Luke 20 Tuesday Passion Week

On this day 1,993 years ago, our Lord Jesus Christ went into the Temple and had some questions he addressed. In verses Luke 20 1-8 The Chief priest and Scribes questioned Jesus saying “Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? This would be an attempt to trap Christ in his words which resulted in a backfire. He responded back asking them the same question “I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: 4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?” This exposed their lack of spiritual authority that arose around their hypocrisy and fear of man instead of receiving their messengers authorized by God.

Following these sayings is the first parable that was given to the people, which would be the Vineyard parable. This parable really spoke to a foreshadowing of the days that were to come, when Christ was crucified and covered the sins of Gods chosen people. He came to fullfill not his will, but the Fathers will. He submitted fully to the Almighty. Let’s break down this parable so we can really understand the deep meaning of it. Luke 20:9 speaks of a “vineyard” The Vineyard was a symbol of modern day Israel, and the owner of this vineyard is God. The “Husbandmen” would be the religious leaders. He’s telling a story about how God sent prophets, and messengers, and they were all mistreated by the “Husbandmen”. So then he get’s to the point of Luke 20:13 “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.” Then it goes onto say in Luke 20:14–16 “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. So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.” This is a foreshadowment of what Christ came to do. He came to seek what was lost, destroy the captivity of sin to the soul, and save the Children of God. I pray that none of us let our ignorance get in the way of God’s word. He point blank told these religious leaders they can keep their religion! But he came to fullfill the ultimate sacrifice.

3rd Point - Look at what Jesus preached about resurrection, now its important to know we aren’t talking about physical, but spiritual. Luke 20:27–38 “Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him, 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. There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 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. 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. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.” When he died on that cross, for you and I when he saved our souls, he brought us from being dead in our trespasses in sin. “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

After this parable they weren’t to happy, so they sent spies to try to trap him between options of himself againist Rome authority, and causing an uproar between his fellow Jews. Luke 20:20–26 “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. 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: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no? But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.” Gods word gives us clear orders in a lot of things, Exodus 20:12 “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” Which is the 5th commandment. Ephesians 6:5–8 “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.” And we can go on and on. Something id like to point out is how Christ still through his entire ministry he cited scripture, and took principles from scripture aswell. Our Lord Jesus Christ had scripture as his authority because IT IS Gods word. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. Keep the things of this world and render them to the people they are suppose to. But keep the things of God Holy and sacred and respected.

Lastly to end Luke 20 he ended with these sayings saying this, Luke 20:45–46 “Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, 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;” Beware as Christ says! For the attention seekers, to them ones that make themselves seem Holy and without Blame! The ones that have false religiosity, pride, greed, and lack of compassion in the Pharisees. The ones that desire to be the most honored at the table! In Matthew 7:15–20 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Today’s church isn’t except from this! Look what the apostle Paul says in Acts 20:19–31 “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” It’s important that us as Christians our saturating ourselfs in Gods word daily! Here is my question to us tonight, do we find ourselves medditating in Gods word? Giving God the time he longs for with his creation? Are you truly ready to be faced with what 1 Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” If not its not to late, your already doing the first step by being faithful and being apart of this study tonight! But that isn’t sufficient. Some of you know I read after the puritans, Jonathan Edward’s was a mastermind! The puritans would put you in church discipline for simply not doing family or Personal worship 3 times a week minimum. Does this seem radical to any of you tonight? This should be the bare minimum! So with that said I want all of you wether it’s tonight or tomorrow, read Luke 21 and Luke 22.