Luke 20
COMMENTARY:
: 21 And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that you say and teach rightly, neither accept you the person of any, but teach the way of God truly (225 “truly” [aletheia] means verily, really, facts that correspond to reality, faithfully, dependability, or uprightness.)
DEVOTION: Watch out for people who are always complimenting you. We find that there was a group of men sent out by the chief priests and scribes to catch Jesus in HIS words. They were sent out to ask questions that might lead to an arrest of Jesus.
They wanted to trick Jesus with their questions.
Jesus knew what they were doing before they did it. HE knew their compliments were fake. They were looking for reasons to kill HIM. They didn’t realize that HE came to die.
Now we have a question of our loyalty to God or our loyalty to our government. In this case, it was the Roman government. They uses the question of whether it was right or lawful for them to pay tribute or taxes to Caesar at the ruler of the nation.
Jesus had them look at a coin and see whose picture was on the coin. It was a picture of Caesar. The answer was simple from that point on. HE told them that God expects what belongs to HIM and Caesar can expect what belongs to him.
We face the same problem today. We have to pay taxes. We have to honor God. Honoring God should be our first priority and HE has promised to never leave us or forsake us. HE has promised to provide for our daily bread. Dependence on God is our way of honoring HIM.
We are to pay our taxes to our government. However, our first loyalty belongs to the LORD always.
CHALLENGE: There are going to be times when our loyalty to the LORD is tested. People are going to compliment us to try to trick us into giving a wrong answer. Pass the test with the help of the Holy Spirit.
: 27 Then came to HIM certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection, and they asked HIM, (471 “deny” [antepo] means say against, speak against, to oppose, contradict, to declare untrue, to speak in opposition to, or gainsay.)
DEVOTION: One of the basic teachings of the Word of God is that there is life after death. There are many who will say that we just live our life here on this earth and then we turn to dust and that is it. These people are not believers in Jesus Christ. They think that if they don’t believe in a resurrection it won’t happen. There are some who are cremated to see if God can’t find all their body parts, so HE can’t judge them on judgment day. It is a wrong belief.
This group of individuals called Sadducees is a sect of the Jewish religion that taught that there is no resurrection. They were some of the leading teachers in Jesus day. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were those who make up the ruling body of the Jews called the Sanhedrin.
Just because people are religious and held in high regard doesn’t always make them right in their beliefs. We have the responsibility to check out whatever is taught in our church. We are to go to the Word of God for answers. We are to go to other Bible teachers we trust to see if what someone is teaching is correct. The Holy Spirit gives those who are followers of the LORD discernment to ask questions when there is a doubt regarding a teaching.
The Bible does teach a resurrection. It states that it is appointed unto man once to die and then judgment. We are all going to die. We are all going to be buried. We are all going to be resurrected. Only those who are alive at the coming of Christ will skip this step.
CHALLENGE: Our prayer should be: “Even so come LORD Jesus.”
: 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. (2661 “accounted worthy” [kataxioo] means value, fit, worth, think suitable, deserving, judged worthy.)
DEVOTION: In Luke 20:35, Acts 5:41, and 2 Thessalonians 1: 5 it is the undeserved gift of salvation which is expressed by kataxioo. (Brown, p. 349) There is a group of individuals who will be judged worthy to enter into heaven.
This group is made up of individuals who follow the LORD. This group is made of those who honor the LORD’S teachings. This group does not include individuals who are religious. This group does not include the Pharisees or the Sadducees. This group does not include those who have blasphemed the Holy Spirit by not choosing to follow Christ. There is only one unpardonable sin and that is rejecting Jesus Christ.
When Jesus is teaching the Sadducees about the resurrection, HE wants them to understand that heaven is not just a continuation of this world. It is a whole new world. It is a world that marriage is not important. It is a world that contains angels. It is a world where worship of God is important. This is a coming world.
Remember Jesus taught about the four soils. Only the last soil contained people who were going to make it to heaven. The first soil included those who rejected Christ. They wanted nothing to do with HIM. The second group, were the ones who were individuals who had no follow-up and ended up being individuals who were ones who practiced license. They didn’t have any guidance on how to live the Christian life. They thought they could live as they pleased and still get into heaven. The third group, were the legalists. They thought that as long as their external relationship looked good they would get into heaven. They attended church. They read their Bible. They prayed. They gave their money to the LORD. Some of them even were preachers. However, there was not the internal change that is necessary to be a follower of Christ. Only the fourth group were genuine followers of the LORD. This group showed their relationship by their actions. Their actions didn’t save them but it showed their relationship was right.
Zaccheus in the last chapter was not saved because he gave money but because his attitude was right. Jesus saw his attitude not only his actions. Actions can be good without the right attitude. Christianity is an internal relationship with the LORD that is manifested with external works. Only the LORD knows the heart.
Are we ready for this world? Are we going to be included in “that world?” Jesus said that there are only a few that will enter into that world. Let’s spread the word!!!
CHALLENGE: Examine your attitude. Are your actions done with the right motivation?
: 46 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the market, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts. (4337 “beware” [prosecho] means give heed to, take care, pay attention to, to keep on the lookout for, be alert for, consider carefully, or continue to believe.)
DEVOTION: One of the facts that the Word of God states is that those who have the responsibility of teaching and preaching have the greater judgment. They have a great responsibility because they are training the next generation in the Word of God.
If those in the pulpit don’t train the next generation correctly they will have to face the judgment of God. Remember that there are two judgments. The Judgment Seat of Christ is for those who are believers in Jesus Christ. They have been given gifts to use in the local church. One of the gifts is pastor/teacher. Those who are genuine believers with this gift will receive a reward for their service. There is a second judgment called the Great White Throne judgment that is for all those who have rejected Jesus Christ. This includes all those who have been in a position of pastor that don’t have the truth of the Word of God in their messages. They will find themselves before this Throne. God will judge them with a greater condemnation that those who didn’t pretend to have the gift of pastor/teacher. They are said to make their converts twofold more a child of hell.
Here we find that there are degrees of punishment in the lake of fire for eternity. It doesn’t seem possible that there could be a lesser degree of punishment in lake of fire but the Bible says there is. It isn’t a longer period of time because all those in the lake of fire will be there for eternity.
CHALLENGE: Make sure you have made a genuine commitment to the LORD. Watch out for false teachers. They will act just like the scribes of old.
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.