LUKE CHAPTER 20 (NIV)
Should we challenge authority? Yes, when the authority stems from a man made system one must determine if the statements or behavior are harmonious with the natural law (God derived law). How else are we to ascertain the truth, whether something is good or bad. There must be an objective barometer (a system of moral permanence that’s unchanging with the times) against which we compare the statements and actions of institutions. By doubting we are led to question, by questioning we arrive at the truth. In this chapter 20 of Luke we read about how the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders questioned Jesus’ authority in the synagogue “Who gave you this authority” they asked Jesus. Their discussion of this question led them to realize that there are two possible answers, “from heaven” or “of human origin”. If Jesus answered “from heaven” the people would ask “why didn’t you believe him” and if Jesus answered “of human origen” the people would stone them as John the Baptist was believed to be a prophet. Jesus did not answer the leaders in the synagogue. Jesus wanted people to come to believe in Him through faith. Throughout the New Testament he wanted people to come to faith without signs. We should not test God, we should never ask God to prove himself to us, or give us a sign of his supernatural power, however, we can receive signs from heaven when loved ones pass in order to comfort us. Faith is believing without seeing.
The leaders and people in the synagogue continue to question Jesus throughout this chapter, Jesus responds with parables and questions. Parables allowed Jesus to speak truth in riddles, only those who had faith could understand. The leaders wanted to arrest Jesus because of his words, but were too afraid of backlash from the people. Again, in this chapter like other chapters in Luke Jesus warns of the hypocrisy of the teachers of the law. He warns that this type of behavior will be “punished most severely”.
Picture below is Jesus Christ in the Synagogue -
1800s Old Vintage Antique Art..
Luke 20
The Authority of Jesus Questioned
20 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Parable of the Tenants
9 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’14 “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:“‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
The Resurrection and Marriage
27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’[b] 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 43 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”