CHAPTER 20

1 And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,
2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
3 And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
7 And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
8 And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Jesus was in the temple teaching, and preaching "the gospel."
Take note: "the gospel" is the GOOD NEWS that Messiah has come!
THAT's what John the Baptist preached (See Luke 3:16)

This was a rather large entourage of men who "came upon" Jesus.
The "chief priests and the scribes ...with the elders" probably included the high priest, other priests, lawyers and the Sanhedrine (Jewish council that made critical decisions for the nation).

Jesus had already told them Who He was (See Matthew 11:27).
By the question they posed, it was obvious they didn't believe Him.

Jesus wanted them to admit the truth which John the Baptist had proclaimed.
This is what Jesus wants from EVERY human being!
Acknowledging Jesus as God is the FIRST step to receiving eternal salvation.

Jesus was not taken by surprise. God is never taken by surprise. He knew exactly how to embarrass these men before the people.

Jesus posed a question to them: "The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?"

If they answered from "heaven," then Jesus would ask why didn't they believe John.
If they answered "of men," then Jesus would ask why they put up with John.

In all the history of their nation, they had LISTENED to the prophets. Even if they were self-proclaimed, they listened. Then, if they were proven wrong, they labeled them as heretics or killed them according to the law. But with John the Baptist, they had LISTENED to him, and not proclaimed him an heretic. But they had not BELIEVED John's statement that he was the "forerunner" of the Messiah!

Jesus had them caught between the proverbial "rock and a hard place." They could not answer.

Therefore Jesus said, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things."

But Jesus wasn't through with them yet.

9 Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
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.
14 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.
15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
19 And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
20 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.

Remember, a "parable" is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
This parable is quite self-explanatory.
God "planted a vineyard" with the Hebrew people (See Isaiah 5:1-7).

God had also sent prophet after prophet to teach them how to live for Him.
But they, over centuries of time, had refused, beaten and killed the prophets.

Jesus stated that God would come and "DESTROY" those "husbandmen" (farmers in charge of the vineyard).
When the entourage of men vocalized "God forbid," Jesus quoted Scripture to them.
He quoted from Psalm 118:21-23,
"21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
23 This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes."

Can you comprehend the thoughts in the mind of that entourage of men?
The very Scripture Jesus quoted prophesied that God would come as a man! (Ps. 118:21)
And there was Jesus, giving sight to the blind, healing lepers, causing the lame to walk and the dumb to talk, and raising the dead! (Things only God could do!)

Yet, they STILL wouldn't believe Him! (See verse Luke 20:20 above)
Instead, they just became angry and wanted to "do away" with Him!

This is the reason most of humanity is not saved today!
Before receiving the free gift of God's eternal salvation, one must admit that Jesus is God incarnate.

Most folk don't want to admit there IS a God, because they don't want to admit they are ACCOUNTABLE for their sins.
And, most folk don't want to admit that Jesus is God in flesh, Who came to pay the price of our sins.

In fact, most folk would just rather "do away" with the Bible and Jesus!

Is it any wonder that God calls mankind "hard-hearted," and "rebellious?" These men, in their rebellious attitude, still thought they could entrap Jesus with another question.

21 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:
22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
26 And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

Yes, Jesus and the Bible teach "rightly" and "the way of God truly."
The Bible teaches that we are to know that God is the Creator, Master and Owner of ALL things.
God is "...the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:.." (Gen 14:19).
And, God is "the King of all the earth" (Psalm 47:7)

The Bible also teaches that we are to submit to the ruling authorities of this earth.
((See Hebrews 13:17 and 1Peter 2:13))

If we own God as our Creator/Master/Savior, then we will willingly do what is right in the world according to the laws of the world. And, yes, that DOES include paying taxes!

The truth is, money has a dual relationship!
Yes, there are taxes to be paid. And yes, there are tithes to be paid!

Is "Caesar" lord over you? YES! Then DO what is right; pay what is DUE!
Is GOD "LORD" over all that you are?
YES! He is LORD of lords, KING of kings!
Then DO what is right; pay what is DUE!

One can pay taxes, serving the "lords" of the world without compromising the Lordship of God!

27 Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
28 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.
29 There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
30 And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
31 And 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 of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36 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.
37 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.
38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.

While the Pharisees were legalistic in their view of the law, the Sadducees were aristocratic in nature, and had developed a ritualistic view of the law. They were the "Chief Priests," and sometimes tended to interpret the law even more strictly than the Pharisees. They believed that ONLY the "seventh" brother would be correctly married to the woman. AND the Sadducees did not believe in a "resurrection."

But the truth is, BOTH were too rigid in their interpretation to see the truth! The genuineness of the "law" is sometimes tainted by men's perspective. BOTH the Pharisees and the Sadducees were so intent on this age-old problem, they failed to see the TRUTH in the law.

The TRUTH, Jesus pointed out is that there are NO husbands and wives in heaven!!! Everyone there is going to be married to Jesus!

Jesus also pointed out a second truth: there IS a resurrection! Yes, EVERY soul will be resurrected and face Christ in a judgment. Those who have received Christ through repentance and surrender to His Lordship, will be acquitted of all sin! They shall receive the eternal judgment of heaven! Those who have not surrendered to Christ will receive the eternal judgment of hell!

Jesus wanted these people to know that there is no escape from final judgment. The soul is created to exist for eternity (See Genesis 2:7)(See also Revelation 20:11-15). All souls will exist for eternity SOMEWHERE!

Jesus concluded with saying, "God is not the God of the dead, but of the LIVING!" God exists for eternity, and His "breath" exists for eternity. And all those created by His breath exist for eternity.

Jesus' clear interpretation of the Scriptures "astonished" those who were listening.

39 Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
40 And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
41 And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
42 And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
43 Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
44 David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?
45 Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
46 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;
47 Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

After they had failed trying to entrap Jesus (vs 39), they asked no more questions (vs 40).

Now, Jesus tried once more to get them to understand that He is God incarnate.
Using Scripture, Jesus pointed to David's statements in Psalm 110.

"Christ" was prophesied to be David's son.
"Messiah" was also prophesied to be God in flesh (Isaiah 43:11).

Having used the Scriptures to show His Godhead, Jesus turned to the disciples and the crowd and said, "BEWARE of the scribes....."!!

If it WADDLES like a duck, and QUACKS like a duck....it's a DUCK!
Also, if someone denies Christ and the truth of the Scriptures, then "BEWARE!!"

These Pharisees did not believe God would come as a man! But they purportedly believed the Scriptures!
This statement of Jesus directly opposed their faith in the Scriptures!
For if they truly believed the Scriptures, they MUST believe that God would come in a man, and would be of the lineage of David!

If God did not come Himself, He could not be perfectly righteous and win the fight over evil.
But if God did not come as a man, He could not pay the price for sin, the blood of man.

Yes, the "Lord" (Messiah) had existence before and during the time of David.
He was both David's Creator and Master. He is the ETERNAL "Son of God!"

And, yes, He DID come in the form of a man, that He might pay to God man's price for sin - death!

God has "highly exalted Him (Messiah-Jesus)," and placed Him at His "right hand."
He has placed the enemies of Satan, sin and death at the feet of Jesus, and made them "His footstool!"

So here's the question of the day: WHAT SHALL YOU DO WITH JESUS?

Shall you receive Him as LORD?
Shall you honor Him as MASTER?
Is He not God come in man to bring salvation to all mankind?

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.