Chapter 20
There once was a man named Richard who became one of the most powerful people in the world—President of the United States. He was smart and experienced. He often talked about law, safety, and doing what was right for the country. Many people respected him. Some didn’t agree with everything he said, but most believed he was a serious leader who meant well.
Then one day, there was a break-in at a hotel. At first, it seemed like just another crime—nothing to do with the President. But as reporters and investigators looked closer, they started to find signs that people close to Richard were involved.
Richard told the country not to worry. He said he didn’t know anything about the break-in and would never allow such a thing. Many wanted to believe him. But then came the tapes.
You see, Richard had been recording conversations in the White House. He wanted to remember what was said. He never thought those tapes would be used against him. But when the truth started to come out, the court demanded the tapes. And when people finally heard them—they were shocked.
The tapes caught Richard lying. He was trying to cover up what had happened. He even tried to use parts of the government to help him hide it. On the tapes, people also heard him say things that were hurtful and disrespectful toward different groups, like African Americans, Jews, and others. The man who once stood for law and honesty was now caught planning lies to protect himself.
The country was stunned. Richard had seemed so trustworthy. But the truth wasn’t found in rumors or news reports—it was found in his own voice, on his own tapes. People were confused and hurt. But they also learned something important: sometimes people aren’t who they seem to be, and their true self comes out when they think no one is listening.
Today, it’s sad to say that we’re not so surprised when this happens with a politician. But this kind of letdown can happen with other public figures too. People who talk a good talk, but later we find out they were not what they appeared. I remember being shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the star of the Cosby Show, one of my favorite actors in the 1980s, and the terrible things he later admitted to.
There’s a lesson here that ties to what we read in the Bible, especially in this chapter. Our modern world isn’t the first to be fooled by powerful or charming people. Even when Jesus was on earth, people tried to trick Him with flattering words and fake kindness.
But here’s the good news: we have the same Spirit of God that helped Jesus see through it. If we take the time to listen, reflect, and follow Jesus’ teaching, especially at the end of this chapter, we’ll be better prepared to see what’s real—and who is truly worth trusting.
Ironically in their zeal to trap Jesus, during this questioning by the religious leaders, yet another prophecy was fulfilled: The inspection of the lamb to ensure no spot or blemish. (Exodus 12:5, Leviticus 1:3, Leviticus 22:21)
The Authority of Jesus Questioned
1 One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?” [Questions are not wrong, but they are colored by our motives.]
3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism–was it from heaven, or of human origin?” 5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.” [Their motive for asking was revealed in their answer.] 8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Parable of the Tenants
9 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”
17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ” ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” [It is interesting to read this account in Luke. For this is the only Gospel that does not openly identify these spies as Pharisees and Herodians, like Mark and Matthew do. This gives us a deeper glimpse into how they gained access to Jesus with their question. “Spies” imply not only traitors but disguised traitors. Looking like the common man, not in their religious garb.]
23 He saw through their duplicity [It was not their clothing that gave them away. What appeared like a good question from struggling, suffering taxpayers, was really a question trying to trap Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives us the same discernment when our hearts our postured toward the Kingdom of God.] and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” [A recent message I heard made a great point to this statement: Whose image are you created in? So, to whom do you belong and owe your life to? I love that Jesus, here, devalues the coin – give the coin back to its maker; and redirects us, the creation back to our Maker – God. ]
26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
The Resurrection and Marriage
27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”
34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, [The Pharisees] “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Whose Son is the Messiah
41 Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David?
42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: ” ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand 43 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” ‘ 44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. [Literally: Scribes, also meaning the interpreters of the Law, lawyers, teachers, instructors of what path to take.] They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
