#1426 Luke 20 Part 5 100% No more, No less

 

41 And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? 42 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at My right hand,

43 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’

44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” Luke 20: 41-44 NKJV

Luke 20: 41-44 The Lord Said To My Lord

41While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus questioned them: 42 “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?” “ David’s,” they answered. 43Jesus said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord’? For he says:… Matthew 22: 41-43

V. 41 And He said to them - This follows after Him answering their questions about taxes and the resurrection. In Matthew we get a little more of the story, in 22:42 above, we see Jesus ask them, "what do you think about the Christ, Whose Son is He?" 

V. 41b How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David - He knew their doctrines and that they had studied the OT prophecies about Him. The answer is arrived at the same way He taught them about the resurrection, by going back to Scripture and getting the Author's intent. The people had a right understanding in that the Christ would come from the line of David, that He would save Israel, but their expectation of that to happen right now politically was dim not only in it's timing but also it's extent. Look at the end of Jeremiah 23:6 below, His name is "The Lord Our Righteousness." His coming now was to be what we aren't, and to satisfy what we are in violation of. None are righteous except Him, and God requires a righteous sacrifice, the Just for the unjust. This is not a concept foreign to their OT Scriptures, it's everywhere, but it's foreign to what they want to believe about the Christ. He is the Son of David, which satisfies man's failure, but He is opening up a very different train of thought here, that He is more than just a man, which satisfies the eternality of the offended party. 

…5Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. 6In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. Jeremiah 23: 5-6

…3regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5Through Him and on behalf of His name, we received grace and apostleship to call all those among the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith.… Romans 1: 3-5

…15But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.” Revelation 22: 15-16

1Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. 2The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.… Isaiah 11: 1-2

V. 42a Now David Himself said in the book of Psalms - He took the Sadducees back to the Pentateuch to squash their dependence on experience, human emotion, and philosophy when He schooled them on the resurrection. Now He returns to the Scriptures, this time the Psalms, and educates the crowd on Who He is. Those that think it doesn't matter today, well it mattered to Christ, so just saying "Jesus" isn't an end all for me, Who is Jesus? Which Jesus are you referring to? 

…21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’… Matthew 7: 21-23

…3I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily. 5I consider myself in no way inferior to those “super-apostles.”… 2 Corinthians 11: 3-5

The Lord said to my Lord - Yahweh said to Adonai. God the Father said to God the Son, for though Christ is of the lineage of King David, yet David calls Him his Lord. He calls Him this under the influence of the Holy Spirit. 

1A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” 2The LORD extends Your mighty scepter from Zion: “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”… Psalm 110:1

More on Psalm 110 Yahweh said to Adonai

THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND - See the original psalm below - notice that they are 4 participants in this psalm - (1) Jehovah or Yahweh (2) David (3) 'Adonay and (4) enemies. David is inspired to record the words of Jehovah which were addressed to Adonay, Who Himself was also David's Lord. To sit at the "right hand" of the king was an honor (see 1 Ki 2:19) The Lord's invitation to the Davidic king to sit down at his right hand reflects the king's position as the Lord's vice-regent. The enemies under Adonay's feet signify that Adonay will conquer and subdue His enemies. - Precept Austin

V. 42b -43 Sit at My right hand till I make Your enemies Your footstool - He is carefully taking them back to Scripture and addressing the misconceptions not only about Who He is, but also what time it is. He has told His disciples over and over that He is heading to the cross, that the Messiah must suffer, and this is also written in the prophets. Remember though, they think it happens immediately, Messiah shows up, Messiah destroys their enemies, Israel rules, and the Pharisees don't think they need a Messiah to die for them. They are covered by their traditions. The Sadducees don't believe there is anything to fear because they stumble around on this crutch of thinking that says, "there is no resurrection, this life is all there is." Now the Pharisees don't want this Jesus because He is not the Messiah they imagined, and the Sadducees can't stand Him because He overthrew their tables in the temple, interrupted their lies and extortion. So what time is it? It's the time of the Passover, the time for Messiah to come, to preach repentance, live the life of the spotless Lamb of God, and then go to the cross to satisfy the Eternal Being. It is in this sacrifice that He conquers sin and death, that He offers Himself up in my place and purchases me back from death and sin. By taking them back to Psalm 110 He is giving them a timeline, the Father is pleased with the Son and says, "come sit" where? At His right hand, not on the throne of David in Jerusalem? No, not yet. When then? "Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." He has also told His disciples that He has to return to the Father, and this was spoken of a thousand years before He came. So He goes back to the Father, sits at His right hand before He comes to reign in Jerusalem in the Millennial Kingdom.  

…34For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand 35until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ 36Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”… Acts 2: 34-36

14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.

15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.

16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

17 Then I saw 1an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God,

18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.”

19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

Doom of the Beast and False Prophet

20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. Revelation 19: 14-21

UNTIL - See discussion of this important expression of time. The preposition UNTIL can indicate the time before an event takes place (Ezek 33:22), the time until it takes place (Ps 104:23), or occasionally the time during which an event takes place (2 KI 9:22). It can also “mark a relative limit beyond which the activity of the main clause still continues” as it does in Psalm 112:8. in Psalm 110 UNTIL signifies the time until an event occurs. Stated another way, UNTIL indicates enemies will be active up to a point and then it will not happen. The point that it will not happen is when Jesus reigns over and subjugates all His enemies. Deffinbaugh elaborates on another aspect of UNTIL - "While the Messiah was to share in the power and prestige of Yahweh’s reign, there was a GAP OF TIME indicated between the time of His exaltation (“Sit …”) and His triumph (“UNTIL”). There is both a present and a future dimension to the prophetic oracle of Yahweh. The enemies of the Messiah will, at a later time, be subjected to Him, but not immediately. To make someone “the footstool for their feet” (v. 1c) was to completely subject him (cf. Ps. 8:6; 18:39), an expression probably based upon the practice of military conquerors who placed their feet on the necks of their defeated foes (cf. Josh. 10:24-25). Messiah was elevated to a position of equality with Yahweh, yet the outworking of His power was yet viewed as future." (Ref) (Bold font added) - Precept Austin

V.44 Therefore David calls Him 'Lord' how is He then his Son - A provocative question, and He has been on this battleground with them before, when He said, "before Abraham was born, I am!" It indicated that He was before Abraham, and now here, how is it that David calls Him Lord, if David is His father? David died a thousand years before this conversation, as the King of Israel. 

…13Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well? 14Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel. Isaiah 7: 13-14

…22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”). 24When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him, and embraced Mary as his wife.… Matthew 1: 22-24

…3So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world. 4But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.… Galatians 4: 3-5

…57Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” 58“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.… John 8: 57-59

More on Jesus' earthly lineage from Matthew 1

Gene Brooks summarizes this section - Jesus makes the point that His identity as Messiah exceeds traditional Jewish expectations of an earthly conquering king. Jesus is David’s son, affirming His humanity (Luke 20:41). Jesus is David’s Lord, affirming his deity (Luke 20:42-44). The title, Son of David, which the blind man already called Jesus (Luke 18:38-39), was a favorite title for the Messiah among the rabbis and a common one in Scripture (Isaiah 9:7; 11:1; Psalm 2, 89, 132). It’s roots are in the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:11-16) where God promises David that He will raise up one of his Seed who would reign forever on his throne. Jesus identifies the speaker in Psalm 110 as David, who addresses the Messiah as “my Lord” and speaks of his enthronement at God’s right hand. Psalm 110 is one of the most frequently cited OT texts in the NT. Their response? Silence. No one can answer Jesus.

Leon Morris - Jesus rounded off the session of questions by asking one himself. The problem he posed arises from the habit in antiquity of regarding earlier generations as greater and wiser than the present one. David was the ideal king and his descendants by definition were less than he. But he himself referred to the Messiah as Lord (Ps. 110:1). How then could he be David’s son, as the scribes said? Luke does not, of course, mean that Jesus is denying his Davidic descent. He has made that descent plain over and over (Lk 1:27, 32, 69; 2:4; 18:38f.) and his story of the virgin birth, from which his readers would see that Christ pre-existed, shows that even on the scribes’ premises Jesus was greater than David. But the question arose, ‘How did the scribes understand the Psalm?’ Jesus is also clearing up a misunderstanding of Messiahship. People who used the title ‘Son of David’ (Lk 18:38–39; Matt. 21:9) clearly envisaged the Messiah as someone who would defeat all Israel’s foes and bring in a new kingdom of David. They thought of David’s son as similar to David in being, outlook and achievement. There are not wanting Jewish writings of the period which speak of the Son of David in terms of a narrow nationalism that looked for Israel’s triumph over all its foes (e.g. the Psalms of Solomon). Jesus means us to see that the Messiah was not David’s son in that petty sense. He was Lord, Lord of people’s hearts and lives. To call him Lord meaningfully is to see him as greater by far than merely another David. (Borrow The Gospel According to St. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary )

Arnold Fruchtenbaum on Jesus as the Son of David and David's Lord - Jesus challenges them with a theological question, one which illustrates the God/man concept. This is the crux of what they don’t understand about the Messiah, even to this day. He asks them, “Whose son is the Messiah?” and they answer correctly “the son of David.” Jesus asks them about Psalm 110:1, and asks them “If Messiah is David’s son, how does David call him Lord?” What is Jesus saying here? How can a son be a Lord to his Father? The rabbis are unable to answer. They are completely missing the God/man concept. They do not understand the divine nature of the Messiah, and still do not to this day. - Precept Austin

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#1425 Luke 20 Part 4 Of The Living

 

27 Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 28 saying: “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he dies without children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. And the first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second took her as wife, and he died childless. 31 Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also; and they left no children, and died. 32 Last of all the woman died also. 33 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.”

34 Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”

39 Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” 40 But after that they dared not question Him anymore. Luke 20: 27-40 NKJV

Luke 20: 27-40 Sad You See

Stevenson on Sadducees - The next question coming to Jesus also follows this theme of authority. In this case, it is a question of the authority of RATIONALISM. The rationalists of that day were known as the Sadducees. The Sadducees were made up of the aristocracy. They were the advocates of Hellenization. They held the Law of Moses in high regard, but did not hold that the rest of the Scriptures were inspired. They did not believe in angels or miracles. They were not looking for any future Messiah and they rejected any notion of a future bodily resurrection. They tended to represent the upper class, the royalty and the priesthood. They were the philosophically sophisticated. Have you ever noticed that when people achieve a certain social strata, they often stop believing in certain things? Politicians are like that. And so were the Sadducees. They did not believe in the supernatural. They did not believe in miracles. And Jesus had the effrontery to have performed miracles.

The Sadducees were the poster child for modern rationalists - A rationalist is someone who emphasizes observable facts and excludes metaphysical speculation about origins or ultimate causes. It is the reliance on one's own reason as the basis for establishment of religious truth. We all know rationalists or have heard of them (Plato, Socrates, Descartes, Spinoza, etc). Rationalism is the view that "regards reason as the chief source and test of knowledge" or "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification." 

Leon Morris summarizes the Sadducees - They were the conservative, aristocratic, high-priestly party, worldly minded and very ready to cooperate with the Romans, which, of course, enabled them to maintain their privileged position. (Borrow The Gospel According to St. Luke: An Introduction and Commentary ) - Precept Austin

Who deny that there is a resurrection - So one group that didn't even like Rome or want to pay taxes tried to catch Jesus on a question about paying taxes. Now we have another group that doesn't believe in the resurrection trying to stump Jesus and make a dig at their Pharisee counterparts by asking a question which pulls from the Mosaic law on marriage and widows. The Sadducees held the Mosaic books in a high place, the Pentateuch, which are the first five books of the Old Testament. This becomes key, because the Scriptures make clear reference to the resurrection of the dead, but the Sadducees don't believe in it, or miracles, and they think this places them on some higher intellectual plane. They are certain that neither Jesus nor anyone else can make a case for the resurrection from Genesis to Deuteronomy, and they ignore all else as uninspired, yet here is this Jesus who has had the audacity to raise people from the dead. Job is one of the oldest books ever recorded, but it is not in the Pentateuch and does not help their world view, so they don't consider it, but here are some selections from the OT which I believe to be of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

…25But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth. 26Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. 27I will see Him for myself; my eyes will behold Him, and not as a stranger. How my heart yearns within me!… Job 19: 25-27

…9Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell securely. 10For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. 11You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.… Psalm 16: 9-11

…18We were with child; we writhed in pain; but we gave birth to wind. We have given no salvation to the earth, nor brought any life into the world. 19Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead. 20Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while until the wrath has passed.… Isaiah 26: 18-20

1“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.… Daniel 12: 1-3

…12Blessed is he who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. 13But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” Daniel 12: 12-13

V. 31 Then the third took her, and in like manner the seven also - Hypothetical or a case they actually knew of, we don't know for sure, but if it was a true story I would be more concerned about this woman who is clearly a black widow. She goes through seven men before she dies and the question of the men who don't believe in the resurrection is, "whose wife will she be in the resurrection?" Now put yourself here in their shoes, and in the shoes of their listeners, which includes the Son of God, Himself, and realize that these men think what they are saying is profound, some really deep stuff here. 

5When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a son, the widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother is to take her as his wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law for her. 6 The first son she bears will carry on the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. 7But if the man does not want to marry his brother’s widow, she is to go to the elders at the city gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He is not willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.”…

…8Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak with him. If he persists and says, “I do not want to marry her,” 9his brother’s widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who will not maintain his brother’s line.” 10And his family name in Israel will be called “The House of the Unsandaled.”… Deuteronomy 25: 5-10

More on this from Deuteronomy 25

V. 34 The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage - Marriage is an institution created by God wherein a man is joined to a woman and they produce offspring. It is the cornerstone, building block of all societies. This is the union that brings forth life, and then raises that life up in the nurture and admonishment of the Lord, and this is original intent and design. It is in and for this time, not in the time to come, the time after the resurrection, and Jesus will clarify this even more.

…30For we are members of His body. 31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.… Ephesians 5: 30-32

…3Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them. 4 Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”… Hebrews 13: 3-5

And Jesus said to them - Jesus begins by pointing out that life in the resurrection is substantially different from life in this age (life on earth as we know it). Life in the age of the resurrection is not just a continuation of life in this world but is a completely different "order of magnitude". However before He describes this obvious difference in this age and that age, He prefaces His explanation with a pithy barb found only in the parallel account in Mark 12:24+....

Jesus said to them (SADDUCEES), “Is this not the reason you are (present tense = continually) mistaken (planao - led astray, misled, deluded, deceived), that (1) you do not understand the Scriptures or (2) the power (dunamis = inherent ability to accomplish) of God?

Wuest comments - "Is it not (ou) for this cause that you err, namely, that you do not know the scriptures nor even the power of God?" The Greek negative ou (Is it not for this cause) when used with a question, expects an affirmative answer. This form of question is stronger than a formal direct statement would be (Like the NLT paraphrase = "Your mistake is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God"). The word “that” points to the cause of their ignorance which was two-fold, both inexcusable in members of the priesthood, which most of these Sadducees probably were, (1) ignorance of the Old Testament and (2) ignorance of the power of God. Swete says: “The Sadducees (and the Pharisees also, so far as they connected marriage and the propagation of the race with the future life), showed themselves incapable of conceiving a power which could produce an entirely different order from any within their experience. They assumed either that God could not raise the dead, or that He could raise them only to a life which would be a counterpart of the present, or even more replete with material pleasures.” (Wuest Word Studies - Eerdman Publishing Company Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 - used by permission -- or Borrow Mark in the Greek New Testament for the English reader )

Steven Cole - Jesus shows us that the source of sound doctrine is not human reason, but Scripture properly interpreted. Both the Sadducees and Jesus held to the authority of Scripture. They begin by quoting Moses and Jesus answers them by quoting Moses. But these men gave undue emphasis to human reason, which led them to disregard certain Scriptures; and they underestimated the power of God to raise the dead and give them a whole different existence in heaven. Mk 12:24 quotes Jesus, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures, or the power of God?” - Precept Austin

V. 35 Neither marry nor are given in marriage - Please point this out to your Mormon and Muslim friends, the after life is not the same as this life. Marriage was given for reproduction and raising of Godly offspring in this age. You are not going to inherit your own planet where you have your harem and populate the place. Committing terrorist acts against God's creation here will not gain you 100 virgins in the next life. Those that speak of such things differ from Christ, and do err according to Scripture, and ultimately speak of another Christ as so many cults do. God viewed marriage as a sacred thing and used the comparison of that institution to His relationship with His church.

V. 36 Nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels - Angels don't reproduce so they don't marry, and our lives now will be different than the next life. 

…5The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years were complete. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him for a thousand years. 7When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison,… Revelation 20: 5-7

1Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 2Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. 3And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.… 1 John 3: 1-3

They are like angels - Angels do not die, but live forever. Notice the term of comparison (like) which indicates resemblance but not identity and in the present context refers specifically to the fact that they will not die and cannot propagate. Now think for a moment to whom is Jesus making this declaration about angels? The Sadducees, the anti-supernaturalists, the ones who do not believe in angels! Carson adds that "In fact, Jesus’ use of angels contains a double thrust since the Sadducees denied their existence.” - Precept Austin

V. 37 But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage - Here it is, and Jesus is well aware of their stance on Scriptures, that they only respect the books of Moses, so here comes an exegesis by Jesus. Even Moses, their little ears perk up at this. Showed in the burning bush passage, Exodus 3, a passage they would be all too familiar with. 

…2There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed. 3So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?” 4When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.…

…5“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3: 2-6

When he called the Lord, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob - They are a testament of those who can read a passage a hundred times and not fully comprehend it, but not only that, they can't see what they don't want to see anyway. The Sadducees had already decided what they believed, and so when they approach the Scriptures it's like Tootsie Roll Theology, where, "whatever it is I think I see becomes a tootsie roll to me." You can't see what you think is impossible to be there, you will always take it and try to fit it inside the template of what you want to be true. They were in their minds these deep intellectuals who were too smart to believe in anything they can't see, though if a man holds his breath he will quickly become convinced of the air he cannot see because the result, the influence of it will become apparent. Jesus is rather kindly confronting their ignorance within the passages that they already know and accept. We should be so patient.

He is not the God of the dead but of the living - Moses referred to the patriarchs in the present tense. They are with David and Job, and God is their God still. People say often that religion is a crutch for those terrified of death, but atheism was a crutch for me because I didn't want to face a Holy God. If I thought the world too hard or boring I could ever so easily step off a high mountain and end it. I wanted to believe like the Sadducees in a way, that this life is all there is, so take what you can from it. It was a crutch as well for me when it came to right and wrong, because I didn't want to live as God said, and I didn't want to repent of things He called wrong. If there is no God then there is no absolute moral bar, and if there is no resurrection, even if there is a God, then there is no judgment, and this was the Sadducees want.

Where he calls the Lord THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB - How does this passage support the doctrine of the resurrection? Note that God identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In the passage IN Exodus 3:6 God says "I am the God of...Abraham..." where "I am" is the famous "ego eimi" in the Septuagint. The verb eimi is present tense active voice indicative mood which signifies God is continually the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He does not say "I was" (past tense) their God. Here is the point -- If God IS (continually) the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, then it stands to reason that they must still be alive. And if they are alive, then there is life after death and the doctrine of the resurrection is true based on THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCRIPTURE. (See also excellent note by Hiebert on Mark's parallel).

Steven Cole explains the logic of Jesus quoting a passage that speaks of the three patriarchs - These men had all been dead for centuries when God said that to Moses. It would be ridiculous for God to say that He is the God of men who ceased to exist at death! If the patriarchs had died and ceased to exist, then God’s promises to them would be null and void. But, as Jesus explains, God “is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Lk 20:38) Those who have died in faith are actually living with God, awaiting the day when they will receive their resurrection bodies.

Bock adds "In other words, God is the God of promise and covenant (as the use of this verse in Acts 3:13 will also make clear). In the next verse Jesus will make the point that God is the God to the living, not the dead. This implies resurrection, since if the patriarchs are dead, then the God of promise cannot be their God (see the additional note). The point is that the patriarchs are not dead—and neither are God’s promises to them. For the promises to the patriarchs to come to pass and for God to still be their God, resurrection must be a reality." (Ibid)

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#1424 Luke 20 The Craft

 

19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

20 So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.

21 Then they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

23 But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Why do you test Me? 24 Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?”

They answered and said, “Caesar’s.”

25 And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

26 But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent. Luke 20: 19-26 NKJV

Luke 20: 20-26

1First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority— so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. 3This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,… 1 Timothy 2: 1-3

V. 20 Sent spies who pretended to be righteous - It's no secret that not everyone who smiles at you has your best intentions at heart. The problem for these men, and for all of us, is that Jesus could look in on that very thing, the intents of their heart. I know men in the business world who have life coaches that teach them what to say, when to say it, and how to be aware of your audience. They openly state the reason for not promoting someone who is the most capable, knowledgeable and who at times may even be the person with the most integrity, as, wait for it, "they're not polished enough." Now granted, there is something to be said about being clean and using deodorant, and I have had to have that talk with employees before, but this goes beyond hygiene. They don't want this person because "they don't present well", and when you break that down what they really mean is, "I make bad decisions, I am incompetent, and this guy makes it obvious; he or she is too blunt, too honest." Some are more open about this and will tell you that they aren't going to pick someone who can replace them or exceed them. It is not in their self interest. They still read the books on "how to win friends and influence people", spout out clichés, like, "I hear you, your input is valuable to me", and they even throw out empty compliments. That is what these spies came to do, be wolves in sheep's clothing, be politicians, appeal to the cult of personality, hoping that Jesus had an ego problem like theirs, and that they could latch onto it. Tell Him what they think He wants to hear.  

…14how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes! 15Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever. 16But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”… Psalm 81: 14-16

14But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it. 15Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?… Matthew 7: 14-16

V. 21 Teacher, we know that you say and teach rightly - Now some may consider this a legal form of deceit called subterfuge, but I don't think God saw it that way. He says it this way, "thou shalt not lie", and since these Pharisees and spies did not think that Christ taught rightly, did not believe Him to be the Messiah, or God in human flesh, they are lying and trying to catch Him in saying something that will put Him in direct opposition to Rome. Rome was the occupying government with the right of taxation and the power to convict unto death, and since the Pharisees were afraid of the people, yet still desperate to kill the messenger, they move to bring Jesus into a bad light with the governing authority.

…5A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. 6An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices. 7The righteous consider the cause of the poor, but the wicked have no regard for such concerns.… Proverbs 29: 5-7

…20My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. 21His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed. 22Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.… Psalm 55: 20-22

But teach the way of God in truth - This is downright dangerous, if you believe it and you are here to kill Him anyway, then you are rejecting the One Who tells the truth, as your fathers did to the prophets of old. Their is no good excuse for these men here, believing or not believing their own words, their intentions are still grotesque. 

…29Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. 30And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets.… Matthew 23: 29-31

…26If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries. 28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.… Hebrews 10: 26-28

V. 22 Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not - Do you live under his jurisdiction, do you use the roads his kingdom built, do you receive protection from other adversaries provided by the pax romana? It is Caesar's army there, imperfect as it may be, that is who God has allowed to govern you. When we move away from God, declare our own non-existent autonomy, then we will be ruled by dictators. God has instituted His moral law, and Israel rebelled against it, even their leadership did, and so they have been given over to pagan leaders. Now they are subject to the rule of those who are unjust and godless, just like they chose to be. They are asking the question with no intent or desire to know what is right, but hoping Christ will say, "don't pay your taxes", which would place Him as an enemy of the state, and Rome would seek to discipline Him. This is the time of the gentiles, starting with the Assyrian captivity of the northern kingdom and the Babylonian captivity of the southern kingdom of Israel. After Babylon they were ruled by Persia, then Greece, and now Rome.

…17Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul. 18Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law. 19A servant cannot be corrected by words alone; though he understands, he will not respond.… Proverbs 29: 17-19

…6and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens. 7From the days of our fathers to this day, our guilt has been great. Because of our iniquities, we and our kings and priests have been delivered into the hands of the kings of the earth and put to the sword and captivity, to pillage and humiliation, as we are this day. 8But now, for a brief moment, grace has come from the LORD our God to preserve for us a remnant and to give us a stake in His holy place. Even in our bondage, our God has given us new life and light to our eyes.… Ezra 9: 6-8

V. 23 But He perceived their craftiness - Amazing, I wish my leadership had more discernment, even any at times, but this is next level stuff. Jesus doesn't condone butt kissers. 

…7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ ”… Matthew 15: 7-9

…6When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, “Surely here before the LORD is His anointed.” 7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel, who said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.”… 1 Samuel 16: 6-8

Show Me a denarius - This was a coin of Roman mint, equivalent approximately to an average days wage. 

Denarius (1220)(denarion from Latin origin) denoted a Roman silver coin equivalent to a laborer's average daily wage. Here the specific name of the coin was retained in the translation, because not all coins in circulation in Palestine at the time carried the image of Caesar. (Dictionary article). See ROMAN COINAGE It was the practice of all new emperors to issue new coins with their own likeness stamped on the face. There is a sense in which the coin was considered to be the personal property of the king. It bore testimony to the rule of the king whose likeness it carried. The first thing that a conqueror would do would be to issue new coins with a new face.

Hughes - The silver denarius, weighing 3.8 grams, had been in use in the Roman world since 268 B.C. and continued to be used into the reign of L. Septimius Severus (A.D. 193–211). Denarii bore the head of Tabors and the inscription TI. CAESAR DIVI AVG. F. AVGVSTVS (Tabors Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, Augustus). (Ibid)

Gilbrant - Dēnarion is actually a Greek transliteration of the Latin denarius, a silver coin minted by the Romans from 268 B.C. until around A.D. 200. The term is not found in the Septuagint. Gradually, by the time of Diocletian, the Roman denarius replaced the Greek drachma. Diocletian actually reintroduced the denarius as an equivalent to the drachma (Moulton-Milligan). Its value is relative; it equaled approximately 1 day’s wage during the New Testament period (Matthew 20:2,9,10,13) and weighed about 3.8 grams (“Denarius,” Interpreters’ Dictionary of the Bible 1:824). The term itself occurs only in the Gospels and in Revelation (e.g., Mark 6:37; Luke 7:41; 10:35; John 6:7; 12:5; Revelation 6:6), and it always denotes the piece of money. The phrases “a quart of wheat for a denarius, three quarts of barley for a denarius” (RSV, Revelation 6:6) depict the hardship of obtaining the necessities of life. The real value of luxuries like oil and wine will be exposed then—their price will be unaffected. (Complete Biblical Library)

V. 25 Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's - The Jews did not like the Roman occupation of their country. They disobeyed God but still liked to see themselves as some today, "spiritual and religious", following a code they thought made them righteous. It is funny that they want to trap Jesus in regards to taxes when they themselves did not want to pay. Some of them would defraud widows yet not use Roman coinage because it had Caesar's likeness on it, and they considered this to be a graven image, falling under God's law against idolatry. 

…20For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished. 21My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious. 22For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?… Proverbs 24: 20-22

24After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?” 25“Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” 26“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus declared.…

27“But so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take the first fish you catch. When you open its mouth, you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.” Matthew 17: 24-27

To God the things that are God's - Our persons belong to God because we are made in His image. Even our thoughts, our utmost allegiance is His, and He has no problem with us being good citizens and paying our taxes. There is a time when you don't obey government, and that is outlined well in the stories of Daniel and his friends in Babylon. They were Babylon's best citizens but Daniel still prayed to the One true God when he was told not to, and his friends went to the furnace for not bowing to an idol. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father but by Me." Jesus presents Himself as the only Way, an exclusive claim which His followers must not only affirm but also proclaim. 

…18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to listen to you rather than God. 20For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”… Acts 4: 18-20

…10As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 11If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. 12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.… 1 Peter 4: 10-12

18Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.… 1 Corinthians 6: 18-20

V. 26 And they marveled at His answer and kept silent - This didn't go as planned to say the least, they are stumped. They were worried about the crowd, and yet Jesus' answer would have probably irritated many in this crowd. It wasn't pro insurrection, He didn't announce His candidacy for King, and much like those of Jeremiah's time, they don't accept the present occupancy. They would like for Jesus to not only heal the sick, feed the multitudes, but also kick out Rome. Telling them to pay their taxes made Him seem pro Rome, and like Jeremiah's contemporaries, they wanted independence from the invader, but the invader was the messenger of God. Jesus is calling them to repent, but just like us, we don't care to repent, we only want the consequences of our disobedience to be removed. We ourselves are not just so we don't ask rightly. 

…12He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success. 13He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning. 14They encounter darkness by day and grope at noon as in the night.… Job 5: 12-14

…18“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.… Romans 3: 18-20

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