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Advent Challenge Day 20


Luke 20



Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem starts as it will continue, in direct conflict with the Jewish religious leaders.  He has long been in the attention of the Pharisees, but now he is preaching and teaching in the very seat of their authority – the Temple in Jerusalem.  While Jesus has more than proved his authority to the crowds and to his followers, he is now questioned by the leaders in Jerusalem.  Perhaps they considered themselves better qualified and able to challenge this itinerant rabbi, being the leaders of the “city” synagogues and temples.  So often those in important central positions consider themselves better than those in the outer fringes of the church.  This is still true in many ways of today’s church – with the city churches being almost a different breed than their rural relatives! 



When they challenged Jesus, he simply asked them to confirm who they considered the source of John’s message – and when they wouldn’t answer for fear of the crowds and of being made to look like hypocrites, Jesus refused to answer them, knowing that they would not accept his answer.



The parable of the wicked tenants was told to his listeners as a response to this accusation, and tells of tenants who had been given a perfect vineyard and had decided to ignore advances from the owner.  As each messenger came, they treated them worse, until they were approached by the owner’s son – a direct line of authority from the owner.  They seized the opportunity to kill the son, claiming the inheritance of the vineyard as their own.  The people were shocked at this parable – but the chief priests and scribes knew that this parable was all about them!  Without taking the lesson that Jesus had just taught, they immediately started to plot his downfall, even if it meant his death!



The religious leaders continued to try to trap Jesus by asking ridiculous questions about the obligation to pay taxes to Caesar, a foreigner who had been appointed as their emperor, and about the rules of the resurrection.  Jesus answers their questions by pointing out their lack of understanding about earthly things, so how could they possibly understand heavenly things!  The scribes admit that Jesus’ knowledge is far beyond their own.



Jesus’ criticism of the scribes in front of the crowds would have been a damning statement to them.  They would have been affronted by the knowledge that Jesus’ authority had been increased, as theirs was completely cut down!

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