We continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke:

Today, I will give you a lot of information, so I want to introduce the main theme immediately.

The choice is yours: broken before him or crushed by him:

As we develop the ideas in this text, I want you to remember this statement.

Context:

In the previous chapter, Luke tells us about the triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Jesus and his disciples traveled to Jerusalem and, along the way, preached and performed many miracles.

  • Jesus has raised the dead.
  • Given sight to the blind.
  • Healed lepers.

Luke makes the point that these miracles testify to the fact that Jesus has been sent by God.

The news of Jesus has spread far and wide, and as he enters the city, it buzzes with excitement and anticipation.

He goes straight to the temple and finds that, rather than serving as a House of Prayer for all nations, it has turned into a den of thieves.

Jesus makes a whip and proceeds to cleanse the temple. He drives all the money changers out.

Chapter 20 is the aftermath of the cleansing of the temple.

Luke 20:1 And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,

Setting the scene:

Jesus comes to Jerusalem on a Monday. He cleanses the temple and drives out all the money changers.

He's teaching and preaching the gospel on a Tuesday.

I want to stop here and make the point that Jesus did many things in his ministry:

  • He was a healer; he healed the sick.
  • He was a provider; when people were hungry, he fed them.
  • He was an example; he showed people what it meant to be holy.

But the main thrust of his ministry was his preaching. Luke suggests that it was common for Jesus to preach in the temple.

  • When he was in Jerusalem, he went to the temple,
  • and when he went to the temple, he preached the gospel.

We can summarize this message as follows:

  • God, who is holy, made all of mankind in his image.
  • Humanity has broken fellowship with God through sin and now deserves judgment.
  • To rescue humanity from judgment and to bring us back to him, God sent Jesus to offer himself on the cross in our place.
  • To receive this gift, God requires everyone to confess their sin and place their faith in Jesus.

That’s what Jesus was preaching:

Luke 20:2 And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

We could summarize their question like this: “Who do you think you are?”

This is a great question! And the answer to this question is the key to eternal life.

  • Who do you say that Jesus is?
  • Is Jesus a great teacher?
  • Is Jesus a miracle worker?
  • Or is Jesus a fake?
  • Or is Jesus a lunatic?

In eternity, you cannot remain neutral; you must choose whether Jesus is who he claims to be (God in the flesh) or whether he is a liar or a lunatic.

The question the religious leaders are asking is the most important question in the history of the world.

Who is Jesus?

I want to pause here and give you the key to understanding this passage.

The choice is yours: broken before him or crushed by him:

The question:

“Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?”

The Answer:

Luke 20:3 And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

Luke 20:4 The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?

He's not being political. He is being asked a question by people who do not want the answer.

It’s obvious Jesus is operating under the authority of God:

  • He cast out demons.
  • He heals lepers, which is something that was thought only God could do.

Our context:

It’s important for us to understand that not everyone who asks questions is interested in the answers.

Sometimes, people want to argue.

Examine how you respond to those who question your faith or beliefs.

When faced with skepticism or challenging questions, rather than becoming defensive or evasive, consider:

  • How can I respond in a way that invites genuine conversation rather than argument?
  • Can I use questions, as Jesus did, to encourage others to think more deeply about their own beliefs and the implications of what they are asking?

Their response:

Luke 20:5 And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

Luke 20:6 But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

There are two options here:

  • John is heaven-sent:
    • If John were heaven-sent, the religious leaders would have to explain why they did not respond to his message. Remember John was preaching in the wilderness, and they came out to see him, and he called them a “brood of Vipers.”
    • Furthermore, John said that Jesus was the Lamb of God who came to take away “the sins of the world.” In other words, John said that Jesus was from God.
  • John is not heaven-sent:
    • the problem with option 2 is that the people thought that John was a prophet of God. and if they openly rejected John, they would lose the people.

No comment:

Luke 20:7 And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

In other words, they said no comment.

Many government officials give the same awkward, lame answer to a straightforward question.

  • Despite the evidence, the leadership does not believe that Jesus has the right to do what he does.
  • The reaction contrasts with the crowd's opinion; they view John as a prophet.

Jesus then tells a parable:

  • A man planted a vineyard, leased it to farmers (husbandmen), and then went away for a long time.
  • At harvest time, he sent a servant to collect some of the vineyard's produce, but the farmers beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
  • The man then sent a second servant, who was also beaten and treated shamefully.
  • A third servant was sent, and he, too, was wounded and thrown out.
  • Finally, the vineyard owner decided to send his beloved son, thinking the farmers would respect him.
  • However, the farmers, recognizing the son as the heir, decided to kill him in hopes of claiming the vineyard for themselves.

Explanation:

  • The man in the story symbolizes God the Father.
  • The Father owns the vineyard, which represents his kingdom and the rewards of his covenant.
  • The tenants represent the religious leaders of Israel.
  • They were not owners of God’s kingdom and covenant; they were merely stewards who were to give God what was his when he asked for it.
  • The three servants were prophets God sent to Israel. Israel has a long history of rejecting God’s prophets and mistreating them.
  • The son in the story represents the Son of God, Jesus himself.

Luke 20:15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

Luke 20:16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

They heard this story and knew that Jesus was talking about them. And then Jesus gives a quote from Psalm 118:

Luke 20:17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

Luke 20:18 Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Psalm 118 was a key part of the Passover service—all the pilgrims coming to Passover would recite 118:25-26 as they came to Jerusalem.

The religious leaders had been reciting this passage for years without understanding or applying it (see John 5:39-40).

In Jesus’ quotation, the “son” of the parable became the stone of this prophecy; the “tenant farmers” of the parable became the builders.

Rejecting the cornerstone was dangerous. A person could be tripped or crushed.

Our context:

American culture is built on a Christian foundation:

  • Human rights.
  • Human dignity.

Are Christian ideas. Their foundations are found in the Bible. Christians invited things such as hospitals, orphanages, and public education.

Our society wants the positive results of a Christian worldview without its foundation.

“American culture today is also guilty of benefiting from a Christian heritage—the “inheritance”—while people try to kill off any connection to Jesus.” – Grant Osborn.

 The choice is yours: broken before him or crushed by him:

Reflect on the authority of Jesus in your life.

Do you acknowledge Jesus only as a historical figure, a moral teacher, or as the Son of God with divine authority?

Ask yourself:

  • Do I live my life in acknowledgment of Jesus' authority as described in the Gospels?
  • How does my understanding of Jesus' identity influence my actions, decisions, and interactions with others?

An invitation:

To acknowledge and accept the authority of Jesus is to build on His promises. Are you willing to do that today?