Luke 21:1-4 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.  3 “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
 
OUR Master Teacher moves from defending the widows who were cheated by the temple authorities to honoring a poor widow’s offering.
    But do you find it odd, even rude that Jesus watched the offerings? What would you do if he watched over your offering?  Would you be offended, even embarrassed? Or would you be blessed?
    I pray you are blessed as you give back to God a portion of what he has given to you. I pray your offering reflects your worship of the Lord of Hosts. The Son of God, who stood in the temple court that day, has spoken all creation into existence. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Son of Man, who will come on the clouds in judgment and salvation. He is the source of all life. He always watches your offering, not interested in your money but desiring your faithful heart to trust him, not your bank account, for your life. Your Great Provider wants to see the evidence of your faith and love in him as he urges in Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
    Yes, the Lord wants your heart. This is not about the money. The widow sacrificially gave herself to the Lord. She trusted his provision within her poverty. See, then, how Jesus blessed the one who loves God, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others.”
    Remember in our last lesson we talked of our need to be loved, honored and recognized. We said this begins when you look to God to see how he so richly loves and values you. This is what the widow did. The worshipful widow knew true value was in the Lord. She obeyed the Living Word. And he honored her among her peers in the temple court.
 
Prayer: Lord God, I sacrificially give you my offerings to you. I pray I know you are more valuable to me than my bank account. Amen.

 

Luke 20:45-47 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted 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. Such men will be punished most severely.”
 
SOME of our basic relational needs are to be valued and loved. Sometimes in good ways, sometimes in wrong ways, we seek others’ recognition.
    The teachers of the law sought recognition in the wrong way – in themselves not in God. We know they diligently studied the Scriptures (what we call the Old Testament) to even memorize the entire Law – the first five books of the Bible. These teachers deserved special clothes, public recognition and the best seats at the banquets!
    Or did they? Not in Jesus’ view. Jesus corrected their hearts. Their flowing robes worn in the market were to be only used in sacred service. Their long prayers were to impress the crowds, not to glorify God. And worse, when Jesus said, “They devour widows’ houses.” he spoke against the ways they would cheat a widow. The teachers and scribes would convince a widow to give her funds to the temple. Then they would use it for their own purposes.
    God’s laws were in their minds but not in their hearts. Seeking human love and recognition, they disdained God’s love for the needy: Deuteronomy 24:20-21 When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time…21 When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. 
    Remember, life dressed in Jesus’ teachings is not about flowing robes. One of my favorite scriptures defines our wardrobe: Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
    How, then, do we fulfill our desire for love, recognition and value? Begin by looking to God to see how he so richly loves and values you: 1 John 4:9-11 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
    Do you believe this? I pray so. Know you are loved. Love others. Recognize them as the Lord’s own. Wear Jesus’ clothes. (More on this in the next lesson.)
 
Prayer: I am humbled, Lord God, that you even consider me. Thank you, for your eternal love. Amen.   

Luke 20:41-44 Then Jesus said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ 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?”
 
OUR Lord Jesus has been teaching the evidence of eternal life to the Sadducees, who do not believe mankind possesses an eternal soul. The Living Word has used Moses’ words to prove his truth. Now he uses more evidence from Scripture with David’s words. Jesus wisely quotes two prophets all Jews hold in highest esteem. He goes to their earthly authorities to confirm the heavenly eternity.
    The Jews would clearly understand Jesus’ quote from David, prophesied the Messiah in Psalms 110: The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” To us, this language can be a bit confusing. How can the Lord speak to the Lord?
    David was using two meanings of “Lord”. Some Bible versions write it as “The LORD said to my Lord.” “LORD” is the English form of the Hebrew language to say God’s name, “Jehovah”. We have referred to Jehovah in Jesus’ other teachings as the name the Jews gave to “I AM”. This is the name by which the eternal LORD identified himself to Moses in Exodus 6. Then, as we have seen, “Lord” in the lower case is a title for the Messiah. Thus, you could also read this, “Jehovah said to Messiah.” Or “The Father said to the Son, sit at my right hand.”
    How then could the Messiah be merely a man if the eternal “I AM” commanded the Messiah to sit at his right hand? And how could this Messiah, born of a woman 800 years after David, be David’s Messiah, too, if there were no eternal life? Moses, David and all the anointed prophets were given a glimpse of eternal life. Such men and women taught with the eternal view in mind.
    The Sadducees first inquired of Jesus regarding a ridiculous marriage scenario to confuse the issue of eternal life. Jesus responded to their fanciful question with factual reality. Sadly, though, the Sadducees would refuse this truth. They held, instead, to their limited view of God. Perhaps some changed when they saw the resurrected Jesus.
    Let’s be persistent to seek the Lord, humble to listen, submissive to remove our opinions and grateful to respond lovingly to his truth.    
 
Prayer: I pray, LORD, I desire your eternal wisdom and listen to what you say. In the Lord’s name I pray, amen.
 

Luke 20:37-40 “But in the account of the 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, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
 
HERE is Jesus’ third lesson to the Sadducees, who asked Jesus about marriage in heaven. They didn’t even believe in heaven! He has taught them that life will be different in heaven. Humans will be as angels, and there is no marriage.  Now Jesus teaches, “Know there is eternal life.” 
    The Sadducees rejected an eternal life because they claimed Moses did not write about eternal life. But skillfully, Jesus reminded these unbelievers these words from Moses in Exodus 3:13-15 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers –  the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob –  has sent me to you.’”
    This is God. “I AM” translates to Jehovah – the eternal, self-existent God, Lord of all. The Hebrew language uses “Yahweh’ for the same meaning. He has been from eternity past. He will be through eternity future. What’s more, Jehovah affirmed he “is”, not “was” the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Though they lived on earth hundreds of years before this moment, they are alive. I AM is still their God.
    As Jesus consistently did throughout his ministry, he faithfully used Scripture to teach of God. Jesus taught God’s Word from the past to point us toward our lives forevermore.
    How different our lives become when we look to eternity. The Sadducees should have perceived that Moses knew he was under I AM’s authority. How else could this man suddenly pulled from the sheep pasture become Israel’s great leader and law-giver? How could he diligently write The Law, the Torah - the first five books of the Bible? What purpose would he have to lead a stubborn, unbelieving nation through 40 years of desert wandering?
    If our journey of “faith” takes us only to the grave, this limits our response to God, doesn’t it? Why be a disciple if it only limits our natural desires? Why make disciples, agonize over the lost, or even have church if life ends with our last breath? 
    Even more, if there is no eternal life, why the cross?
    Our eternal God came from heaven that you might be saved into eternal life. Live with eternity in view. Live to faithfully draw near to God and to draw others to him. Be “considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead.” (Luke 20:35)
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, Son and Spirit. You have acted to welcome me to your eternal home. I pray I faithfully I live to draw others to you. Amen.  

Luke 20:27-36 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 have children 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 that age 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.”
 
DO you notice the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, asked Jesus a resurrection question? This was their first mistake. Hypocritically, they addressed him as “teacher” without any desire to hear his true answer? Why ask the Lord a question about eternity if you do not believe in an eternal existence? How frustrating this must have been to the eternal Son of God.
    The unbelieving Sadducees’ second mistake came in the marriage question. They referred to what is known as God’s levrite or “brother” law in Deuteronomy 25. This commanded a surviving unmarried brother to marry his brother’s widow. This was for both her care and to advance the dead brother’s lineage. The law formed an orderly process of land ownership from generation to generation. You see this law became a means of God advancing his salvation plan through Ruth and Boaz in the Ruth 3-4.
    Jesus’ teaching point is that marriage laws are to care for God’s people on earth, not in heaven. Jesus’ response taught the Sadducees – and he teaches us – three heavenly truths
    First, there is a resurrection into eternal life. He affirmed those worthy of such life “can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.”   
    Second, there is no marriage in heaven. I know most of us look forward to spending eternity in a joyous love relationship with our family, spouse and the Lord. But life in heaven will be different – much more glorious! We will be of one accord in God’s presence. Marriage will not exist because there is no need to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28) in heaven. And the Father and Son will be the head of all things.
    Our next lesson will look at Jesus’ third teaching point.
 
Prayer: Teach me, Lord God, to desire your truth above all things. Prepare me, Lord, to answer others’ questions with your holy Word. Amen.
 

 

Luke 20:21-26 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?” 23 He saw through their deception and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” 25 “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's.” 26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
 
HOW do we truly accept, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” The religious authorities asked the tax question to trap Jesus. If he said, “Pay taxes.” the people would reject him. If he said, “Don’t pay.” Rome could charge him with insurrection. Yet, are we to understand human government and God’s law are equal? How can that be? Here is a good answer from The Bible Exposition Commentary Copyright © 1989:
    “Jesus was not suggesting that we divide our loyalties between God and government since “the powers that be are ordained of God” (Romans 13: 1). We live as God-centered citizens when we obey the authorities for the Lord’s sake. When obedience to God conflicts with obedience to man, then we must put God first: Acts 5:29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!” But we must do it in a mariner that is honorable and loving. Even if we cannot respect the people in office, we must respect the office.”
    Our governments need godly men and women. This is the only way God’s people will remove godless laws. Christians are called to be salt and light in all aspects of life. That certainly means we who call Jesus “Lord and Savior” must purposefully align man’s laws with the Lord’s commands.
    Heed, though, this thought. Does your own life, then your home function under God’s law? This is where we are to first light and salt the world into God’s life-giving truth. God’s first authority to rule was Adam over his household. We are commanded to do better than he. Submit to the Lord. Render unto the Lord your love, obedience and diligence. Be an example of lawful security to a formless and void morality that surely leads to death. Stand up and be a woman, a man of God.
 
Prayer: May it be, Lord, (Joshua 23:15b) “that as for me and my household we will serve the Lord.”

Luke 20:20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 
 
WHY do the temple authorities – the Pharisees, teachers of the law and even priests – care so much about Jesus’ teachings? There were many rabbis who taught their philosophies and ways of religion. In the tradition of the rabbis, they could teach from their own point of view. The Pharisees could object to some teachers, but they certainly didn’t seek to hand such men over to the power and the authority of the governor (in this case the Roman governor Pontius Pilate) to have them jailed or horribly crucified for their teachings.
    They reacted differently to Jesus because Jesus was the absolute truth. You know how Jesus confronted their self-focused beliefs and hypocrisy throughout his ministry. In our last lesson, Jesus had just spoken a very strong condemnation in his Parable of the Evil Farmers. After that, they wanted to arrest him immediately (Luke 20:19a). Unlike the typical rabbis, Jesus, the Living Word, threatened their position, prestige and power. They knew if more and more people began to believe Jesus, a great change would come to the Jewish religious structures. These authorities feared change more than they feared God. Removing this rabbi would allow them to keep control.
    How does this apply to your life? I encourage you to consider your attitude as you listen to biblical preaching and teaching. Are you focused on how you’ll criticize and diminish the teacher? Or do you center your thoughts on the ways God is teaching you? Are you trying to keep control of your own thoughts and actions, even as they oppose the truth?
    Even more, does true teaching cause you to move away from the church? Many have done so because they can’t stand to have the Word of God confront their sin. This is one reason too many pews are empty today.
    Or does true teaching cause you to draw near to God? Many, also, have experienced this great joy. The Spirit has humbled their hearts to know, “I must change. Jesus is the way to a fruitful life.” Our Lord calls you through his Living Word today to be of such mindset as encouraged in James 3:16-17 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
    The temple authorities objected to Jesus and missed his peace, mercy, humility and sincere love. Receive Jesus. Receive his blessings. 
 
Prayer: Humble my heart, Holy Spirit, that I will receive Jesus’ true, transforming teaching. I pray for wise and submissive heart, sincere to love God and love others. Amen.

Luke 20:9-19 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, “May this never be!” 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 capstone’? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he 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.
 
EASY, isn’t it to see the sin? Some of Jesus’ parables need some time and research to understand. But this one doesn’t. The vineyard laborers abused and murdered to hold onto what was not theirs.
    Be alert to use this parable to assess your own response to your Father in heaven and the Son he sent. Are you carefully tending the “vineyard” – your own mind, your home, your neighbors and your church? Are you rejecting or receiving the Father’s servants? Today we call them pastors, teachers, mentors and leaders. The Spirit has sent them to help you grow roots into the Son and bear fruit for the kingdom. What is your response to the Son who has come? How will you receive him when he comes again?
    Is there possibly any way you reject the Father’s servants? Do you think the vineyard belongs to you, and you can control it? In your mind is the church man’s possession or God’s? Be willing to listen to his servants.
    Yes, Jesus says he is the foundational stone of his church. He is the capstone – the top stone in an arch to hold the from together. But his church removes his authority. Then we wonder why we stumble and fall. Vineyard tending is to be done in the Triune God’s power.         
    Plug into God’s grand gift to grow you into a faithful relationship with him. Be nourished in the truth. Stand on the rock of Jesus’ love, grace and salvation. Pray you will be found faithful.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for your vineyard of faith you have planted into me. I pray I am faithful to tend to your gift in the Son’s truth and the Spirit’s power. Amen.
 

Luke 20:1-8 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, 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?” 3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4 John’s baptism – was it from heaven, or from men?” 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, ‘From men,’ 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.” 8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
 
YEARS ago, in the police television series Dragnet, the lead detective character steadfastly requested crime witnesses tell him, “Just the facts, ma’am. Just the facts.” Opinions or presumptions were not relevant. Only a factual eyewitness testimony mattered.
    Here is Jesus teaching the good news facts. But the authorities seemed to be as a detective. On the surface, it is appropriate to ask, “By what authority are you doing these things?” We must protect the church from false testimony.
    But the authorities’ motive was to trap Jesus with his divine claims as in John 8:18 “I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” Such words would be the Pharisees’ eyewitness to “criminal facts” to condemn Jesus with the capital offense of blasphemy.
    In a familiar pattern, though, Jesus became the questioner. To negate John’s prophetic call would have been to deny God’s testimony. Then they, not Jesus, would face blasphemy charges and possibly stoned. The defeated questioners went away quietly while they could. Jesus had turned their self-focused question back to their faithless hearts.
    But their facts dilemma did not end here. After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, many of these same authorities faced the same question about Jesus. Was Jesus of Nazareth truly of God? If not, how were people healed in Jesus’ name? How, too, could the unlearned Peter and John powerfully defend and preach the gospel? (See Acts 3-4). And if Jesus were from God, why did they refuse to believe him?
    Such are the false questions of the culture throughout time. Unbelievers will always try to trap Jesus with meaningless questions. Sadly, they walk away, refusing the facts of God’s miraculous gospel.
    Do you believe the gospel’s facts? Then thank God that Scripture is your eyewitness to speak “just the facts” of God. Our Lord is always constant and true. His Word never changes. You can trust the apostles’ Spirit-inspired witness. You can believe with all your mind, heart and soul that your Lord has graciously given to you the facts you need to know him and be saved.  
 
Prayer: Holy Spirit, open the eyes and minds of those who are yet to believe. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
 
 

Luke 19:47-48 Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
 
A very common false teaching in our church and culture puts evil equal with God. You likely know the picture: the good angel is on your right, whispering the right thing to do while the bad demon is on your left whispering the wrong thing to do. Good and evil are pictured as two equal forces.
    Stop, now, to think of this. If this were so, would there be any hope of Jesus’ saving work on the cross? Is Satan’s evil equal with God’s goodness? Of course, God is above all. His goodness reigns to overcome evil. The sovereign Lord’s power defeats all sin. What then, keeps the Lord from reforming all the faithless into true faith? Why is he unwilling to put an end to evil?
    Oh, wait a minute. He is willing to end evil. That’s why Jesus persistently taught. the very attentive Jews and Gentiles in the temple courts needed to know of sin, repentance, salvation and eternal life. The Son of God is working in the Spirit’s power to turn hearts to the Father. This is the “I AM”, who is eternal to reign over all.
    Yes, the evil attacked the Holy One of God. Sin it seemed, did destroy the Good News Giver on the cross. But it didn’t. No way. The plot to kill Jesus was God’s permissive will to end evil in the souls of his chosen people. Since Eden, God had permitted evil, so Good would one day gloriously destroy evil.
    Yes, there is a battle between Good and evil. But it is not an equal fight. It is a war I AM oversees to restore his own into heaven. The Supreme Conflict will result in eternal victory through the eternal God. Hear and believe: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 
    May your heart, mind and soul know victory in these words. Go and live in Jesus’ promised victory.
 
Prayer: 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! (You) give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. In his name we rejoice! Amen.
 
From Mercy Me: “You Are I Am”
I’ve been the one to shake with fear
And Wonder if you’re even here.
I’ve been the one to doubt your love and
Told myself you’re not enough.
 
I’ve been the one to try and say
I’ll overcome by my own strength
To fall apart
And start to question Who You are
 
You’re the one who conquers giants
You’re the one who calls out kings
You shut the mouths of lions
You tell the dead to breathe
You’re the one who walks through fire
You take the orphan’s hand
You are the one Messiah
You are I am
 
 
 
 
Bob James