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Plotting against Jesus
A changed heart – like the widow – showing good works because we believe in Jesus!
The 3 challenges to Jesus… vs. 20
Having been thoroughly humbled by Jesus before the people…
All the leaders – the Pharisees / Herodians / Sadducees / and Scribes – wanted revenge…
They were going to try and do it by trapping Jesus in His own words…
They sent out spies – men who pretended to follow Jesus – pretended to be righteous…
To try and get Jesus to say something that they might be able to accuse Him with…
Then they would turn him over to the Roman government to be punished!
They came at Jesus in three groups – asking 3 different questions…
1st – The Pharisees & Herodian’s political question… vs. 21-27
The Pharisees – were the super spiritual / religious leaders of the day…
Best known for all of their rules and self-righteousness…
They were opposed to the Sadducees – and opposed to Romans rule…
The Herodians – those who were loyal to King Herod the Tetrarch (King of Judea)…
The same Herod who had put to death John the Baptist…
These were not moral or godly men – they were the politicians of the day…
They were Roman puppets that enforced the rule of Rome on the Jewish people…
They had no interest in religion or God – strange company for the religious Pharisees…
Except they had one thing in common – they hated Jesus!
They began with flattering words…
Teacher – we know that you are true – teach the way of God in truth…
They were not saying Jesus was THE truth – or taught THE truth…
They were saying He was A truth – and taught A way to God (one of many)…
We live in a world that says there are many ways to heaven – many truths…
Like Pilate before Jesus – John 18:37 – the world asks – “What is truth?”
Truth is not open to interpretation (subjective) – it is not an opinion…
Jesus is not a truth – the Bible is not a truth – Jesus and the Word are Truth defined!
There is only One Way – One Truth – One Bible – One God – Jesus Christ – John 14:6
The Pharisees’ / Herodian’s question – is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar…
If Jesus answered ‘Yes’ – then the people would hate him…
Rome was a conquering nation – Jews hated Rome and hated their taxes!
If Jesus answered ‘No’ – the leaders could turn him over for treason…
He would be arrested for encouraging Jews not to pay their Roman taxes!
It seemed to be the perfect trap to set – a question with no good answer…
Jesus answered – why do you test me – show me a coin…
Whose face and words are on the coin – they answered Caesar (Rome)…
Then give back (restore – imperative) to Caesar what is Caesar’s…
The idea being the money was already Caesar’s – his face his writing…
Should we pay taxes – look at a peso – whose picture…
Give back to the government what is theirs – Roman 13:1-6
But give to God what is God’s…
We were created in God’s image – we carry’s God’s writing (the Word)…
We are to give our lives back to the Lord – they are His anyways!
We are not our own – our lives are not ours to live as we choose…
I Corinthians 6:20 – “You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
We were purchased with the highest of prices – the life of Jesus…
Our lives belong to Jesus – we should live in a way that glorifies Him!
The Pharisees marveled – were amazed – by Jesus answer – and said no more…
They had tried to trip Him by getting him to argue about politics – and failed…
2nd – The Sadducee’s Biblical question… vs. 27-38
The 2nd group to come to Jesus was the Sadducees…
The Sadducees were the liberal religious group of the day…
More concerned with money / wealth / and power – than God or Heaven…
Kind of half way between a political group and a religious group…
Who deny there is a resurrection…
The Sadducees only believed in the Law of Moses – Genesis – Deuteronomy…
There is no mention of the Resurrection in the Law of Moses…
Therefore they rejected the idea of life after death and the resurrection…
Their question: Quoting from the Law of Moses – Deuteronomy 25:5-6
The Law states – a brother must marry his brother’s widow if there is no heir…
Their first-born son would then be considered the son of the dead brother…
The Sadducees pose a seemingly improbable conundrum – likely not a true story…
A wife’s husband died unable to give her children – so she married his brother…
Then he died – so she married his brother – and so on through 7 brothers…
Whose wife would the woman be in the resurrection…
Jesus corrected them – they were mistaken (about 2 things)…
1st – About marriage in heaven – there is no marriage in heaven…
Apparently we are not married nor do we get married to others in heaven…
We will be equal to the angels – we will not BE angels – rather just like the angels…
In that we will no longer be able to die – just as angels cannot die…
And apparently angels do not get married – and neither will we in heaven
2nd – About the resurrection – IT IS mentioned in the Law of Moses…
Moses showed in the burning bush the dead are raised…
Exodus 3:6 – “I am the God (present tense) of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
All 3 of these men died long ago – but God refers to them in the present tense!
God did not say to Moses – ‘I WAS the God of…’ – ‘He says I AM the God of…’
Meaning they are still alive – and God is the God of the living not the dead…
Proving the idea of the Resurrection from the Law of Moses!
Why were the Sadducees mistaken…
They did not know the Word of God – or the Power of God…
The Sadducees didn’t believe in their argument – didn’t believe in the resurrection
They saw the Bible as stories meant for a culture long ago – not for today…
There are many people who still say the same thing today – the Bible is not relevant
It was written 2000 years ago – and has nothing to offer to us today…
But they miss the Word of God – and the Power of God…
God does not change – and His Word is just as relevant today as then…
And the power of God is just as able to change and transform lives today!
Jesus had not only answered the Sadducees challenge…
He had disproven their theology – proven there is a resurrection…
They had tried to trip Him up showing the Bible was irrelevant – and failed!
3rd – The Scribes question… vs. 39-40
The 3rd group to come at Jesus was the Scribes…
The Scribes were the copyist of day – there were no copy machines – no printing press
In the Bible they represented those educated (had a degree) in the Law of Moses…
They did not get alone with the liberal Sadducees – more conservative – Acts 23:8
Seeing that Jesus had humbled the Sadducees – they approved of His answer…
They also had a question: Which is the first commandment of all – Mark 12:28…
They assumed being right with God was about keeping the commands of God…
But in fact it is being right with God – that allows us to keep His commands!
All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commands…
Deuteronomy 6:5 – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…”
Leviticus 19:18 – “…You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus point is if you Love the Lord – then you will be able to love your neighbor…
If you are loving God and loving your neighbor – you are fulfilling all the Law!
So many people think that if they are good enough God will accept them…
But it is when God gets a hold of your life – changes your heart – you become good!
The cart does not push the caribou – the caribou pushes the cart…
Good works do not make us righteous – being right with God produces good works!
They tried to trip up Jesus on how to be right before God – and failed!
Jesus answers were so good – they did not dare to ask Him any more questions!
Jesus Question… Luke 20:41 – 21:4
Why do the Scribes say the Christ (messiah/savior) is the son of David – II Samuel 7:27
If the Messiah is the son of David – why does David call Him Lord – Psalm 110:1
It would be like saying a Father would call his Son – Lord – does not sound right…
The answer was the Son of David was God (God and man) – Emmanuel
The problem with all 3 groups was – they refused to believe Jesus was the Messiah!
Jesus turned and addressed the multitudes who were standing by listening…
These religious leaders – had ulterior motives for everything they did…
Long robes (religious clothes) / greetings in the marketplace / best seats in church…
John 12:43 – “They loved [agape] the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
The leaders had so much love for the praises of men – they cared nothing for God’s!
If a leader is seeking to please men – he is listening to men and not to God…
He becomes a leader who is tossed about by the whims of men – no direction…
He becomes the blind leading the blind – both fall into the ditch – Matthew 15:4
The religious leaders would take from those who had nothing…
A widow who had nothing to give – they would take the roof over her head…
Saying – God needs your money – you must give your tithes to the Lord…
Covering their ‘requests’ with the guise of spirituality – long prayers…
There are many who would take advantage of believers today – saying things like…
If you give us money – God will bless you back 2-fold – or more!
God needs your money – if you don’t give God will not bless you!
Shamelessly taking from those who have nothing – out of greed…
Misrepresenting God – as if God who created everything – needs your money…
God has reserved Greater judgment – a hotter place in hell – for these men!
After Jesus had silenced the leaders – in His last public confrontation with them…
Jesus sat opposite the treasury – watching as people gave their money…
There were many there who were rich – who put in a lot of money…
But there was one poor widow who only put in 2 mites – about 50 centavos…
Jesus called the disciples and told them – she gave more than all the rich put together!
The rich gave out of their abundance – she out of her poverty – she gave all she had!
Giving to God is not about necessity – God does not need money – II Corinthians 9:7
And it is not about the quantity – giving a lot means nothing if it costs us nothing…
It is about sacrifice – giving from the heart – showing our Love for God!
Political / Liberal / Religious – no just Jesus!
Where are we – are we ‘Political’ – caught up in the politics of the day…
Are we the ‘Liberal’ – looking to find a way to show the Bible is not relevant today…
Are we the ‘Religious’ – looking to rules and laws rather than to the Lord…
Or do we see Jesus – God – Emmanuel – the savior of the World…
Do we realize we have been bought with a price and are not our own…
Learning about God – reading our Bible and seeing the Power of God…
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