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Luke Chapter 20
- Luke 20:1 And it came to pass,
that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the
temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the
scribes came upon him with the elders,
- 2 And spake unto him,
saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or
who is he that gave thee this authority?
- 3 And he answered and
said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
- 4 The baptism of John,
was it from heaven, or of men?
- 5 And they reasoned with
themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say,
Why then believed ye him not?
- 6 But and if we say, Of
men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that
John was a prophet.
These were men who were afraid just to speak
out what they believed. It is like some modern day politicians who
first try to discern what the crowd wants to hear before they speak.
How many of us have the courage to answer truthfully no matter who
is offended?
If only they knew who they were speaking to:
The very Son of God who had authority and power over life and death.
That is why the meek and humble will receive the gospel a whole lot
quicker than one who is proud and arrogant.
- Luke 20:7 And they answered,
that they could not tell whence it was.
- 8 And Jesus said unto
them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
Jesus' actions spoke for Him. One who watched
His ministry would know what authority He was under. Even today we
may not always know by a person's words, what kind of person they
are but if we watch the fruits of what they produce, we can better
judge whether or not their words are true.
- Luke 20:9 Then began he to
speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a
vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far
country for a long time.
- 10 And at the season he
sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of
the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent
him away empty.
- 11 And again he sent
another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him
shamefully, and sent him away empty.
- 12 And again he sent a
third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
- 13 Then said the lord of
the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it
may be they will reverence him when they see him.
- 14 But when the
husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This
is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be
ours.
- 15 So they cast him out
of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord
of the vineyard do unto them?
- 16 He shall come and
destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others.
And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
Before Christ others were sent. Prophets
were sent to warn the people that they had sinned. The prophets were
persecuted and some killed.
The people who lived in that time of Christ,
saw the miracles, heard His words and was visited by the Son of God.
They rejected Him and the vineyard was given to Gentiles who gladly
received Him.
This is why the nation of Israel ceased to
exist for a time and why the Jewish people have suffered so much. It
is a result for their own actions. This is no excuse for any to harm
or be part of persecuting Israel or the Jewish people for God still
has not forsaken them and God will punish those that harm them.
Israel was cut off temporarily but they will in the latter days have
a part in bible prophecy and will be grafted back into the vine they
were cut off from.
Read Romans chapter 11 for further study on
the olive tree and the nation of Israel.
- Luke 20:17 And he beheld them,
and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the
builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
The very one they rejected here will be the
very head of all. He will reign supreme. He will the ruler of all
the earth. He will judge righteously. He will return at the
appointed time. He will be all in all.
- Luke 20:18 Whosoever shall fall
upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall
fall, it will grind him to powder.
- 19 And the chief priests
and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and
they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken
this parable against them.
- 20 And they watched him,
and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men,
that they might take hold of his words, that so they might
deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
They had Jesus followed so that someone
might catch Him saying the wrong things or making a mistake. There
are people that do that today and it is a crying shame. Even in
politics. Reporters will sometimes flock around a presidential
candidate to catch them at their words. Rarely do they listen to
what anyone says to be enlightened but only to find a loop hole to
cast the speaker in a bad light. Preachers are sometimes heard for
the wrong reasons also.
This has worked for good at times. I
remember hearing stories of people who read the bible just so they
could find fault with it and try to prove it was not the word of
God. Yet in doing so someone comes out believing and finding the
Lord as their savior. The word of God is quick and powerful, sharper
than any two edged sword. In fact it is the sword of the Spirit.
- Luke 20:21 And they asked him,
saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly,
neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way
of God truly:
Be very careful when someone starts out with
a compliment when they begin to question something.
- Luke 20:22 Is it lawful for us
to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
- 23 But he perceived
their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
- 24 Shew me a penny.
Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said,
Caesar's.
- 25 And he said unto
them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's,
and unto God the things which be God's.
- 26 And they could not
take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at
his answer, and held their peace.
Jesus knew their hearts and how to answer
them. They hoped to catch Him at His words and be able to accuse Him
of rebellion against the government of Caesar.
- Luke 20:27 Then came to him
certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any
resurrection; and they asked him,
- 28 Saying, Master, Moses
wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he
die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and
raise up seed unto his brother.
- 29 There were therefore
seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without
children.
- 30 And the second took
her to wife, and he died childless.
- 31 And the third took
her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no
children, and died.
- 32 Last of all the woman
died also.
- 33 Therefore in the
resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to
wife.
- 34 And Jesus answering
said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given
in marriage:
- 35 But they which shall
be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection
from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
Life as we know it now will not be the same
after the resurrection. Notice that Jesus spoke here of being
worthy. He that shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world and
resurrection from the dead. We have to be worthy to enter the future
kingdom. Since we know that there is nothing we can do by ourselves
to earn salvation, it has to be repenting of sin and accepting God's
plan of redemption through Jesus Christ that makes us worthy to
enter into eternal life. After receiving Christ, it is important
that we keep what we originally received and not fall away from our
first love. Read about the churches in Revelation chapters 2
and 3 for further reference.
- John 3:16 For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus speaks plainly in John chapter 3 about
how to enter into eternal life and be worthy to live in His kingdom. Believe in Jesus. To believe means to receive Him into our lives and
follow His ways. Believe does not mean just to believe He once
existed.
- Luke 20:36 Neither can they die
any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the
children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Notice that humans do not turn into angels
but are made equal to them in status. We inherit a new body and
different yet equal to angels. Angels have never been flesh, never
been redeemed and are different.
- Luke 20:37 Now that the dead
are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the
Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of
Jacob.
- 38 For he is not a God
of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
What a comfort to know that Moses, Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob are still living. Praise the Lord.
- Luke 20:39 Then certain of the
scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
- 40 And after that they
durst not ask him any question at all.
- 41 And he said unto
them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
- 42 And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit
thou on my right hand,
- 43 Till I make thine
enemies thy footstool.
- 44 David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?
- 45 Then in the audience
of all the people he said unto his disciples,
Jesus was indeed the son of David by being
descended from David to fulfill prophecy. God promised David that an
everlasting king would sit on his throne.
- Psalm 132:11 The LORD hath
sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the
fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
If we study the whole bible closely, we will
see how many passages in the Old Testament prophesy of what occurs
at a later time period and is recorded
in the New Testament.
- Luke 1:31 And, behold, thou
shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt
call his name JESUS.
- 32 He shall be great, and
shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall
give unto him the throne of his father David:
- 33 And he shall reign
over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall
be no end.
In the very first chapter of Luke is a
prophecy of who Jesus is before He was in His mother's womb.
Jesus continues His speaking with a warning.
Notice that the preaching of Jesus was not all positive or negative.
He spoke both comfort and warning at the right time as directed by
His Father in Heaven by way of the Holy Spirit.
- Luke 20:46 Beware of the
scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings
in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the
chief rooms at feasts;
- 47 Which devour widows'
houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive
greater damnation.
You shall know them by their fruits. We must
be careful not to follow after those that claim to be big in the
sight of God but their works are not works of compassion but they
are quick to fleece the flock of God.
How do we treat the widows who have little
to give if anything? We should be giving to them instead of fleecing
them. We should be trying to help the poor who perhaps cannot give.
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