Luke 20_19 King of Righteousness Full Manuscript

And I don't know if you're familiar with the conversation and the conversation he's going back and forth with God, like, well, if there's 50 righteous, will you save it?

Then he says 45, 40, 30, and so forth all the way until he gets to ten. And then ask will you save it?

Abraham poses a question toward God, not really a question, but a question and a statement that is it's very heavily quoted.

He says, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

He is not questioning God’s character; he knows that God is Just, but he doesn't fully understand the situation. What Abraham didn’t fully know was that no one is truly righteous apart from Jesus. What Abraham did understand is that God sets the standard of right, that God is Just/fair, and that he is Lord over all.

In a world full of temptation, destruction, and chaos, we must trust in the Judge of all the earth knows right, and he will make right those who call on his name for salvation.

Today, we look at the final days of Jesus, and we see that he is not only the King of Peace, The one who has all authority, but he is also the King of Righteousness.

Recap

A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Nate did a wonderful exposition of Luke 19:45 – 20:18. Here are a few points that stood out from notes.

Peace Only comes through submission.

A quote from a prior message, “True peace is a quietness of one's heart, mind and soul as a result of trusting in God’s plan, strength and grace.

Jesus is our authority and acts with authority, but he is also a loving authority.

The Pharisees questioned Jesus' authority, and Jesus loved the Pharisees.

Jesus is not an authority that is to be ignored. (He is the Rock & cornerstone.)

Luke 20:19-26

Luke 20:19–26 ESV

The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour, for they perceived that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.

Jesus is the just judge over all authorities.

In this story, the Pharisees are upset that Jesus just called them out for their corrupt dealings of hustling in the temple. During a public gathering, they ask controversial questions as part of their plan to get him killed as revenge.

Similar to today, if you want to trip up a Christian, ask them about their beliefs on Government, sexuality, and tithing. Those three subjects are sure to make some enemies. So, seeking to get Jesus hurt, they asked him about government and marriage. In answering these questions, Jesus provides guidance for how Christians should view these topics and shows that he is the King and judge who sits on the throne. In this section of verses, we’ll deal with Government.

They say if you want to avoid an argument, avoid politics and religion. We’ll I’m a pastor, so religion is already on the table. Let’s talk politics. Right now, in this country, there is a hyperfocus on government, patriotism, and nationalism, especially regarding Christianity in America.

Our politics should be informed by scripture, not our scripture being informed by politics. I cringe when I see political analysts heading bible conferences. Here, a hill I’m willing to die on, good bible teaching will never have you align fully with man-made ideologies and systems. Don’t believe me Let’s see what Jesus has to say. (He gives two principles to remember when dealing with Government.

God desires his people to submit to earthly authorities.

If you look back at the text Jesus says, “Render unto Caesar, what is Caesars.

At this time there was a debate between Jewish citizens in Rome on whether poll tax should be paid. If Jesus responds yes, the Jewish people will say, how dare we pay taxes to this corrupt unbelieving government? But if he responds, No, don’t pay your taxes then he is immediately seen as an enemy to the Roman government; he’s basically seen as a terrorist or threat to Rome. Jesus peeped at the setup from a mile away and said, Render to Caesar, what is his.”

Jesus sets the standard that though governments may be corrupt, the posture of the King is to be obedient to earthly authorities until they clash with the Kingdom’s agenda.

Philippians 2:8b says,

Philippians 2:8b ESV

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus being humble is found in the fact that he, being a King, died a death reserved for criminals who were slaves. But also, a part of this humility is that he submitted himself to governing authorities, to whom he was higher than. (John 18:36 ;Pilate) (Gal 1:4)

We, as believers who are followers of Jesus, are called to follow in the footsteps of the King. We are to submit to governing authorities unless they go against direct instructions from the King.

Romans 13 & 1 Peter 2:13-17 both tell us to

1 Peter 2:13–17 ESV

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Submission doesn’t always mean submission to only good authorities or the people we like. God will call you to be obedient to not-so-great authorities. The apostle Peter, The apostle Paul & Jesus both submitted to governing authorities in some of the most corrupt government regimes in history.

Our obedience to governments has less to do with our political stance and more to do with our trust in God, who promises good for his people.

Our allegiance is to Jesus and the Gospel of the Kingdom.

In the second part of this verse, Jesus says, “And render to God the things that are God’s. “

Now, this would appear to be a contradictory statement at first: give to Caesar what’s his and give to God what’s his. But isn’t everything God’s?

There is a right way to interpret this passage and a wrong way to interpret this passage. Let’s first look at the wrong ways.

Some modern interpretation says that this was a clever way for Jesus to say, bump the government; God is King, so we don’t pay taxes.

The problem is this is inconsistent with the rest of Jesus’s teachings and the teachings of the Apostles.

Another popular interpretation is that Jesus is setting up two kingdoms. We obey government in certain areas and God in certain areas. Once again, this is wrong because no other government is equal to God. This is also contradictory to what Paul said in Romans 13:1

Romans 13:1 NLT

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.

Here is the right interpretation: Jesus saw government or power as a tool to bring about his will and glory. It’s also in Romans that says, “Government is a spear against evil.” Without organized government, many crimes would go without Justice. God uses a just government to bring good, but also God uses a corrupt government to bring about good.

In Acts 2:23, it says

Acts 2:23 NLT

But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.

God used a corrupt government injustice to bring about salvation to all humanity. No matter what political party or policy is set in place, God will use it to advance the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Our posture as believers should not be if this system or that system has God's best interest in mind. Or even picking the lesser of two evils. Our heart should be to seek the will of the King and his Kingdom. Our currency may have the face of an earthly leader, but all authorities bow to the lamb. When it comes to voting, we should try three things: prayer, conviction & trust. Pray for all earthly authorities and whom or what to vote for. Advocate & vote for the things you have a conviction for that align with God’s word. Trust that no matter the outcome, God will use it for good.

We should be seeking God’s word and in prayer to discern what ways God wants us to intervene with the policies and institutions that impact the next generation.

I close this section with a quote from a Book titled, “Thou Shall Not Be a Jerk” by Eugene Cho “The beauty and power of the church are discovered not in the Left-versus-Right political spectrum but in the power of the gospel. We find our meaning and power in the person of Jesus Christ.”

“In other words, the crux of our dilemma is that for some Christians, we’ve allowed our politics to inform our theology rather than our theology and worship of the Christ informing our politics.”

There is one God and one ultimate authority who works all things together for the good of those who love him. Even taxes.

Jesus is the Just Judge over this life and the next.

Luke 20:27-40

Luke 20:27–40 ESV

There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. And the second and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. Afterward the woman also died. In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.” And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” For they no longer dared to ask him any question.

The Sadducees were the other half of the Jewish ruling authorities. The Jews even moved with a two-party system. And like all two-party systems, each side didn’t like each other. Pharisees didn’t mess with Sadducees and vice versa. Except when it came to hating on Jesus. It’s funny how the world unites when it comes to attacking the Kingdom. The Pharisees had their turn. Now it's the Sadducees.

(It’s important to note that the text lets us know that Sadducees didn’t believe in a resurrection. But we know even more from scripture (Acts 23:8) and history. Sadducees didn’t believe in a resurrection, angels, spirits, or an afterlife at all.)

So, this is questioning another attempt to divide Jesus amongst the people.

Let’s deal with the marriage piece now. In Jewish law, there was a clause called the Levirate Marriage (Deut. 25:5-6) that states that if the husband dies prematurely, then it was the responsibility of the next of kin to marry her and keep her honor & rites amongst the people.

Their plan was to ask a ridiculous scenario to make Jesus look stupid or incompetent. We’ll If you try and make God look foolish, you always end up with an egg on your face. Jesus corrects them in two ways.

The afterlife will not be like our current life.

Jesus lets them know no matter how many marriages you have here on earth. There will be no marriages in heaven, but why? I’ll give you the condensed answers.

There will be only one marriage in heaven. Jesus is the groom, and the church is his bride. The Bible consistently uses nuptial language to describe the relationship between the church and Christ. This is best summarized in Revelations 19:7, “7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

Paul unpacks this in 1 Corinthians 7, but if we’re married, our partners will be our concern and a temptation for idolatry. In heaven, there will be no idolatry.

The other reason why marriages won’t be in heaven. Is because eternity is not about you living in bliss forever. It is about the worship of a Holy God for all existence. Just like in Eden & now, ease and bliss are a result of a relationship with God, but not the main point. See 1 Corinthians 7.

The last thing I say about marriage is that sometimes, we can sound too dispassionate about marriage and basically make marriage not about love and relationship. Last night I attended a wedding of a believing couples, and it was beautiful.

It dawned on me as I was looking at the weddings and thinking about Luke in between dances. Marriage, like government, is an instrument for God’s glory. When done right, it is a covenant that proclaims the gospel and advances God’s kingdom. Simply by loving each other and putting God first. This couple was an unlikely pair that came together at an uncommon time, but God brought them together for his glory.

This walks us right into the very next point. Life doesn’t stop at death. In marriage ceremonies, we often say till death do us part, which is true. But for every person, life doesn’t end at death; it transitions.

Jesus corrects the Sadducees about their belief that there was no afterlife. These Sadducees were known for being wealthy, lofty, and detached. When you have a limited view of eternity, you live life like it has no limits. But when you view life in the light of eternity, you live life like you are investing for a future. Life is eternal; in the words of Lecrae, “Death is not a period. It’s a comma.” What you do before that comma determines how you spend eternity.

Jesus told them he was not, past tense, the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. But he was the (present tense) I AM. Though their flesh was gone, they lived on in eternity with God.

This perspective changes how we do everything: how we disciple, how we parent, how we love our spouses, and how we love our neighbor.

Before we get to the last point, Jesus makes a quick statement. It was quick but monumental.

Luke 20:41-44

Luke 20:41–44 ESV

But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David’s son? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?”

Jesus shuts the crowd down with his answers and asks a monumental question. The Sadducees were staunch biblical conservatives. Meaning if the bible didn’t say it explicitly, they didn’t believe it. Jesus asks them, since they know so much, why did David call the future Messiah, who was his descendant Lord? It was typical for a son to call his father a name of reverence, but David called his decedent the Messiah Master. This stumped them because David was greatly revered.

Jesus does this to continue to bring home the point. All governments submit to his authority; all institutions are governed by him. All life is in his hands, and he is greater than any Israelite in all of history. This is a call back to his previous statement about authority. The Pharisees and the

Sadducees were the ruling authority and thought they had the power to question and control any Jewish individual. Jesus throws the gauntlet and says, listen, the Messiah is King and Master of all. And even you, you powerful men, will submit to me.

And we know that this is what Jesus meant because Peter later in his sermon after Jesus died, says this, quoting Psalm 110

Acts 2:36

Acts 2:36 NET

Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond a doubt that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.”

The last set of verses draws us home to the point that

Jesus is the Just judge of all the earth.

Luke 20:45-21:4 (ESV)

Luke 20:45–21:4 ESV

And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Some friends of mine debated this passage furiously on if Jesus was honoring the widow or exposing hypocrisy among the Jews.

The key to understanding this is that you have to remember chapters don’t determine the context; the story does. When you read from verse 45 through to the next chapter to verse 4, you see that Jesus is doing both. He is condemning the unjust rulers and praising the obedience and faith of the widow.

After telling the people to submit to governing authorities and that all authorities will eventually submit to him. Jesus tells the corrupt leaders, you won’t get off the hook. You will be judged. The word “condemnation” at the end of verse 47 can be translated as “Justice.” Jesus says you will receive Justice.

Sometimes, we tend to think that because God uses corruption for good, he condones corruption; wrong! Jesus condemns these Jewish rulers who use their power to oppress the poor.

Jesus uses his voice to speak up for the voiceless. The widow was downcast and had one of the lowest privileges in Jewish society.

Sometimes, it seems that justice isn’t perfect on earth, I was better say Justice is not complete on earth. One day all humanity will face judgement. God's word promises that the Judge of all the earth will do right.

Psalm 2:1-5

Psalm 2:1–5 NIV

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

Isaiah 24:21 says,

Isaiah 24:21 ESV

On that day the Lord will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth.

People who live only for this life often think it doesn’t matter who they trample on to achieve what they want, but there comes a day when all face the judge.

When people think of a judge, they only think of the bad. But one thing I love about participating in Drug court is watching the judge reward and commend those who have done well. Jesus honors the widow for her faith

Despite the corruption, oppression, and sin. The widow still obeys God’s word and gives to the temple.

The text says she literally “gave all of her life.”

When we encounter the Just judge, sometimes it won’t matter what’s happening around us. It doesn’t matter about who’s right or wrong. We just desire to be obedient and give Jesus all we have. How would our lives change if we stopped worrying about everything else for a second and gave Jesus everything we had? One thing I can promise will happen: is that the JUST JUDGE will honor you.

Conclusion (Jesus is the Just Judge who will see the world right)

Do we trust Jesus or fear man more when it comes to government?

Do we live life like we’re building a home on earth or a house in heaven?

Do we give Jesus all of our lives?

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