Who's in Charge? - Luke 20:1-26

Luke Chapter, 20 verses 1 to 26. One day is Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaim, the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law together with the elders, came up to him, tell us by what Authority you were doing these things. They said, who gave you this Authority? You reply? I will also ask you a question. Tell me, John's baptism, was it from heaven or human origin? The discuss it among themselves. And said, if we say from Heaven he will ask us. Why didn't you believe him? But if we say of human origin, all the people will Stone us because they are persuaded that. John was a prophet. So they answered. We don't know where does from Jesus. That neither will I tell you by what Authority, I'm doing these things to tell the people this parable, A man planted a Vineyard, rented, it to some farmers and went away for a long time. At Harvest time, you sent a servant to the tenants that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard, but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. He sent another servant without one also, they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. He sent still a third and they wounded him and threw him out. And the owner of the vineyard said, what shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love perhaps, they will respect him, but when the tenant saw him, they talked the matter over. This is the air, they said let's kill him. The inheritance will be ours, so they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What time will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. The people heard this, they said, God forbid, Jesus looked directly at them. And then what is the meaning of that, which is written the stone? The builders rejected has become the Cornerstone, everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to Pieces anyone on whom it falls will be crushed the teachers of the law and the chief priest looks for a way to arrest him immediately because they knew he had spoken this Parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies you, pretended to be sincere. Hope to catch. Jesus and something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor to the spies questioning teacher. We know that you speak and teach what is right and that, you know, and that you do not show partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to see there or not? He saw through their duplicity inside the VA. Show me a Denarius whose image and inscription are on it Caesars. They replied, he said that him and get back to Caesar. What is Caesar's and to God? What is God, they were unable to trap him in what he said they are in public and astonished by his answer that became silent. The word of God for the people of God. Thanks, be unto God. You may be seated.

One question, I have had several times when I read the Bible or read the gospels in particular, is this? I wonder if you've ever thought it, Have you ever wondered what happened to Jesus in the early part of his life? Because when you read the gospels, there only two occasions that have recorded of his early life. The Christmas narrative when he was born when he first came to the world. What's your address, two or maybe three thing about how you counted the Christmas narrative him, actually being born in the stable but then also that the visit of the Magi. If you remember that, they were at the wise men that actually happened about two years, after Jesus was born, believe it or not. So that, that could be considered a third separate encounter. But regardless, when Jesus was born, his arrival, his entry when he was at the temple, and he was about twelve years old teaching, and in talking with all the, the religious leaders there, and then after that, it's just dead silence. And in Luke chapter 3, we find a Jesus started his public Ministry. He was about thirty years old. So what happened in between? That's huge in between time. Well, I'm here to tell you that. I don't know. I just simply, don't know, Baba doesn't specify. But you have to wonder, then why what's the purpose of the gospels, why don't we have a fuller picture of Jesus his life? You know, his teenage years, his childhood his mid-twenties. What happened? Why don't we have that information? We have to keep in mind what the purpose of the gospels is. It's not a modern-day biography, the Chronicles, every big aspect of Our Lives. That we typically, think of rather, the gospels are little snapshots. It is a collection of primary accounts that reveal to us who Jesus is in the Gospel of John. We read that John records. I was not able to record everything that Jesus never did if I would have done that, then all the books in the world, couldn't contain all the Miracles. All the beauty, all the love that he displayed. So basically I recorded just a little bit so that you might believe that Jesus is the son of God. Another words, we have the gospels so that you and I can answer the question, who is Jesus, who is Jesus and everything, that's recorded all the prayers. All the teachings on The Parables of the Miracles, it reveals to us. Something of who Jesus is reveals to us. His power is love his compassion, his purpose, his divinity. And today, as we look at Luke chapter 20, what we see is this passage revealing to us the authority of the king. You're with us the past few weeks, we looked at chapter 9, 19, walkthrough it. We saw a 28, the Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. He came in peace to offer peace to people. So we came and saw. Jesus is the King has come to bring his peace. We also saw that he is humble as he wrote on a donkey. He's also praiseworthy, he deserves Our Praise. But then as we fast for now to chapter 20, what we see is what we're going to unpack at the authority of this King. What is the authority of the king? Like how is the authority of the king revealed in for you? And I today how do we respond to his authority? How do you write submit to his authority over us? Does reverse with you, that big question, we're going to look at 3, big components. And here it is. We're going to look at a 40 that was questioned number to Authority. That was exercised then finally Authority that is explained. The first lie and Authority that is questioned system versus at 12 verse 8. I take note of the setting of what, where Jesus is and what he's doing. This is one week before, Jesus's crucifixion within that week. And within in before Jesus's death, what does he spend his time doing? What does he consider most important that he spends his time? Devotes his time to look at the texts. First one, One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news. This is a reminder for you and I it would Jesus considered of utmost importance so much so that the last week of his life is dedicated to teaching to preaching, especially to investing into his disciples, preparing them for what was to come. He spent time teaching and preaching the truth. The good news, this was Central to his ministry where as some people think know. Jesus came to heal. People to perform lots of Miracles. He absolutely did do that. But if you look at Luke 4:43 Jesus was healing, many people and some people in the town he was at, I can turn there really quick. I believe he was in a he wasn't capernum around Galilee area to Jesus was killing many people. And many people kept walking and heihei Jesus, could you stay a little longer? I got some family, some relatives who were a little ways away, they might be trapped and I would love for you to heal and a touch them to bless them. And Jesus said, I must go and proclaim. The good news to the other towns also because that is why I was sent I must go and proclaim the good news. So this is what Jesus devotes his life to even the very last week of his life before the crucifixion. To notice also Jesus is in the temple courts, right in the Heart, The Hub of Jewish life. And since he's there, the religious Elite are only a stone's throw away and they're undoubtedly. Listening to every word that he say whooping, as we'll see if we walk to the text, to catch him to say something that will get him in trouble with the supreme authority, in their mind over Jesus, the government. To the come up to Jesus. Look at a text say, they asked him about what Authority. Are you doing these things? Who gave you this Authority? That's clear to you and I but this is not a genuine question. If I were to ask you, why are you using a fork and a knife to eat pizza? That's not a genuine question, right? There's the same right, that I communicate you should be using your hands in there, but it's so much more. So in this scenario and questions. Jesus, where did, where is your Authority come from but rather their flagrantly revealing, their just stay in their animosity towards Jesus. Another words and their mind they are thinking Jesus. You should not be server Ting or authority. But what you were saying, a Jesus doesn't directly answer them. As you see a 3D replied, I will also ask you a question. Tell me, John's baptism. Was it from heaven or human origin? And Matthew and mark the other two gospels that record this account. There's another verse there, that's included. Another little phrase that helps explain it. To Jesus says, to the religious leaders. If you answer this question, I will answer you. So first hears, this one for you, this was a common way that the teachers that they would often teach their followers, just this going back and forth of responding to questions with questions. Jesus is right. Answer this question, I'll answer yours. Tell me, John's baptism another words, the ministry of John, his preaching, his teaching what he was actually doing baptizing people in the water. Was it from heaven? Or is it from human origin? Was it from God? Was it. Divinely. Blessed and commissioned by the Lord or is he just a man? Was he just spreading his own idea? Is his own thoughts? Another words Jesus is asking them about the authority of John the Baptist. And by implication in my connection is tied himself to John the Baptist. Because if you recall, when Jesus was baptized by him, that's when the heavens opened up and there was a dove descended down and that's when the everyone heard that Audible Voice, this is my son whom I love and ham. I am. Well pleased, that was a big type of commissioning in Jesus his own Ministry where he publicly received a lot of this love and Authority from the father to Jesus is tying himself to this ministry and they're saying this is asking what do you think of John and determine what you think of me? Let's see how they respond. And what they deliberate verse five, the discussed among themselves and said. We say from Heaven, the last, why didn't you believe him? If we say, if human origin, all the people shown us because they are persuaded that John was a prophet. Right there. They do not care about the truth. They have no concern, no genuine concern for the truth there, because you see that and what they were talking about amongst themselves, they don't ask one another, you know who was really John, who is the true identity of John? What was his ministry? Where did it come from now? They said, know, if we say it was from Heaven, if we save us from God, and that means we're in the wrong and we failed to respond. But if we say conversely, that he was just a man who wasn't there, was anything special about him was in all the people around us? They're going to Stone us they're going to it says it right there in the text all the people will Stone us because they've persuaded they are so convinced that John was a prophet of God. How many times do you? And I do this today? when it comes to any issue in life, I think a big one today is world is the issue of sexuality. How many times when it comes to the issue of sexuality, whether it be lust, adultery fornication, homosexuality, whatever it might be becomes any of those issues, we thank you, know what? Lord, if I say, what's true? If I say what you say in your word was, and that means I'm going to be in the wrong, and I'm going to be corrected. I haven't lived up to it. I must admit myself to that Authority. But if I say the opposite of a say, you know, it it's, it's okay. Well, then all the people will be against me. Write we we find ourselves in this dilemma sometimes. We're first, we don't want to be corrected by God. We also don't want to be persecuted by the crowd, so instead of saying anything we just so, you know, I'm not really sure. I'm not really sure that's what they say. We don't know, we don't know where it's from. But Jesus said right there, a state neither will I tell you, but what Authority? I'm doing things.

The class for you today. With a religious leaders here, were they concerned with a genuinely interested in the authority of Jesus, and where it was from? No, they were not the issue in this text other than Wise, It's recorded by this here for us. The issue is not where is the source of authority because we saw that clearly in chapter 19 Jesus is the king. He is our King chapter 20. These first few verses verses 1 to 8, it's for you and I to consider are we humble when we approach the king? Are we humble? Are we gentle are we responsive to his authority over us? That's the key concern. Yesterday, either literally today, or in life, in general, if you were ever concerned, genuinely concerned about the authority issue of Jesus and you asked, Jesus, are you the true God? That's a very genuine good question to ask. Tons of God Sons of religions, tend to belief systems Jesus as revealing the Bible. Are you the true God? Or slight variance on that my P. God is the Bible Faithful. Is it accurate? Is it? Reliable is a truthful. Can I trust it? Is it for is Irrelevant for the day. If you ask those Authority questions of God in humility, he will answer you. He will guide you into the truth. But if the opposite, if you approach this whole God Christianity, the Bible topic with arrogance with haughtiness with pride, well, then neither will I tell you by what Authority I'm doing these things. As one commentator said, in this scenario, Jesus will not declare what they are unwilling to hear. Jesus will not declare what they are unwilling to hear. for you today when you approach, God, when you approach Jesus, when you approach the Bible, You do so humbly with this attitude that Lord whatever you say I'm going to submit to you is that your attitude every single day of your lives? Were called to humbly hear him. Secondly, receipt Authority. That is exercise. So, some versus 9219 So, here we find another parable. Comparables are are simply their vivid illustrations Vivid Stories, the communicative, powerful truth. And every Parable that Jesus speaks you cannot in the words of wisdom and warning, you cannot press every detail too hard. There's not an explicit specific one-to-one correlation to Everything Jesus says with something in the real world. But there are real correlations between the characters and reality. So let's walk through this Parable and see what we find. So I'm sure he's not the class for you today. As you look at it tonight, man. Planted a Vineyard. When did it to some farmers and went away for a long time. Class food is the one who planted the vineyard.

God more specific, the father are good. It's the father. He's the vineyard owner and yes, you look at it. The vineyard who is the vendor, see if you know that one Who's the vineyard? What is the vineyard?

Yes. What's the vineyard? Okay. It's okay for 5 or 7. That's the answer is explicit. Isaiah, 547 the word of God says, in the vineyard of the Lord Almighty is a nation of Israel and the people of Judah are the vines. He delighted in So, when you rewind back to the Old Testament, this this makes sense, the father is the one who created The Vineyard, he's the one who planted it is the one who started it, he's the one who created, he's the one who call Abraham initially out from the land of Earth to himself. You said Abraham, I'm going to make you a mighty nation. You're going to have many descendants of Abraham had Isaac, Isaac had Jacob, and who is Israel? Israel had many sons and it became a whole nation of Israel. The Jewish Nation God, created The Vineyard the father created the vineyard Invest in the vineyard. Write the class who are the farmers.

Verse 9 through the farmers, who are the tenants. For working the field. If I know this one,

The religious leaders Bingo contextually speaking, it is the religious Elite, it's the priest, the teachers of the law. And before it, you kind of get angry at that, right? Cuz when we read the New Testament, we usually think when we read those terms, Pharisee, religious leader teachers of the law priest, high, priest Chief priest. We have negative thoughts about them, but please remember, the important necessary work that God have called these men to because these people were called to Shepherd the flock, they were called to provide for the flock to feed the flock, the word of God, to care, and cultivate the farm to care, and cultivate The Vineyard to tend to the people a very weighty responsibility. And that's what he commissioned them to do back then and even in the day that Jesus is speaking, so that's who the farmers are the tenants of the religious leaders. The next who are the servants. Because it's not yet. You see the text at Harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard who are the servants. The prophets. Bingo. It's the prophets of old jerimiahisaiah Hezekiah. It's like, I was a king. Forgive me? What is all the prophets that God sent in the prophets? Were they do? They call the people, repent of your sin. Come to the Lord, give an account of yourself to the Lord. Come to him and repentance. Be reconciled to him. Be made right with the father but sadly, the Too often occasion in the Bible, both Old Testament and New. Is there a resistance against the prophets amongst the people amongst the religious leaders? Who, who were the leading the way? Because it just two examples. Jeremiah, the prophet, according to chapter 26, verse 7-Eleven in Jeremiah, he was beaten for his ministry. But then you fast-forward, the very last prophet, who is John the Baptist. He was beheaded for speaking the truth boldly.

So that the prophets that God sent. Yes, I did notice. The Vineyard owner would have been completely justified in getting rid of the tenants initially because he sent one servant. Hey, hey, you need to give an account of yourselves. You'll give some of the fruit to the father to the vineyard owner. What did they do? But the tenants beat him and send him away empty-handed.

The Vineyard owner could have fired them. All immediately gotten rid of him but instead he was very patient with him, he sent them another servant three servants in total right there time and time again, defeated them treated him shamefully as the text says sent them away empty-handed. But then verse 13. When the tenants are first 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. This is probably pretty obvious. Who is this song right here? It's Jesus. He is a beloved Son of the father. Maybe just maybe the one who is closest to me. The one who has the closest resemblance of authority of mine who has my very Authority upon him, who has my name upon him, maybe just maybe they will respect him, they will listen to him. But no verse 14 and 15. Can install him. I talked the matter over, this is the air, they said, let's kill him. And The Inheritance will be ours so they threw him out of the vineyard and kill him.

No. Zoom out a little bit. Even this, Parable right here is about the authority of God, if 40 of Christ, and you might be thinking where do you? Where do you see that? Where is the authority component here? Because when I read this, it looks like to me that the, the tenants and the farmers that they're the ones in control. It seems like they're the ones who have the power. They're the ones after all, who got rid of all the servants. Who even killed The Vineyards own son, it seems like everyone's having control. Where's the authority of Christ of the father? Let's precisely were verses 16 and 17 coming to play. Particular verse 17. Is that the familiar phrase? The stone? The builders rejected has become the Cornerstone That verse right there. Just quoted from Psalm 118 Verse 22, that's quoted at, at least in Romans chapter 9 as well. And I believe it's in 1st Peter as well. So it's a very familiar. Verse is mentioned, several times in the New Testament, so it's significance for you. Not the stone, the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone He don't get that immediately. I had to think through that a little bit, but it is the gospel in a nutshell because Jesus is the stone of God. But though he was rejected though, he was tossed aside though he was brought out of the of the the city of Jerusalem tossed aside like garbage even broken apart as he was beating. What happened through his resurrection, he became the Cornerstone. If you looked at it in the moment, it would have seemed like Jesus was weekly. He was powerless. He was helpless, he was tossed aside. He was useless is irrelevant. But through the Resurrection, the father is stablished him as the head of all things is Colossians chapter one talks about. He is at the supreme authority over all creation over the church over everything. And now today, the entire universe is upheld by his authority and its power. The stone that was rejected now is the Cornerstone. Everything is built upon price and relies upon Christ and has the gospel even there and then the chat just a little for Taste of it. Because Jesus was the one who was murdered, he was the one who was tossed aside, so that you and I wouldn't have to face the Wrath of the father. So that you and I could be free from that punishment, that we deserve. but to receive that gift to receive that live to receive that, pardon What must happen? You must humbly ask him and you must humbly submit to his authority. That's how you had to tell you become a Christian humbly, ask him. Humbly ask God and also humbly submit to his authority. Lord, I'm broken. I messed up. I'm confused, I'm a sinner. I need you, please save me. Humbly, ask him, but also humbly submit to him. Lord, my life is yours. I've been living for myself. I've been living for my job, I've been living for my spouse, my kids, whatever it might be help me to leave for you alone. Supremely Every single day of my life submit to his authority. And if you do that, the Bible says, if you call in the name of the Lord, you will be saved. and the goal, the of all of this verse 13, Send my son, whom I love perhaps, they will respect him. Our proper response to the authority of Christ is to respect him. Follow him to submit to him humbly. And that leads us to the last thing. A thorny that is explained versus 2226

See if I can speed this one at the religious leaders were not done. The more words of truth, Jesus speaks every single word, he speaks the religious leaders, get more Angry more, Angry more Angry. The raft is fumes and burns against him, so their plan is to destroy him to dispose of him to get rid of him as Jesus himself, just described in the previous few verses, You seen the text? Keeping a close watch on and they sent some spies. Who pretended to be sincere? They hope to catch Jesus and something he said so they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. Their big plan to take down Jesus becomes clearer and clearer as we get towards the end of this gospel. They sent spies out of what they doing here at the religious leader sends spies to bring up a very contentious topic back then. And also today, and that is the top Texas. And if there's one thing that is similar between the first century and the 21st century is this. If you do not pay your taxes, you can say sayonara to your life, it's the same back, then same today. So, you can tell it again, though. They are buttering up. Jesus in verse 21 teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right? That is absolutely true. And that you do not show partiality also true. But teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. That's a beautiful thing to say Christ. But even here, it's important. Keep in mind, it's not enough to just know, I'm not the right things about Jesus because believe it or not, the demons have good theology. The demons know who Jesus is because as you read in Luke, I'm sorry, Mark 1:24. That's when Jesus is taking a demon out of a person and Mark 1:24 the demon talks to Jesus Through the person that says, I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God. Again good theology but that means nothing if you don't actually love the truth if you don't live the truth. So right here they say they're good things but they're it's not genuine in their heart. Here it is. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not? You can tell by the substitute by the subtext. What they are hoping Jesus Jesus would say here is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar for that Godless l? A guy who does not pay any homage to the true, Yahweh of Israel, is it right to pay taxes, the Godless government, The Wretched government They were hoping Jesus would say something like no don't pay taxes to them, which AKA is rebelled against the government. In Jesus says that, then they're immediately going to report him to Cesar to everybody in charge so that Jesus can then be gotten rid of. What does Jesus do? He is the all-wise teacher and master he saw through their duplicity some other version. Say he perceived their craftiness, he detected their trickery, Jesus, take this opportunity to explain the issue of authority to them. And let me just be frank and super clear. I do not have enough time to talk about the big full picture of what the Christians perspective is on relating. To the government as a whole sermon, multiple sermons and of itself, I'm only scratching the surface, literally scratching the surface as you'll see. I mean, if you have questions, I'd be more than happy to talk to you about it. But Jesus is saying, here through his famous saying, show me the nearest whose image in the scripture on it, Tuesday, reply, then, get back to Caesar. What is Caesar's and to God? What is God's? And other words? What he is saying, is yes, the government has some authority over you and yes, you are called to submit to that government. And what does that mean? It does mean pay your taxes. But the thing I want to focus on is that last phrase in verse 25. Get back to Caesar. What is Caesar's and to God? What is God? What is God's? Another words? If a coin has the image of the ruler of Caesar on it?

Get back to God. What is God's? Here's a question for you again, class. What has the image of God on it?

we do you do human beings, do A Jesus in a sin to say write that little coin or they may be smokable coins, right? Yeah. It's his sure what you owe me is your life, the entirety of your life, your highest Allegiance, your greatest affections, all of it is for me. That's what you were to give me. Give to God. What is God's is against an issue about Authority? You owe me your life. 426. They were unable to trap him and what he said and said they're in public, the song spice answer, they became silent.

The church end where we began. The king. Who is come? The king is Jesus. The king who is come, is peaceful, humble is praiseworthy but he's also the king whose in Authority but kind of redundant to say, but this the gospels slowly but surely build a clearer picture of who Jesus is with the Resurrection being the final mail. If you will that reveals to us the Splendor of how powerful and mighty he is, here we go to window into what is the nature of his authority? Jesus, teaches with authority. A teacher's with all the sorties finding for all people at all times and all places receive from the parable of the tenant, the tenants exercises, his authority in great patience. He's very patient with us. He could Vanquish us. He could fire as he could get rid of us. But instead, he's very patient with us 2nd. Peter 39 says, not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance, We see that his patient with his authority. But you will execute final judgment one day eventually. if you're United a, our proper response to the king, It's just a matter of him humbly approach him to listen to him, to respect him to give him what he is doing, which is our entire lives. I simply asked you. Have you done that? Have you done that? If you have, if you are Christian, if you have repented and confessed in and trusted in Christ, are you doing that daily? Is that a attitude that you're cultivating? Daily Lord? I'm Yours. Lord, your word is true. We sing about the beautiful. I never heard that song before it was saying about it just beautiful words. Lord, your word is beautiful. It is true. It's the authority over my life. Help me submit to your word regardless of how I think it should sit what it should say. I have a Carlos how I feel about it. Help me submit to your truth is that the attitude. You're cultivating every single day. Tropical to do. I encourage you to do it. So let's pray church and then we'll close with the doxology.

Jesus. You are the king over the universe. You're the king of this world. You're the king of his church. You are the king of Our Lives.

That's true. Regardless of whether or not we submit to you whether we acknowledge it whether we are aware of it. But you are the king in authority over us. And holy spirit today, we ask that you will, please soften our hearts. Please help us to see the recognize your authority over us. Please help us to respect you to Revere you as king. Please help us to submit every aspect of Our Lives to you. Our money, our relationships are work ethic. Everything that we do help us to submit to you to honor you, to respect you to glorify you because you deserve it and because you were good. We commit these things to you, not asking for our will but yours be done in Jesus name we pray. Amen.