pass that way pick its fruit? 13 A boar from the forest eats it away And whatever moves in the field feeds on it. 14 O God of hosts, turn again now, we beseech You; Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine (THIS PRAYER WILL BE ANSWERED IN THE END TIMES - Zech 12:10-note, Zech 13:1-note, Zech 13:8-9-note, Ro 11:26-27-note), 15 Even the shoot which Your right hand has planted, And on the son whom You have strengthened for Yourself. 16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. (Ps 80:8-16) In Jeremiah we read another description of Israel as a VINE... “Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine? (Jer 2:21) In Ezekiel we see a description of Judah (southern kingdom) as a VINE ‘Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, Planted by the waters; It was fruitful and full of branches Because of abundant waters. 11 ‘And it had strong branches fit for scepters of rulers, And its height was raised above the clouds So that it was seen in its height with the mass of its branches. 12 ‘But it was plucked up in fury; It was cast down to the ground; And the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branch was torn off So that it withered; The fire consumed it. 13 ‘And now it is planted in the wilderness, In a dry and thirsty land. 14‘And fire has gone out from its branch; It has consumed its shoots and fruit, So that there is not in it a strong branch, A scepter to rule.’” This is a lamentation, and has become a lamentation. (Ezekiel 19:10-14)
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Cole - These things apply not only to ancient Israel, but also to us, whom God has graciously grafted into His vine (see Rom. 11:17 24).
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Cole says "Any sensible businessman immediately would have thrown these bums out, prosecuted them legally for their negligence and abuse, and replaced them with tenants who would be more faithful in managing his vineyard. But I’m glad to say that this owner, who represents God, was not acting like a "good businessman." (but like a kind, merciful, benevolent, forgiving Father). Jesus is showing us the unreasonable, illogical, supra-human patience of our gracious God. He sent His prophets to Israel over and over again, looking for fruit. But the disobedient nation ignored, mistreated, and even killed some of these faithful servants. Yet in spite of this, God kept sending them, over and over again, as a demonstration of His abundant patience and grace. The history of Israel reveals the tragic wickedness of the human heart. No people were as privileged by God as that covenant nation, and yet repeatedly they turned away from God. While Moses was on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, Israel was in the valley below carousing in front of the golden calf. Time and again they grumbled against God in the wilderness. When they moved into the promised land, instead of living separately from the pagan nations around them, they imitated their idolatry and immorality. Yet where sin abounded, God’s grace super-abounded (Ro 5:20+). Far beyond any human expectations, God patiently sent prophet after prophet to warn His people to turn from their sins. If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you should be able to look back at God’s extravagant patience and grace in His dealings with you and it ought to motivate you to serve Him more zealously. How many times I have been self-centered, living for my own aims, not to bear fruit for the Lord! And yet He always keeps sending His messengers to get me back on track! God sends us preachers who proclaim the truth of His Word. He gives us the Bible, which we can read for ourselves. We see many other messengers in His church-friends and others who warn us by their lives and words of the need to live fruitful lives. God graciously sends us health problems to show us that we are frail and dependent on Him; signs of aging-gray hair, loss of hair, loss of youthful strength, and the death of loved ones and friends, to remind us that the eternal is what matters. All of these gracious messengers, given over and over again, remind us that eternity is near and we must give an account. God’s great patience in His dealings with us should motivate us to live accountably to Him, bearing fruit with our lives. But the greatest motivation to fruitful, accountable living is not the many prophets God sent. It is His final messenger: God’s great love, seen in sending His beloved Son, should motivate us to live accountably to Him. (Who Owns the Vineyard?) Luke 20:13 "The owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.' Luke 20:13KJV 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. What shall I do Isaiah 5:4; Hosea 6:4; 11:8 I will send my beloved son Lk 9:35; Mt 3:17; 17:5; John 1:34; 3:16,17,35,36; Ro 8:3; Galatians 4:4; 1 John 4:9-15 perhaps they will respect him Jer 36:3,7 Parallel parable passages - Mt. 21:33-46; Mk 12:1-12 Luke 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 20:9-19 Who Owns the Vineyard? - Steven Cole Luke 20:9-18 The Murder of God's Son - A Prophetic Parable-Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 20:9-18 The Murder of God's Son - A Prophetic Parable-Part 2 - John MacArthur THE PARABLE BECOMES PROPHETIC Up to this point the parable has been historic (speaking of the treatment of God's prophets sent to Israel in the OT and including John the Baptist who was beheaded in the NT - Mt 14:10, Mk 6:16, 27,Lk 9:9+), but now turns the corner to open the door to a prophetic pronouncement. Jesus is telling the people, but especially the religious leaders what they will do with Him on "Good Friday!" The owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? - This would cause the hearers to surely side with the mistreated owner and would see vengeance as totally appropriate. Of course while the "owner" represents God, this question is not true to reality. God does not wonder about what will happen if He sends His own Son. The Father knew exactly what would happen when He sent His Son and was not surprised when they killed Him. Of course, what Jesus is doing in the parable is emphasizing the incredible contrast between God's amazing love and the intractable depravity of the human heart.
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Cole adds that "It was not through their failure to recognize the Son that they killed him; that would have been pardonable. It was, as in the parable, precisely because they recognized Him for who he was!...We reject the claims of Christ not because we misunderstand them, but because we understand them only too well, in spite of all our protestations to the contrary. (See The Gospel According to Mark:) They did not kill Him because they thought He was a counterfeit Messiah but because they knew He was the Messiah! Does this not blow your mind! What it demonstrates is the depth of depravity of the human heart that rejects every offer of grace from God because it does not want to submit to the authority of the "Owner" but wants the "Vineyard" for itself! Are not these evil vine-growers in so many ways a picture of all of us before we were saved by grace through faith, for we were all "formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds" (Col 1:21+), "we were enemies" before "we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son." (Ro 5:10+)! And yet in spite of this rejection "of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience" (Ro 2:4+), what does God do? "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Ro 5:8+) We can only sing out John Newton's great words "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I'm found, was blind but now I see!"
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Cole says that the Jews "lost their place of privilege as God’s covenant nation. God grafted in the Gentiles to accomplish His purpose “until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in” (Ro 11:25-note). As Paul points out, we should not boast, but fear, or God could remove us and use some other group to fulfill His purpose (Ro 11:17-22-note). The point is, if we who profess to be God’s people live selfishly and do not bear fruit in His vineyard, He will set us aside and raise up others. (cf 1 Cor 9:24-27-note) We need to apply this not just to the church “out there,” but also to ourselves. We miss the point if we think that this parable was given to pagans. It was given to men who professed to know God, the religious leaders of Israel. But these religious leaders wrongly thought that they owned the vineyard. They thought that it was their ministry. They were using it for their own selfish purposes. As a result, they rejected Jesus’ rightful place as the Owner of the vineyard. This church is not my church. It is not the elders’ church. It is not your church. It is the Lord’s church. He’s the owner of the vineyard. If He allows us to work in His vineyard, we are blessed. Any work that we do in the vineyard is not for us; it is for the owner (cf Mt 5:16-note, 1 Cor 10:31, cf Jn 15:5)....God expects fruit from His people. His great patience and grace, seen in the many messengers He sends to us when we get off track should motivate us to bear fruit (cf Jn 15:8, 16). His great love, seen in His sending of His beloved Son, should motivate us to live accountably before Him. His righteous judgment on those who reject His Son and usurp ownership of the vineyard should motivate us to live accountably to Him." (Who Owns the Vineyard?) To follow up on Steven Cole's emphasis on accountability, every individual believer indeed will have a future day of accountability For we must all appear (INDIVIDUALLY) before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one (INDIVIDUALLY) may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (NOT REFERRING TO SIN BUT TO DEEDS NOT DONE BY ABIDING IN THE VINE - Jn 15:5). (2 Cor 5:10-note) So because we each have a specific time of individual accountability before the Lord Jesus Christ we should follow Paul's steps (cf 1 Cor 11:1-note)... Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. (2 Cor 5:9-note) Steven Cole applies this section of the parable to our lives - God’s righteous judgment on those who reject His Son should motivate us to live accountably to Him. This parable illustrates what Paul exclaims in Romans 11:22, “Behold then the kindness and severity of God.” God’s kindness is seen in His sending far more servants to rebellious Israel than she deserved. His severity is seen when these wicked tenant farmers killed the son. Jesus is God’s final messenger, the sum of His revelation to sinful man. If we reject Him, there is no further remedy. Only judgment lies ahead. (Who Owns the Vineyard?) The phrase "they heard" is the verb akouo, which is one of the most common verbs in the Bible and therefore one that is important to understand as it has several important nuances, depending on the context. In the present context akouo signifies hearing with understanding. The following discussion will give you a better sense of the various meanings of more than 400 uses of akouo in the New Testament. Heard (191)(akouo) primarily means physical hearing of sounds and the apprehension of the sounds with one's mind. Akouo gives us our English acoustics which is the science of designs that helps one hear (We need "spiritual acoustics" to help us hear spiritual truth!). Akouo is a very common verb in the NT and the Septuagint (Over 1400 uses total) and has several important nuances - to hear sound (Mt 9:12; 11:5, Mk 10:41; 14:64; Lk 7:3, 9; Jn 3:8; Lxx = Ge 3:8, 10), to hear so as to obey (see below), to hear with understanding (see below), to hear with attention (to listen attentively so as to perceive what is being said), to hear prayer (Jn 9:31; 11:41, 42; 1 Jn 5:15; Lxx = Ps. 10:17), to hear a case at court (Acts 25:22; Jn 7:51), to learn by hearing, to be informed, to know (Mt. 2:3, 22; 4:12; 5:21, 27; 11:2; Mt 20:30, Mk 2:1; 10:47, 5:27; 6:14; Acts 14:14; 15:24, Jn 14:28; Lxx = Ge 41:15; 42:2), hearing related to instruction or doctrine (Jn 8:40; 15:15; Acts 1:4; 4:20; Ro 10:14, 18; Heb 2:1; 1 Jn 2:7, 24).), to hear a report (Mt 28:14; Mk 2:1; Lk 12:3; Acts 11:22; 1 Cor 5:1; Lxx = 2 Chr 26:15). In John 6:60 the phrase "who can listen to it?" has the nuance of who can accept it or who can receive it and believe it. There is often overlap in these various nuances. Clearly, to arrive at the most accurate definition of akouo in a given verse will require careful observation of the use in context. Louw-Nida summary of akouo - (1). hear (Rev 18:22; Mk 16:11 v.r.; Jn 8:9 v.r.); (2). be able to hear, as opposed to being deaf (Mt 11:5); (3). receive news, normally by word of mouth (Mk 6:29); (4). pay attention to, to believe and respond (Mt 18:15); (5). obey, listen and conform to what was heard (Mt 17:5); (6). understand, comprehend (Mk 4:33); (7). hear legal case (Jn 7:51); (8). akoē akouō, listen carefully (Mt 13:14; Ac 28:26); (9). akouō eis to ous, hear in secret, formally, hear into the ear (Mt 10:27; Ac 11:22) (10). tois ōsin bareōs akouō, be slow to comprehend and respond to a spiritual truth (Mt 13:15; Ac 28:27) NOTE: Because this discussion on akouo is so lengthy, CLICK HERE for the full discussion at the bottom of this page. Luke 20:17 But Jesus looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone'? Luke 20:17KJV 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? But Jesus looked at them and said Lk 19:41; 22:61; Mark 3:5; 10:23 What then is this that is written Lk 22:37; 24:44; John 15:25 THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED Ps 118:22; Isa 28:16; Zech 3:9; Mt 21:42; Mark 12:10; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:7,8 Parallel parable passages - Mt. 21:33-46; Mk 12:1-12 Luke 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 20:9-19 Who Owns the Vineyard? - Steven Cole Luke 20:9-18 The Murder of God's Son - A Prophetic Parable-Part 1 - John MacArthur Luke 20:9-18 The Murder of God's Son - A Prophetic Parable-Part 2 - John MacArthur JESUS CHANGES METAPHORS FROM A VINEYARD TO A BUILDING What Jesus is doing in Lk 20:17-18 is changing metaphors from a VINEYARD and a REJECTED SON to a BUILDING and a REJECTED STONE! It is interesting that in Hebrew SON is "ben" and STONE is "eben." Warren
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Cole adds "When the son showed up the tenant farmers assumed that the owner was dead. Under Jewish law, property not claimed by an heir within a specified time could be claimed by the first party to do so. Thus they greedily assume that if they get rid of the son, the property will be theirs. They didn’t kill the son because of mistaken identity, but precisely because they recognized who he was and they wanted his inheritance for themselves. The issue was, “Who owns the vineyard?” They did not want to submit themselves to God’s rightful ownership. They wanted to rule the vineyard." (Who Owns the Vineyard?)
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Cole concludes this parable - Jesus told this parable for two main reasons. He wanted to encourage His faithful servants who get beat up and thrown out of the vineyard to keep on being faithful. He owns the vineyard and the main thing is for His servants to bear fruit for Him. Second, He told it to warn those who wrongly think that they own the vineyard that they do not. A day of reckoning is coming! Every first time visitor to the town of Twin Lakes, Colorado hits the brakes when he first drives into town. The reason for that automatic behavior is that there is a police car with a mannequin sitting behind the wheel just as you come over a hill heading into town. Before you realize that it is just a dummy, you hit your brakes because you think that you are accountable. We need to keep in mind that God is not a dummy-He’s real! Jesus Christ is the rightful heir and owner of the vineyard. Either we submit to Him and serve Him or we will face His certain judgment. If we wrongly start thinking that we own the vineyard, the stone will fall on us and scatter us like dust. (Who Owns the Vineyard) John
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Cole - Luke states that these religious leaders sent spies who pretended to be righteous or sincere, but their secret motive was to catch Jesus in some statement so that they could deliver Him up to the rule and authority of the governor. That way, they could look good to the people (“We didn’t do it!”) and let the governor dispose of this troublesome teacher. Their flattery is ironic, because even though they did not believe what they were saying, it was totally true: Jesus did “speak and teach correctly.” He was not “partial to any.” He did “teach the way of God in truth.” If these hypocrites had believed what they were saying, they would have submitted themselves to Jesus! (Luke 20:20-26 Guile, Government, and God)
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Cole - It’s easy to scoff at the inconsistency of these religious leaders, but we need to look within and admit that we’re all prone toward hypocrisy. It lurks in all of our hearts because we’re all disposed to want to look good to others, while we forget about what God sees. We’re like the little boy who was bragging to his brother about how he had killed a mouse that he caught. He told him how he clobbered it with a broom and then grabbed it by the tail and smashed it against a rock. Just then, the boy looked up and saw that the preacher was visiting the family and was within earshot. Without missing a beat, the boy added, “And then the good Lord called it home.”...But preachers are prone to hypocrisy also. It’s easy to want to look more righteous in front of people than you really are. If you’re not careful, you can give the impression in sermons that you have it all together spiritually, when you really don’t. Sometimes someone will make a comment about my level of piety that goes beyond the truth: “You must spend hours in prayer each week!” No, as a matter of fact, I struggle with prayer just like you do! But if I let the comment go uncorrected, thinking, “What will it hurt?” I fall into hypocrisy.... to avoid hypocrisy, we must not convey false impressions to make ourselves look better to others than we know we really are. (Luke 20:20-26 Guile, Government, and God) Luke 20:22 "Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" Luke 20:22KJV Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? Deuteronomy 17:15; Ezra 4:13,19-22; 9:7; Nehemiah 5:4; 9:37; Mt 22:17-21; Mark 12:14-17; Acts 5:37 Parallel passages - Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17 The Question of Tribute to Caesar - Alfred Edersheim Luke 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 20:20-26 Guile, Government, and God - Steven Cole Luke 20:19-26 The Diagnosis of the Christ Rejecters - John MacArthur A CAPTIOUS QUESTION SEEKS TO CAPTURE JESUS Captious means tending to find and call attention to faults. Marked by a disposition to find and point out trivial faults. Intended to entrap or confuse, as in an argument. The origin of captius is from late Middle English (also in the sense ‘intended to deceive someone’): from Old French captieux or Latin captiosus, from captio (n-) ‘seizing,’ (figuratively) ‘deceiving. So you get the point of their question - to deceive and capture Jesus in a word trap! A set up for sedition! In our modern vernacular one would say there question was quintessentially politically incorrect! Stevenson gives some background - The Romans had ruled over Jerusalem in one form or another since 63 B.C. Since that time, there had been a gradual increase in taxes, all going to fund the Roman Empire. To be fair, it must be admitted that the Romans also provided certain services such as their system of roads. However, it is always true that government takes away more than it gives and Rome was certainly no exception to this rule. Earlier in this century a rebellion had taken place under the banner of "no tribute to the Romans." It was claimed by these rebels that taxation was tantamount to slavery. There were three taxes which were collected: Ground Tax: Made up of 10% of all the grain and 20% of all the wine and fruit produced. Income Tax: 1% of a man’s income. Poll Tax: A flat tax of one denarius (a day’s wage) was paid by all men from 14 to 65 years of age and on all women between the ages of 12 to 65. The Jews were enraged at having to pay taxes to Rome, thus supporting the pagan government and its gods. There were seeking to hang Jesus on the "on the horns of a dilemma" with either horn capable of inflicting a fatal blow. They were turning the tables for earlier He had asked them "Was the baptism of John from heaven or from men?" (Lk 20:4-note)? If Jesus said it was not lawful to pay Caesar, He would be arrested as an insurrectionist and suffer capital punishment at the hands of Rome. If He said it was appropriate to pay Caesar, the fawning of the Jewish crowd would be stirred to fury and He would be quickly discredited as Messiah. Is it lawful - Is it allowed?
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Cole - If Jesus answered, “Yes,” the Pharisees would accuse Him of being soft towards Rome and certainly not being the Messiah who could deliver the nation from Rome’s hated sovereignty. If He answered, “No,” the Herodians would report Him to Pilate as being opposed to Caesar’s rule, thus guilty of sedition. They thought that they had Him this time. (Luke 20:20-26 Guile, Government, and God) Alfred Edersheim - Foiled in their endeavor to involve Him with the ecclesiastical, they next attempted the much more dangerous device of bringing Him into collision with the civil authorities. Remembering the ever watchful jealousy of Rome, the reckless tyranny of Pilate, and the low artifices of Herod, who was at that time in Jerusalem, we instinctively feel, how even the slightest compromise on the part of Jesus in regard to the authority of Cæsar would have been absolutely fatal. If it could have been proved, on undeniable testimony, that Jesus had declared Himself on the side of, or even encouraged, the so-called ‘Nationalist’ party, He would have quickly perished, like Judas of Galilee (Acts. 5:37; Jos. Ant. 18. 1. 1; 20. 5. 2). The Jewish leaders would thus have readily accomplished their object, and its unpopularity have recoiled only on the hated Roman power. How great the danger was which threatened Jesus, may be gathered from this, that, despite His clear answer, the charge that He preverted the nation, forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, was actually among those brought against Him before Pilate (Lk 23:2-note = "And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, and saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.”"). (The Question of Tribute to Caesar) Brian Bell - Questions!!! – Consider this true story about a very successful grocery store in Connecticut. Stu Leonards' grocery store grossed over $100 million last year. The average grocery store makes $300 per square foot. Stu's preparation generates an amazing $3,000 per square foot. The average grocery store stocks 15,000 items; Stu stocks only 700. Stu has profited immensely from the art of listening and asking the right questions. One day Stu asked a lady, "What do you think of our fresh fish?" She says, "I don't think that the fish is fresh." After explaining it is fresh every day from Boston’s Pier she still wasn’t convinced so he asked two questions:(1) "What do you mean our fish is not fresh?" She said, "Look at it. It just doesn't look fresh to me. You have that filet sitting on a green cardboard container. You have plastic wrap over the filet -- and it's wrinkled. Finally, you have a price sticker over half of the filet." He asked her a second question:(2) "What would fresh fish look like to you?" "I go to Boston all the time," she said. "I like to see the fish on ice." Stu walked across the aisle and laid the fish flat on the ice. Fish sales soared from 15,000 lbs. a week to 30,000 lbs. a week and stayed at that level. - Listening & asking the right questions holds tremendous opportunity for all of us…unless you’re not sincere with your questions!!! (Luke:20:20-47 Render to God That Which is His) Luke 20:23 But He detected their trickery and said to them, Luke 20:23KJV But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? (Only in the KJV) He detected their trickery Lk 5:22; 6:8; 11:17; John 2:24,25; 1 Cor 3:19; Hebrews 4:13 Parallel passages - Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17 Luke 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 20:20-26 Guile, Government, and God - Steven Cole Luke 20:19-26 The Diagnosis of the Christ Rejecters - John MacArthur JESUS DISCERNS THEIR DUPLICITOUS DESIGNS! They were certain they had Him trapped this time! And that all changes with one little conjunction, "but" a crucial term of contrast which changes the direction of the story, for Jesus detected their duplicity. Recalling that this chapter began with a question of Jesus' authority, note that now He gives an "authoritative" answer to their trick question. He detected their trickery (panourgia) - In His incarnation Jesus emptied Himself of His divine prerogatives but clearly we see glimpses of His omniscience from time to time in the Gospels (as in this case). For example in John 2:24-25+ we read "But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man." Detected (2657)(katanoeo from kata = down or can intensify meaning + noéo = to perceive or think) means literally to put the mind down on something and so to observe carefully and attentively. The idea is Jesus fixed His eyes and mind upon these pretenders and clearly perceived their ruse. He perceived their pernicious plan! Paul writes of God " For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS (translated here in Luke as "trickery" or panourgia)." (1 Cor 3:19+) Matthew adds some interesting details... Mt 22:18 But Jesus perceived (ginosko same verb used to describe religious leaders coming to stark realization in Lk 20:19) their malice (= poneria = active evil with intent to harm related to poneros = Satan, the Evil One [Jn 17:15; Ep 6:16; 2 Th 3:3; 1 Jn 2:13-14; 3:12; 5:18-19] undoubtedly behind the greatest malice of all time!), and said, “Why are you testing (tempting - peirazo - same verb of Satan tempting Jesus. No coincidence! Like father, like son [Jn 8:44]! - Mt 4:1+, Lk 4:2+) Me, you hypocrites (hupokrites)? (THIS PHRASE IS FOUND IN Lk 20:23KJV, BUT NOT NASB). Comment: While Matthew calls it malice (poneria), Luke calls it trickery (panourgia) both words being associated with the Devil, leaving little doubt that he is in the background shooting fiery missiles (or "flaming arrows" - Eph 6:16+) into these Jewish leaders' minds and hearts, much like he did in using Judas to betray Jesus (Jn 13:27). Mark alone repeats the question (asked first in Mk 12:14b+)... “Shall we pay or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy (hupokrisis), said to them, “Why are you testing (peirazo) Me? (Mark 12:15+)
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Cole - Jesus’ answer stunned the pretenders. In one succinct sentence, He showed that God and Caesar each have legitimate realms of authority with corresponding responsibilities. But if there is a conflict between realms, God is supreme over Caesar. By asking His critics to produce the Roman coin, Jesus underscored the fact that they were enjoying the benefits of Caesar’s government. They used his coinage; they enjoyed many civil improvements and benefits that he provided. Thus they were obligated to give him his due. And yet, by His final statement, “to God the things that are God’s,” Jesus affirmed that it would be wrong to go along with Caesar’s blasphemous claim to deity, which was stamped on each coin. One side read, “Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus” ("divine Augustus"? Woe!); the other read, “Pontifex Maximus” (“Chief Priest”). Jesus meant that above Caesar is God. We must never go so far in rendering unto Caesar that we violate our obligation to God, the supreme sovereign who rules over all....By His statement, “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s,” Jesus acknowledged that God has ordained civil government and given it a proper sphere of authority. God ordained civil government for the good of society. Paul explains this in Romans 13:1-7, where he commands, “Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God” (Ro 13:1). He goes on to state that the government “is a minister of God to you for good” (Ro 13:4). When Paul wrote this, the godless Nero was emperor. Thus we must conclude that we are not free to disobey or rebel against wicked rulers, unless they command us to violate God’s higher law. (See his sermon Luke 20:20-26 Guile, Government, and God for more on the role of government and how Christians should interact). (Guile, Government, and God) 🙏 THOUGHT - Let's apply the truth in this passage - Who's image do you bear? By creation all men bear the image of God (Ge 1:26-27+). But only by redemption do men bear the image of Christ. So let me ask "Whose image do you bear?" As Paul says if we bear Christ's image, we "are not our own, for we you have been bought with a price: therefore we are to glorify God in our body." (1 Cor 6:19-20+) That is the way we render to God the things that are God's! We "present our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is our spiritual service of worship." (Ro 12:1+) Dear Christ follower, are you rendering to God what is due to Him Alone?
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Cole writes that "The Sadducees erred because they were rationalists. If something went beyond human reason, such as God’s power to raise the dead and give them a whole new existence, they didn’t accept it. Rationalism limits knowledge to man and the power of reason. Believing in God and His supernatural power is not irrational, but it is supra-rational. It transcends human reason. The way we know the truth of Scripture is first by being born from above by God’s power so that we come to know Him and then by submitting our reason and our will to God’s revelation in Scripture. We must hold to all that God’s Word reveals, even if it doesn’t fit with our finite reasoning, or we will fall into serious doctrinal error. Rationalism undermines God’s power; faith in His Word affirms it." (Application - Have you allowed rationalistic thinking to creep into your mind? The only antidote for this type of "toxic thinking" is the pure milk of the Word, because ONLY by ingestion of the Word of Truth can we grow in respect to salvation. - 1 Peter 2:2-note). Leon
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Cole - Jesus shows us that the source of sound doctrine is not human reason, but Scripture properly interpreted. Both the Sadducees and Jesus held to the authority of Scripture. They begin by quoting Moses and Jesus answers them by quoting Moses. But these men gave undue emphasis to human reason, which led them to disregard certain Scriptures; and they underestimated the power of God to raise the dead and give them a whole different existence in heaven. Mk 12:24 quotes Jesus, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures, or the power of God?” (Why You Should Care About Doctrine) In Luke 20, Jesus deals with both of the mistakes of the Sadducees He corrects their misunderstanding God’s power = Luke 20:34-36 He corrects their misunderstanding of the Scripture = Luke 20:37-38. So notice that in the mold of the Master Rabbi that Jesus is, He answers their question by beginning with a question of His own in Mark's version. And what a question it is! First he flat out tells the Sadducees that they "are mistaken." Now pause a moment and imagine you were a fly on the Temple wall. Can you see their faces? Their posturing? Their leaning over to one another? etc. What a question to begin answering what they thought was a "water tight" argument that they could not lose! In effect, from the very beginning, Jesus is saying in essence "You lose!" But His holy irritation of His antagonists doesn't stop there. He follows (to use a basketball metaphor - it's "March Madness" as I write these notes) His "blocked shot" with an "in your face slam dunk!" You Sadducees are sad you see because you don't even understand your own Scriptures. Woe! Are their faces flushed yet? Their nostrils are beginning to flare! And then Jesus tops it off with the accusation that they do not even understand the power of God! They must have been thinking "Does God have power to somehow resolve the absurd riddle of one wife and seven husbands in heaven?" They are beginning to worry that their water tight argument is beginning to leak and for good reason. They do not have a clue that they have just confronted the Wisdom of the Cosmos, the One Who is infinitely wise. And He is about to respond with that infinite wisdom which will slam shut their mouths in utter dismay! THOUGHT - Let's apply this - Jesus is saying you don't understand Who God is and what He is capable of! You haven't been reading your Bibles! Now this is what happens often when people challenge our Christian faith, but often they do so out of ignorance of God and/or ignorance of His Word. Some people do this sincerely. But others are like the Sadducees and are trying to trap us in some obscure Biblical doctrine, some supposed inconsistency of the Scriptures, etc. They have a profession of knowledge of God but as is often the case these individuals know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God! Which means that we as followers of Christ must know our Bibles and be convinced of the power of God. Peter says it this way "Sanctify (aorist imperative - This is imperative!) Christ as Lord in your hearts (NOT JUST YOUR HEAD!), always being ready to make a defense (apologia) to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence." (1 Peter 3:15+). If you were confronted today by an individual skeptical about the resurrection from the dead, would you be able to give an accurate, Biblically saturated account for the hope (not hope so, but hope sure) you have firmly founded in the truth of the resurrection (cf Acts 23:6NLT+, Acts 24:15+)? The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage - So who are the sons of this age? This is a Hebraism, in this case a Hebraic idiom which is simply a way to say that someone belongs to this present age, this present world. The fact that He uses "sons" does not exclude the wife, because this is a gender neutral idiom so to speak. And so sons of this age simply describes all the people living in this world. As alluded to above, what Jesus is beginning to do is emphasize that marriage, reproduction, children, etc, is for this life on earth, not for the next life in heaven. Marrying and giving in marriage is a normal part of the life of the sons of this age. So far His opponents would agree with Him. Marriage In Heaven When they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. —Mark 12:25 Today's Scripture: Mark 12:18-27 When I was a student at a Christian high school, I knew a professor whose wife had died. Later he married the widow of his best friend. One day a student asked him,“Will your first wife know about your second marriage when you see her in heaven, and if so, how do you think she’ll react?”The professor smiled and said,“ Of course she will, and because she will be perfect she will not be jealous. Even though we will not live as marriage partners, I believe we will know each other. We will all be the best of friends forever.” In Mark 12, we read about some enemies of Jesus who invented a story about a woman whose husband died and left no son. Under Jewish law, the brother of the deceased had to marry the widow for the purpose of having a son (Deuteronomy 25:5). According to their story, this happened with seven brothers. Jesus’ detractors asked,“When they rise, whose wife will she be?”He said they neither understood the Scriptures nor God’s power to raise the dead to a glorious new existence without marriage. The love we’ve known while here below In heaven will find its highest joy, For we will know Christ’s perfect love That memories cannot destroy. —D. De Haan The pleasures of earth cannot compare to the joys of heaven. 🙏 THOUGHT - Do you really believe this? What difference should it make in your ongoing battle with lust? Be motivated to press on the power of the Spirit, for the glory of the Lamb, by pondering the following quote from one of America's greatest theologians. Jonathan Edwards wrote that in heaven "the glorified spiritual bodies of the saints shall be filled with pleasures of the most exquisite kind that such refined bodies are capable of….The sweetness and pleasure that shall be in the mind, shall put the spirits of the body into such a motion as shall cause a sweet sensation throughout the body, infinitely excelling any sensual pleasure here.” Luke 20:35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; Luke 20:35KJV But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, Lk 21:36; Acts 5:41; 2 Th 1:5; Rev 3:4 Daniel 12:2,3; John 5:29; Acts 24:15; Hebrews 11:35 neither marry nor are given in marriage Mt 22:29; Mark 12:24 Parallel passages - Matthew 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27 Luke 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 20:27-40 Why You Should Care About Doctrine - Steven Cole Luke 20:27-40 The Savior Silences the Sadducees - John MacArthur THE STATE OF THE SAVED But - Look out! Here Jesus uses a term of contrast to turn the argument of the Sadducees 180 degrees! Steven Cole explains that "The Sadducees’ error was based on some wrong assumptions. They wrongly assumed that life after death would necessarily be just like life now. Thus they took the Mosaic allowance for a brother marrying his deceased brother’s widow to raise up offspring for him, and wrongly applied it to life in the resurrected state. They wrongly assumed that people will marry monogamously in heaven, just as they do now. Based on their assumptions, the idea of a woman having seven husbands in heaven was logically absurd. But their assumptions were wrong." (Why You Should Care About Doctrine) Those who are considered worthy (kataxioo) to attain to that age - This is simply another of the manifold ways to describe our glorious salvation! Notice two key qualifying points. First and of critical importance is the phrase those who are considered worthy to attain to that age. What is that age? In context that age is the age to come, not the present passing age, but the eternal age. Secondly, what does Jesus mean by considered worthy to attain? One might at first think He is saying one can carry out enough meritorious works and obey the law perfectly enough so that God would look at them and give them a "passing score," marking their test papers with "Worthy of Entrance." As an aside, this is the most common response from folks when you ask them how are you going to get to heaven? Of course this answer is the wrong answer and is not the way that Scripture teaches one can be declared worthy of entrance into heaven! The only way to be considered worthy of Heaven is believing by grace (Eph 2:8-9-note) in the One they have just insincerely addressed as "Teacher," the One they are attempting to trip up in a reductio ad absurdum! Even as Paul said "There is (absolutely) no one righteous. Not even one (not even ONE is worthy)," (Ro 3:10-note) "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Ro 3:23-note). But praise GOD, for there is One worthy, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev 5:5-note), the One about Whom all Heaven declares (play) (Rev 5:11-note) with a loud voice “Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." (Rev 5:12-note) Considered worthy (2661)(kataxioo from kata = + axioo = to think worthy from axios = worthy) means to deem worthy, to be regarded as worthy or thought of as deserving. All NT uses are passive voice which is important as this indicates the "worthiness" comes from an outside source. All three uses describe believers and two of the uses are in the context of salvation (Lk 20:35, 2 Th 1:5). As Lewis says in his excellent explanation of kataxioo below they are not made worthy, but declared worthy by God and by His grace. Note that this verb has a fourth use (in Textus Receptus) in Lk 21:36KJV-note where the KJV translates it "that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things." The root adjective axios is used for example in Luke 3:8-note - "Therefore bear fruits in keeping (axios) with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham." So the fruit simply shows the validity of the root of genuine repentance. The fruit does not save (or merit salvation), but powerfully demonstrates that one's repentance (and salvation) is authentic and not just an empty profession (e.g., of "remorse"). Kataxioo "does not mean to make worthy; it means to count, reckon, and declare worthy. (Cf Justification Ro 5:1+) A believer is not saved because he remains faithful through the sufferings of this life; he is saved because he believes in Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. However, when he suffers in this world and endures through the suffering, he is counted worthy of God's kingdom (ED: BUT HE IS ENABLED TO SUFFER BY THE SAME POWER THAT ENABLED HIM TO BE SAVED! cf Gal 3:3-note). He does not disappoint God. He proves his grit—that he is truly a man or a woman of God. He is worthy to enter heaven, for he has proven his faith." (Practical Word Studies in The New Testament) Used only 3x in the NT (there are no uses in the non-apocryphal Septuagint). Here in Lk 20:35 and in the following two passages... Acts 5:41 (CONTEXT Acts 5:40 - AFTER THE DISCIPLES WERE BEATEN FOR THEIR TESTIMONY OF JESUS! TALK ABOUT HOLY SPIRIT POWER!) So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. 2 Thessalonians 1:5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. Steve Lewis explains considered worthy in 2 Th 1:5 - The Thessalonian believers are considered worthy of the kingdom of God because they have kept their faith in Christ, even when faced with severe opposition. The verb considered worthy (kataxioo) does not mean to make one worthy, but to declare one is worthy. This verb is an aorist passive infinitive = "to have been declared worthy at a specific point in time." It is unfortunate that many English Bibles have translated this as if it were a future tense (NASB, HCSB, NIV are examples). They have already been declared worthy, but in a future sense at the time the millennial kingdom begins they certainly "will be" shown to have been worthy. Their worthiness to participate in the kingdom of God was established well before persecution came upon them -- it was established when they placed their faith and trust in what Christ did on their behalf by dying on the cross. There is no human effort involved in meriting the kingdom of God. These believers had outwardly confirmed the inward truth (BY THEIR SPIRIT ENABLED RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION) that they indeed are Church-age saints who will eventually rule with Christ during His 1000-year kingdom on earth (see 1 Th 2:12-note and 2 Ti 2:12-note = "if we endure, we will reign with Him" - we are enabled to endure ONLY because He gives us the supernatural power to endure, to do what we could never do in our natural strength!). Their response to life's trials definitely confirmed that they already had a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The phrase for which does not mean "in order to gain the kingdom" but "in the name or interest of the kingdom" -- their suffering was not in order to gain more merit before God. Their suffering was because they had already been declared worthy of the kingdom. You are persecuted because you are a Christian. (cf, Php 1:29-note, 2 Ti 3:12-note) (Reference) To attain to that age - "To share in heaven." "To take part in that future age." Attain is probably not the best verb to translate the Greek text as the English word attain means to gain with effort. We cannot and will not gain heaven by anything meritorious we have done, are doing or will ever do! We "attain" Heaven because Jesus' blood has paid for the "admission ticket!" Our part is simply and yet profoundly to take the "Gospel ticket" He offers to every lost sinner! That's how we attain to that age! Do you have the "golden Gospel ticket" that allows you to enter the "Pearly Gates" of Heaven? Attain (5177)(tugchano/tynchano from tyche in Greek = "deity" Fortune personification of luck) properly means to "hit" as of hitting a mark. Tugchano generally to what people cannot achieve but may be given, of what is beyond their control and yet not due to mere chance (God is in control and so there is really no such thing as "luck" in this sense that something happens by chance). The resurrection (anastasis) from the dead - By using this phrase Jesus is not referring to the "Second Resurrection" which is the resurrection that will occur at the Great White Throne judgment when all unbelievers of all time will be resurrected and will stand before Jesus the Righteous Judge (Rev 20:11-15+). In this passage Jesus is referring to the "First Resurrection," the resurrection that will occur in several stages (as summarized in the table below). How can we be so sure? Because the context makes it clear. Jesus has just described those who would be considered worthy of heaven and then He clearly links those destined for heaven (by using "and" = Greek "kai") with the phrase the resurrection of the dead. So this is clearly the FIRST and NOT the SECOND resurrection. Only those who have been declared righteous by grace through faith in Christ (cf Ro 1:16-17+ = those "considered worthy") will participate in the First Resurrection. The phrase resurrection from the dead occurs 5x in the NT Luke 20:35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; Acts 4:2+ (Acts 4:1 = Sadducees) being greatly disturbed because (NOTE TWO REASONS THE SADDUCEES WERE SORELY TROUBLED) they were (1) teaching the people and (2) proclaiming in Jesus (THE IDEA IS THRU JESUS) the resurrection from the dead. Acts 26:23+ that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” Romans 1:4+ who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, Philippians 3:11+ in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Neither marry nor are given in marriage - Neither is the strongest negative one can use in Greek which dogmatically excludes marriage in heaven. Jesus is saying life up there will be different than life down here! And since the Sadducees had focused on marriage to make their point, Jesus hones in on this specific difference between life in this age and in that age to come. He adds some other details about the heavenly existence in the next passage, but first and foremost He directly and definitively refutes the absurd argument of the Sadducees as it relates to marriage. Stevenson - The resurrection does not constitute a continuation of life as it is on earth. The old physical laws will no longer apply. And the old physical and social relationships will pale to insignificance in the presence of our relationship with the Lord. Darrell Bock adds that "Since marriage is no longer necessary in the resurrection, the dilemma posed by multiple husbands disappears. The question is an absurdity, not because resurrection is a problem, but because the Sadducean understanding of resurrection is grounded too much in life as it is now. The afterlife is a different and much greater kind of existence. In the next life God the Father is the “parent,” so other parental relationships are unnecessary." (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the NT) As an aside Jesus gives us the Biblical truth about marital relationships in heaven which is dramatically different from the more sensual depictions of heaven as propounded in Islamic theology and Mormon theology (cf "Celestial Marriage"). David
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Cole explains that the Sadducees "underestimated God’s power (cf Mk 12:24b) to raise us from the dead and to give us new bodies that will not be subject to sin and death. Jesus says that in the resurrection, we will be like the angels in two aspects, that we will not marry and that we will not die. Also, like the holy angels, we will not be able to sin. Thus we will come into the full sense of being “sons of God, being sons of the resurrection” (Lu 20:36). We are already children of God through the new birth, but we can’t grasp the full import of that until we receive our new resurrection bodies in heaven." Die (599)(apothnesko from apo = marker of dissociation implying a rupture from a former association, separation, departure, cessation + thnesko = die) literally means to die off (that is, to die and thus be away from this earthly realm). Because (gar) - Term of explanation - What is Jesus explaining? They are like angels - Angels do not die, but live forever. Notice the term of comparison (like) which indicates resemblance but not identity and in the present context refers specifically to the fact that they will not die and cannot propagate. Now think for a moment to whom is Jesus making this declaration about angels? The Sadducees, the anti-supernaturalists, the ones who do not believe in angels! Carson adds that "In fact, Jesus’ use of angels contains a double thrust since the Sadducees denied their existence.” Like angels (only here in NT)(2465)(isaggelos from isos = equal + aggelos = angel) means like or equal to an angel (knowing neither mortality nor marriage). Parallel passage in Mark 12:25-27+ - For (term of explanation - what is Jesus explaining? cf Mk 12:24) when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 “But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? 27 “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”
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Cole writes "I must be honest in saying that the thought of being celibate, like the angels, never used to get me excited about heaven. I’ve often said to Marla, “How can heaven be heaven if I can’t be married to you?” Being married to her is the best thing that’s ever happened to me, except for my salvation. I was thinking about this in the context of thinking about Paul’s words about marriage. He says with reference to the one flesh aspect of marriage, that he isn’t talking about marriage, but rather about Christ and the church (Eph 5:32+). It dawned on me that he is saying that the marriage relationship, and especially the one flesh aspect of marriage, is the closest earthly picture that we have to our union with Christ, which will be consummated in heaven. I don’t mean to be crude, but rather reverent, when I say that if you think that marriage, and particularly sex in marriage is wonderful, it’s just an earthly picture of how much more wonderful it will be to be intimately joined to our heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. You may have to take that by faith, but that’s what God’s Word promises!" (Why You Should Care About Doctrine) David Thompson: What do other religions say about the afterlife? - Mormons: say you go to 1 of 3 kingdoms based on approval of Joseph Smith - Hindus: Reincarnated based on your works - Muslims, Islam -- Die and go to a pleasure palace; if you die a martyr you get 72 virgins - Indians: you need to be buried with your bow and arrows as you go to your Happy and Holy Hunting Ground - Egyptians: be buried with things you can take with you into eternity - Some Greeks: bury with a coin in mouth so you can pay the fee to cross into the land of the afterlife Religious people just make it up as they go and people believe it; bunch of crazy views Important to understand what the Scriptures teach about the afterlife. Henrietta Mears - There is an old hymn that says, “I want to be an angel and with the angels stand.” (Here is the vocal version) Do you want to be an angel when you die? If you do, I am afraid you are never going to make it. God has something much better for you than being an angel. God’s children will reign with Him; angels serve Him. Statements like the words of the hymn quoted above have given a very wrong idea of just what angels are. People have an idea that those who have died have been given a pair of wings and a harp and now are angels. This is a common mistake and it is not what the Scriptures teach. It is true that all Christians who die trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior are in His presence in heaven, but they are not angels. The Bible teaches that angels are a distinct class of beings who have never been human beings. They are ministering spirits (see Heb. 1:14+). Our Lord said that human beings after they die and rise from the dead “are like angels of God in heaven” (Mt 22:30) in the matter of marriage and giving in marriage. This shows that human beings in heaven are like angels in this respect, but they are not angels. Know this: Christians will no more become angels when they die than they will become birds or fish. Believers in Christ are called saints; they are never called angels in the Bible. (God's Plan: Finding Yourself in His Grand Design) Adrian Rogers - Often we hear people speak of the universal fatherhood of God. But that is not right. All people are not necessarily brothers. We may be brothers in our humanity, but spiritually we are not brothers until we are born into the family of God and have one common Father. The first thing that must occur if you want your prayers to be answered—if you want your prayers to be powerful—is to become a child of God. And in order to be a child of God, you must receive Jesus as your personal Savior. Have you done that? Does He live in your heart? If so, then you are ready to pray. Vance Havner - Everything we have by the first Adam is marred and spoiled and subject to decay. But when we become sons of God by faith in the last Adam we are assured a new body incorruptible, beyond the reach of sin, disease, and death. This removes the sense of futility such as torments the aging man without hope in Christ. The best is yet to be! Lovely landscapes may wither, but a new earth looms ahead. Strong bodies may fail, but they only make way for new ones infinitely stronger. Loved ones go, but all who are in Christ are headed for a better reunion. "Christians never meet for the last time." Cheer up, my brother! This body may never die, for Jesus may come first. But at worst it is only sown in corruption for an incorruptible harvest. We can't lose! A Prestigious Title If you read an author's bio on the back of any book, you can't help but notice the amount of space given to his education. It seems that the more abbreviations a person has before or after his name, the better his books sell. To most people, achieving a title means everything. They tirelessly work themselves through prep school, college, and graduate school to finally receive that coveted title next to their initials. And once they receive their title, their sights are then set on other designations like CEO, CFO, Director, or Vice-President. As important as earthly titles can be to success, nothing is so lofty as the name given to Christians by God. We are called the Sons of God. And the greatest aspect of this position is that it is not the result of hard work and determination, but a gift from God. Everyone, from the poorest to the wealthiest Christians are children of God. Nothing can rob you of this distinction. It was a great act of love on God's part to be willing to share His holy name with undeserving sinners. Because He has given us this lofty title, it is our duty to live up to it. Every time we sin, we are shaming the righteous name of God. Every evil action is an attack on God's character. Ask yourself this important question today: Are you living a life worthy of a Son or Daughter of God? When we sin, we are not satisfied with being a Child of God. (Living Water - James Scudder) Second Adam - For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. I Corinthians 15:22. We are all children of the first Adam. He fell and to this day we suffer the consequences. Sin, disease, death, all the corruptions and frailties of the body, mind and spirit, we inherit from our father, the first man of the earth, earthy. But God started a new race with His Son from heaven. To as many as receive Him to them gives He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name. Read Romans 5 for a glorious picture of the two Adams. Here is the true super race of sons of God whose citizenship is in heaven. We still carry the marks of Adam's fall, and our bifocals and bridges and baldness and all our frailties bear witness that we are his offspring. But from the day we believe, we begin a new life which shall discard this shell for a new body at the resurrection. Our New Adam is perfect, and all we need here and hereafter is found in Him. We can reign in life now by Christ Jesus. The Highest Rank—Galatians 3:26-27 Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. grew up under the shadow of a large man. His father was the hero of San Juan Hill and the President of the United States. The pressure to excel often caused him problems, but Teddy, Jr. went on to be a highly decorated Brigadier General during World War II, receiving the Medal of Honor for heroism. He was also the Governor General of the Philippines, Governor of Puerto Rico, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy. During World War II, while waiting for a flight at an airport, Teddy, Jr. saw a sailor step to a ticket window and ask for a ticket. "I want to see my mother," the sailor explained. "I don't have much time." The indifferent woman at the ticket window was not impressed by the sailor's sense of urgency, "There's a war on, you know," she rudely replied. At this point, Roosevelt, who had overheard the conversation, stepped to the ticket window and told her to give the sailor his seat. A friend of the general spoke in surprise, "Teddy, aren't you in a hurry too?" "It's a matter of rank," he replied. "I'm only a general; he's a son!" Sons of God. What a marvelous name! This is what the Bible calls everyone who trusts in Christ. Do you sometimes forget you have the rank of a son? Today give thanks that you have been bestowed with this high rank. "Abba, Father, we approach thee in our Savior's precious name. We the children of your mercy bow before your throne today."—James G. Deck (From Generation to Generation - Peter Kennedy)
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Cole explains the logic of Jesus quoting a passage that speaks of the three patriarchs - These men had all been dead for centuries when God said that to Moses. It would be ridiculous for God to say that He is the God of men who ceased to exist at death! If the patriarchs had died and ceased to exist, then God’s promises to them would be null and void. But, as Jesus explains, God “is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Lk 20:38) Those who have died in faith are actually living with God, awaiting the day when they will receive their resurrection bodies. Bock adds "In other words, God is the God of promise and covenant (as the use of this verse in Acts 3:13 will also make clear). In the next verse Jesus will make the point that God is the God to the living, not the dead. This implies resurrection, since if the patriarchs are dead, then the God of promise cannot be their God (see the additional note). The point is that the patriarchs are not dead—and neither are God’s promises to them. For the promises to the patriarchs to come to pass and for God to still be their God, resurrection must be a reality." (Ibid) Lawrence Richards - This is a fascinating passage for any who are uncertain about the integrity and full authority of Scripture. It’s popular with some scholars to assume that the books attributed to Moses are a much later fiction: the name of a mythical Jewish hero, Moses, was attached in the 600 B.C's to give the editors’ invention credibility. With scissors and paste many modern scholars romp through the Old Testament, cut up the Pentateuch and Prophets, and assign this verse to one supposed set of authors, and that to another. How different from the way Jesus viewed the Scriptures. According to Christ, it was Moses who spoke what is recorded in Exodus, and even a seemingly minor thing like the tense of a verb is authoritative. Do the dead really live again? They live now! The God of the Old Testament is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, long after their biological deaths. On this issue of Scripture, I suspect it’s wiser to trust Jesus’ pronouncement than to trust the theories of the self-proclaimed wise men of our day. When we do so, we rejoice in the confidence that we too will live forever with Abraham’s and our God. (Borrow 365 Day Devotional Commentary page 750) Related Resource: The New Testament Use of the Old Testament - Robert Thomas What does it mean that the Bible is inspired? Luke 20:38 "Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him." Luke 20:38KJV For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living Ps 16:5-11; 22:23-26; 145:1,2; Hebrews 11:16 for all live to Him John 6:57; 11:25,26; 14:19; Ro 6:10,11,22,23; 14:7-9; 2 Cor 6:16; 13:4; Colossians 3:3,4; Rev 7:15-17; 22:1 Parallel passages - Matthew 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27 Luke 20 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 20:27-40 Why You Should Care About Doctrine - Steven Cole Luke 20:27-40 The Savior Silences the Sadducees - John MacArthur Related Passages: Romans 14:7-8 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Galatians 2:19-20 “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. CONCLUSION: THE GOD OF THE LIVING Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living - I like Mark's version because he begins and ends by pointing out to the Sadducees that they were mistaken. Mark records "Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken...you are greatly mistaken.” (Mk 12:24, 27). Note that the verb "IS" is present tense which corresponds perfectly to the present tense of "ego eimi" in the Septuagint of Ex 3:6. To reiterate, the point the present tense makes is that if Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did not continue to live, God would not say that He IS continually their God, speaking in the present tense. He would have to say that He WAS their God, speaking in the past tense. Darrell Bock adds that "Jesus supplies the explanation: God relates to the living and not the dead. If God speaks of Himself as the God of Abraham, then Abraham still exists. If He is the God of Isaac and Jacob, then they still exist (Ernst 1977: 545; Marshall 1978: 743). If the patriarchs are alive or are to experience the promise, they must be raised or will be raised." (See Luke : 2 Volumes Baker Exegetical Commentary) Steven Cole - Jesus taught that there is such a thing as doctrinal truth and doctrinal error, and that truth matters. He didn’t say, “Hey, it really doesn’t matter what you guys believe, just as long as you’re sincere.” He didn’t say, “I love you guys! You’re my brothers, even if we disagree over this little matter of the resurrection!” He didn’t say, “I respect your views. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion.” He told them authoritatively that they were greatly mistaken and He set forth the reasons why. As Allan Bloom pointed out a few years ago in his best seller, The Closing of the American Mind ([Simon and Schuster], p. 28), the intellectual community has relegated religion to the realm of opinion as opposed to knowledge. It is simply a matter of one subjective and uncertain opinion versus another. Undergirding this is the view that all truth is relative and that tolerance the chief virtue (pp. 25-27). He said, “The point is not to correct the mistakes and really be right; rather it is not to think you are right at all” (p. 26). The result of this is that you can have two people holding to opposite views in the spiritual realm and they both can be right, since religious “truth” is simply one’s subjective ideas or experience of it. (Why You Should Care About Doctrine) Jesus held Biblical doctrine firmly and so should we if we are to imitate His pattern. Paul writes that the overseer of the church should be "holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict." (Titus 1:9-note) Jesus was refuting those who "profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed." (Titus 1:16-note). For (gar) - Term of explanation - What is Jesus explaining? All live to Him (only found in Luke) - Note (1 What does Jesus mean with this phrase? John