[:en]The Authority of Jesus Questioned (vs. 1-8)
The chief priests, teachers of the law and elders asked Jesus: “By what authority are you doing this and who give you the authority?” Jesus replied: “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: John’s baptism – was it from heaven or from me?” They answered: “We do not know where it comes from”. Jesus said: “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things”.
This group of leaders wanted to get rid of Jesus. So they tried to trap him with their questions. If Jesus would answer that His authority come from God, they would accuse Him of blasphemy and brought him to trial. If he said that He has no authority, he would be in trouble with the Jews for invading and clearing up their temple.
Jesus did not allow himself to be caught. So He did three things in response:
- He asked as question (vs. 3-8)
- He gave a parable (vs. 9-1)
- He quoted a prophesy (vs. 17-18)
The Parable of the Tenants (vs. 9-19)
The characters in this parable is identified as follows: The owner of the vineyard is the nation of Israel. The tenant farmers are the religious leaders. The servants are the prophets and priest sent by God. The Son is the Messiah and those others were the Gentiles. Jesus showed them that He knew their plan to kill him. Then He quoted a scripture saying: “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone. (Psalm 118:22) . ” Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken in pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed (v. 18)
Jesus was saying the the “stone” is a symbol of God and of the promised Messiah. Because they rejected Him, they will be condemned and judged. But those who believe trust Jesus as the foundation stone and the chief cornerstone of the church.
Jesus exposed the sins of the Jewish leaders in this parable. They permitted John the Baptist to be killed. They asked Jesus to be crucified and they themselves stoned Stephen to death. In doing so, they sinned against the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” – (Warren Wiersbe)
Paying Taxes to Caesar (vs. 20-26)
The religious leaders, (the Pharisees and the Herodians) sent spies to ask Jesus this question: “Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (v. 22). They wanted to use this controversial political question to trap him. But Jesus answered: “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” “Caesar” they replied. Then Jesus said to them” Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (vs. 23-25)
Those who belonged to the Lord has dual citizenship. As citizen on earth, we have to respect government authorities. We should not ignore our obligations and responsibilities. As citizenship in heaven, we must obey God and follow His commands. For as His children, we have the image of God in our being. We should seek to be a good citizen both on earth and heaven so that we can lead people to Christ and His name be glorified.
The Resurrection and Marriage (vs. 27-47)
The Saducees did not believe in angels, spirits and resurrection of the dead. They only honored the Pentateuch as Scripture. But the Jews had a law of levirate marriage. If a man’s brother died and left a wife without children, he man must marry the widow to have children for his brother. So the Saducees questioned Jesus:” “If there is resurrection, whose wife will she be?”
Jesus explained that in the resurrection from the dead, there will be no marriage or childbearing in heaven. Jesus cited that Moses affirmed the existence of angels (Gen. 19:1) Moses also showed that the dead really arose for he called the Lord, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. “He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive” (v. 38) God will give His people a glorious body to match our heavenly perfection.
Whose Son is Christ? (vs. 41-17)
Jesus asked them why did they say that Christ is the Son of David and yet David called him “Lord”?. He was trying to let them know that the Messiah must be both God and man. As eternal God, Messiah is David’s Lord, but as a man, He is David’s son.
Jesus warned the people on the hypocrisy and dishonesty of the scribes and Pharisees. These religious leaders wanted public recognition by wearing special garments, having prestigious titles, listening to nice greetings, and sitting in high seats at public gatherings. They made lengthy prayers but showed no compassion to the widows. Their religion was for external display, not internal transformation.
How about you? Do you acknowledge that the Messiah is God and Man? Do you believe the reality of life after death and the hope of a future resurrection?
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