The Best Dressed

As someone who has the privilege of being in this position, I am exposed to a bit more of what is being taught and what is going on in the religious, Christian sectors of our world.

WHY discuss this today?

Because all of us are in one of three positions:

You might not care about any of this because you don’t really take it seriously. You might not be sure any of this is real.

You might be in a position of power with a bit of money and you could succumb to corruption and abuse others

You might be vulnerable and get sucked into the mind games of a lying so-called prophet.

So it is important.

Jesus has just come out of a moment where he has shut down a trick question from powerful, wealthy, and learned men.

He shut them down so hard that they determined to not ask him any more questions.

Because he continues to make them look stupid.

And there is nothing a rich and powerful person fears more than being made foolish.

You are not any different…we don’t want to elevate ourselves above that.

We should be willing to admit what we DO and DO NOT know. Keep you humble and ready for a lifetime of learning.

JESUS decides to expose their ignorance and poses them a rhetorical question.

Luke 20:41–44 NLT

Then Jesus presented them with a question. “Why is it,” he asked, “that the Messiah is said to be the son of David? For David himself wrote in the book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.’ Since David called the Messiah ‘Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?”

Now, IT MIGHT SEEM LIKE only a bible nerd would ask this question.

But in this day, this would have been pretty well known information. It would be as common as:

Jesus died for my sins and was resurrected

Tithing or giving is supposed to be 10%

Ten commandments exist, but I might only know a few.

God made the world in six 24 hour days

God says men are to rule over women

Some of these are spot on, some are questionable, and some are plain wrong.

Jesus has placed this Psalm in the context of the Messiah. The Christ.

Messiah= Anointed One. The one to come. The future king who will be on David’s throne forever.

Regardless, Jesus is setting them up.

Everyone would agree with this because this is what they have been taught.

But Jesus, he is a total BIBLE NERD.

He has read and thought about this in ways others have not.

***** For David Himself Wrote...

Right off the bat, Jesus makes a statement that has become contentious among close readers of scripture.

Did David actually write it?

Was it written ABOUT David?

Was it written TO David?

I am inclined to go with Jesus here, but when you read the original, the preposition that is used can mean a Psalm (by, to, for, about, regarding, etc.) So it is vague. But we will go with Jesus.

Now, after hearing this, and seeing it, can you find the problem?

Now, while you are thinking about that, I want you to stop, set aside what you think this means, and examine what you are really thinking?

If you don’t understand why Jesus is using this, what would you do? How would you resolve it? Would you even have the patience to see it through?

Remember, Jesus took a WELL KNOWN, WELL UNDERSTOOD, piece of their belief system, and he is about to use it to flip their world.

Have you figured it out?

***** Since David called the Messiah “Lord”

Do you see the problem?

How is the David’s son the Lord of David?

NOW: WHAT IS THE POINT OF JESUS coving this?

When you go LOOKING for son of David or David’s son’s in the Hebrew bible, an interesting thing happens. You are introduced to a host of really bad characters.

They served as priestly leaders (not supposed to do that)

Absalom raped his sister Tamar and Amnon fell in love with Tamar

Adonijah tries to take the throne by force

Solomon, wise but failed miserably and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD at the end of his life

In the NEW TESTAMENT

Joseph, son of David

Blind men shout to Jesus, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

The CROWD was amazed, “could Jesus be the Son of David, the Messiah?”

Gentile woman pled, “O Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me”

Triumphal entry, “Praise God for the Son of David”

Bartimaeus shouts, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luke has

Blind man, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Twice

Right here in this verse.

David’s Son shows up too, but again, all in the same context. All together, Luke uses this terminology only four times across the Gospel and Acts.

Corruption of Scripture

Easy to just believe what you have heard and not check it out.

You should NEVER hesitate to check things out for yourself.

You should ALWAYS confirm what you hear.

EVEN FROM ME!!! Especially from ME!

What is the point?

Jesus is pointing out that they are looking for a HUMAN leader to rescue them, the Son of David. But Jesus is claiming that the Messiah will be A SON of SOMEONE ELSE. Someone GREATER.

So, be warned...

Luke 20:45–46 NLT

Then, with the crowds listening, he turned to his disciples and said, “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets.

Oh the SOAPBOX...

Texts like this cause two things in me:

It makes my blood boil.

2. Will come in the next verse...

This is the kind of Christianity that I have seen on TV and the internet for quite some time.

People who are about themselves.

I am not talking about people who hand the scripture carelessly…those ARE TO BE AVOIDED TOO.

People who intentionally misuse scripture and lift themselves up as some representative of God that they are not.

Second thing that causes my blood to boil...

Luke 20:47 NLT

Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.”

2. They abuse others intentionally.

I could probably get over someone doing this in ignorance, but I don’t know how you read scripture and come away with the belief that...

GOD WANTS YOU TO BE WEALTHY and POWERFUL.

If you have been with us through Luke, at any point have you understood Jesus as someone who is interested in your money or influence?

Intentional misuse of money and authority is going to be SEVERELY PUNISHED.

Question: Who were under the feet of the Messiah?

Answer: His enemies. People like this.

You don’t have to be about money. Sometimes it is about authority.

I think of the types of teaching I hear often that puts people under the AUTHORITY of a PASTOR, TEACHER, LEADER, HUSBAND, WIFE, etc.

There is one AUTHORITY, remember the Psalm?

The Messiah is on the throne, at the right hand of the Father. There IS NO OTHER.

Jesus has come down hard on religious teachers here. But he is not done.

Luke 21:1–3 NLT

While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them.

This goes to 2 and 3

2. Misusing wealth and power

3. Abusing the vulnerable

I have personal experience with this.

The first few years I was in this church we had a member that had significant money, a widow.

She was willing to make large donations, but always with strings attached.

There were fights in this church ten years ago that had people screaming at board meetings, trying to make power plays to control the church.

And I just didn’t play that game.

I have had people come to board meetings and get a little belligerent, wanting the board to MAKE ME DO SOMETHING.

Abusing the vulnerable...

This widow did have some money, enough that leaders from our denomination would fly out to convince me to change things in hopes they would donate to an endowment. The interest was in their money, not what was best for the people or the future.

And I was skeptical because we, as a church, had just watched our region dissolve and money that should have come to us, well, it did not. It just disappeared.

Until one day, it was found!

But the fights were over the money.

It is sickening...

The truth is…I know how we could fill the room, have multiple services, and put tons of money in the bank.

But, I would have to become like one of those people, and I just won’t do it.

Last item…give it all...

Luke 21:4 NLT

For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

NOTICE SURPLUS...

You understand the problem, right?

If we have a member attending who has money and we have a legit need, I could go and ask.

I could preach a sermon on GIVING IT ALL, and I would not be wrong.

But what has it become about? The money.

I would rather just teach scripture, and let it go to work on you.

When you SEE A NEED, and you CAN HELP, then I hope the Spirit will work on you to VOLUNTEER your time, talent, or treasure with a GRATEFUL, CHEERFUL HEART!

The contrast is:

A rich MAN who gives a fraction of his wealth (and his reasons are legitimate to him)

A poor widow, who only has a few days of money, who gives it all.

I have heard this verse used to compel the poor to give sacrificially instead of buying diapers, or food, or paying rent, or paying a power/water bill.

Which is why Jesus says in the next verses...

Luke 21:5–6 NLT

Some of his disciples began talking about the majestic stonework of the Temple and the memorial decorations on the walls. But Jesus said, “The time is coming when all these things will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”

We are going to discuss this next week, but let me talk about this...

Jesus just showed the smart religious leaders to be what they really are.

Thieves, wicked, working towards divine punishment.

Same for the RICH...

And in this instant, when the people want to remark how PRETTY, and GREAT, and the GRANDEUR of the temple.

But Jesus’ response is this:

All this that you see, these things that you think are important.

These things that you think are proof of God’s blessing...

It will all come crashing down.

We will see that the DISCIPLES DO NOT UNDERSTAND HIS ANSWER AT ALL.

I opened talking about this:

Corruption of scripture

Misuse of money and authority

Abusing the Vulnerable

Giving your all

Jesus followers should handle these words carefully, applying some logic, asking questions, trying to dig in. Not judge it as to it value, it has value. But understand it from its own context so we can port its wisdom into our hearts.

The last three are simply warnings:

The rich and powerful exist, some want to be rich and powerful, be cautious of them.

Check their statements against…SCRIPTURE!

But be careful, you are rich and powerful in someones eyes. Be aware of that, be aware of your influence.

USE YOUR POWERS FOR GOOD!

Yes, give generously, but be responsible.

If you have EXCESS, a SURPLUS, then consider how you use it, what you do with it, or how you are planning for it.

All of this boils down to:

How will you guard your heart (treasure)?

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