Luke 20:20-26

Introduction

What does perfect humanity look like?

Jesus must demonstrate for us the character and nature of God.

He must also demonstrate for us man in his full perfection.

Consequently, as perfect divinity and perfect humanity, he exposes human nature.

When is it okay to disobey God in order to preserve the worship of God?

The question today isn’t political, and Luke shows us so.

Remember what kind of man Jesus is:

.

His character matters.

Luke Signals Good Versus Evil

Καὶ παρατηρήσαντες ἀπέστειλαν ἐγκαθέτους ὑποκρινομένους ἑαυτοὺς δικαίους εἶναι, ἵνα ἐπιλάβωνται αὐτοῦ λόγου, ὥστε παραδοῦναι αὐτὸν τῇ ἀρχῇ καὶ τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος.

Luke 20:20–21 NA28

Καὶ παρατηρήσαντες ἀπέστειλαν ἐγκαθέτους ὑποκρινομένους ἑαυτοὺς δικαίους εἶναι, ἵνα ἐπιλάβωνται αὐτοῦ λόγου, ὥστε παραδοῦναι αὐτὸν τῇ ἀρχῇ καὶ τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος. καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτὸν λέγοντες· Διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὀρθῶς λέγεις καὶ διδάσκεις καὶ οὐ λαμβάνεις πρόσωπον, ἀλλʼ ἐπʼ ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ διδάσκεις·

καὶ ἐπηρώτησαν αὐτὸν λέγοντες· Διδάσκαλε, οἴδαμεν ὅτι ὀρθῶς λέγεις καὶ διδάσκεις καὶ οὐ λαμβάνεις πρόσωπον, ἀλλʼ ἐπʼ ἀληθείας τὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ θεοῦ διδάσκεις·

Here continues the struggle between Jesus and the leaders in the Temple.

Luke provides the main details for us to see what the conflict is, but he does not give the full details Matthew and Mark reveal.

Notice how they “egg” Jesus on in their effort to elicit from him some rash statement.

The Pretend Question

ἔξεστιν ἡμᾶς Καίσαρι φόρον δοῦναι ἢ οὔ;

This was a serious question among Jewish scholars.

The Sanhedrin court held the responsibility for collecting the denarius tax annually.

The quandary wasn’t the amount but the principle.

Was acknowledging the authority of Rome a rejection of the authority of God over Israel?

Yet, the cunning aspect of the question is that it places Jesus between Rome and people.

To reject its legality would leave him chargeable for inciting rebellion.

To assert its legality would blaspheme God.

Jewish authorities had decided it was better to pay the tribute in order to preserve the Temple, and thus they fear Jesus’ words and actions.

Jesus’ Righteous Response

κατανοήσας δὲ αὐτῶν τὴν πανουργίαν εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς·

Δείξατέ μοι δηνάριον· τίνος ἔχει εἰκόνα καὶ ἐπιγραφήν; οἱ δὲ εἶπαν· Καίσαρος.

ὁ δὲ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· Τοίνυν ἀπόδοτε τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι καὶ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τῷ θεῷ.

καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσαν ἐπιλαβέσθαι αὐτοῦ ῥήματος ἐναντίον τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ θαυμάσαντες ἐπὶ τῇ ἀποκρίσει αὐτοῦ ἐσίγησαν.

Take Home

Man’s nature is unrighteous. We see in the disciples of the Jewish leaders the kinds of behavior we value.

Good versus evil is man at enmity with God.

God deserves our submission because He made us in his image.