Matthew 22:34-46

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I have always had trouble understanding this quotation in verse 44: The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies under Your feet”. (I have added the caps for further clarification.) Here Jesus is quoting Psalm 110:1, a psalm written by David. My Study Bible helps me a lot in understanding this verse. Their notes clarify the first six words at the beginning of that quotation by substituting “God” for “The Lord” and “David’s Lord” for “my Lord”; then they explain the verse a bit further. So here’s their explanatory note: “God said to David’s Lord, i.e., David’s superior – ultimately the Messiah…”. That helps me see how Jesus was confounding the Pharisees and challenging them that David’s descendent (the Messiah) was also his Lord.

I hope this helps others.

Slava Bohu!

Luke 20:27-40

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” When all three Synoptic gospels report on the same event, it is often difficult to find something to say on days two or three. Thankfully, Luke tends to be the most different of the three writers, so it’s easier to find something to say on day three. Today is no exception. There were a number of items that Luke wrote differently than Matthew or Mark, but what caught my eye was today’s next-to-the-last verse: Then some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, you have spoken well.” (v. 39) The scribes were Pharisees and differed with the Sadducees as to the resurrection. So when Jesus answered the Sadducees’ question by confirming that “the dead are raised” (v. 37), He shot down the Sadducees and pleased the Pharisees. Luke is the only Synoptic to note the Pharisees’ affirmation of Jesus’ response.

Luke is also more clear than Matthew or Mark in phrasing the Sadducees’ context for their question (vv. 29-31) and in clarifying the realities and activities of the afterlife (vv. 34-36). All in all, we get a more complete coverage of this event from Luke.

Slava Bohu!

Mark 12:18-27

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. (vv. 26-27) When God appeared to Moses in the “burning bush” incident, the Israelites had been in Egypt more than 400 years. All the patriarchs were clearly long since dead. So I can see where the Sadducees were coming from. To me a reasonable interpretation of Exodus 3:6 would be God saying to Moses that He is the God who appeared to Abraham when Abraham was alive, but Abraham is now dead. And He is the God who appeared to Isaac when Isaac was alive, but is now dead. And the same with Jacob. But Jesus clarifies those words that God spoke, declaring that God is the God of the living – that is, that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were alive with Him when He spoke to Moses.

I can see the logic of the Sadducees’ position, but Jesus is telling them that they are wrong and that the Pharisees are correct – there is an afterlife. That is, Jesus is revealing truth for what is otherwise a confusing and arguable passage. Does that make sense?

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 22:23-33

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty. Sorry for the late post – it’s been a family weekend and I wanted to devote my time to them.

“Notice what you notice.” Jesus and the Sadducees… For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (v. 30) So here’s what’s funny. How many times have you heard someone speak of someone who has died and they say something like “I’m so looking forward to seeing him/her in Heaven”? Or “…and now she’s gone to be with him (her husband of 47 years)”? It seems like this verse 30 contradicts those thoughts, especially if Jesus was speaking with real knowledge of what the afterlife would be – and we naturally presume that He is speaking from what He knows is true. So what is this afterlife really like? Let’s pursue that thought these next few days.

Slava Bohu!

Luke 20:20-26

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” Luke is more straightforward than Matthew and Mark as to the dilemma in which the Jewish leaders were trying to trap Jesus: So they watched him and sent spies, who pretended to be sincere, that they might catch him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. (v. 20) It’s helpful to put all three Synoptics together. Both Matthew and Mark mention the Jewish leaders’ conspiring with the Herodians, which clarifies Luke’s comment. The Herodians were supportive of Roman rule and of the requirements to pay taxes to these ruling authorities. So if Jesus spoke against paying taxes, the Herodians could report Him. If He spoke in favor of paying taxes, the Zealots among the Jews could work to enrage the people against Him. They had a well-conceived plan. But Jesus had His Holy Spirit guiding Him. No contest…!!

Slava Bohu!

Mark 12:13-17

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” There’s not a whole lot different in the three Synoptics’ accounts of “Paying Tribute to Caesar”. One item of note, however, is who meets Jesus with this tribute question. Matthew reports that the Pharisees sent some of their disciples and the Herodians. Mark reports that the Pharisees themselves came, along with the Herodians. And Luke is the most different. He reports that “they” …sent spies who pretended to be righteous (Luke 20:20). Strange!

There is one curious item that is consistent across all three accounts, the closing phrase, And they marveled at Him. (v. 17) This phrase could be about the Herodians, who did not have an axe to grind with Jesus like the Pharisees. Or it could have been disciples of the Pharisees or “lesser” Pharisees, again with less venom toward Jesus than their leaders. Or it could have been the larger crowd. To me I have no doubt that Jesus attracted new followers with each of these challenging incidents – maybe not immediately, but I have no doubt that many of these witnesses were among those 3,000 who believed Peter’s message and were baptized on Pentecost (Acts 2:41). Thankfully, we continue to marvel today…!!

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 22:15-22

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty. His surgery is today…!

“Notice what you notice.” Paying taxes to Caesar… The Pharisees have been watching Jesus closely, trying to trip Him up and find ways to accuse Him so the people might turn against Him. Having failed at every attempt, they now enlist some Herodians (supporters of Roman rule) to try to trap Him in a no-win situation. First they used flattery, maybe to catch Him off guard, then they figured they had Him with their key question about paying taxes to Caesar.

So often Jesus fails to answer their questions directly. Often He answers one of their questions by replying back with His own question to them (Matthew 21:25). At other times He points out some error in their question, as in “You are wrong…” (Matthew 22:29). This time He simply asks for the coin that is used to pay the poll tax, again not answering their question directly, but then re-directing a question back to them. That’s genius!!

I think there’s a lesson here for us – to be careful how we answer questions when we are dealing with non-believers. We need to test whether their questions are genuine desires to learn truth or mean-spirited attempts to find fault, as in “If God exists why did He allow the Holocaust?” We need to find good re-directs to answer those challenges. But not to worry – the Holy Spirit is there to guide us into all truth! Glory!

Slava Bohu!

Luke 20:9-19

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I saw two items in Luke’s account of the Parable of the (Wicked) Tenants that were different from Matthew and Mark. First, in Matthew and Mark the tenants (vinedressers) killed one of the servants who was sent to collect the fruit of the harvest. In Luke, none of the servants were killed.

Second, in Luke, Jesus’ listeners (presumably the Jewish leaders) responded “Certainly not!” when Jesus suggests that the owner of the vineyard will kill those wicked tenants and hand the vineyard over to others. What a strange response to a man simply telling a parable!! Anyone is allowed to tell a story and finish it however he or she desires. But the response by the Jewish leaders proves the point made in all three Synoptic accounts, that the Jewish leaders understood that Jesus had spoken this parable against them! Luke’s quoting the Jewish leaders makes that point absolutely clear.

Slava Bohu!

Mark 12:1-12

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” We are back to the Parable of the Tenants, after having Matthew’s Parable of the Wedding Feast in between. I think I’ll rearrange these readings for the next time we do this (next year?) so that we have all three Synoptic accounts of this parable back to back.

One item that I noted in Matthew’s account was that Jesus asked His listeners for a response to His parable, as to what the owner of the vineyard would do to the tenants. In Mark He does not ask for their reply – He simply provides the owner’s action as part of His parable. Different, but not a big item…

My Study Bible pointed out two items that I had not considered. First it says, “The parable exposed the planned attempt on Jesus’ life…”. Although that item is clearly contained in the parable, I had not thought of this fact – that Jesus knew the Jewish leaders’ plans and forthright told them that He knew!! Yet He continues day by day directly in their presence in the temple. He knew that His time had come!

Second, my Study Bible pointed out that “Jewish law provided that a piece of property unclaimed by an heir would be declared ‘ownerless’ and could be claimed by anyone. The vine-growers assumed that the son came as heir to claim his property and that if he were slain they could claim the land.” I had always wondered how the tenants could think that they could simply claim the property if they killed the heir. But that clearly fits if the son came to claim the property and not to receive some of the fruit of the land (verse 2). Therein there is also the necessary assumption on the part of the tenants that the son’s father (the owner) had died. In Jesus’ closure to the story that is not the case – the owner is still alive, and He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. (v. 9)

So, two new revelations for me…! These short readings are blessing me beyond measure!!

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 22:1-14

Let’s remember to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” As I’m sure is the case for many of you, I have read this parable probably hundreds of times, but never seriously pondered it – until this morning. So first, the characters. The king is God; He is preparing a wedding feast for His Son. The bride will be the church. The king (God) sent servants (prophets) to call those who had been invited (the Jews). They were unwilling to come and ignored the servants. Then the king (God) sent more servants (prophets) to the same people (the Jews) and they went their own way – but some of them killed the servants (prophets). So the king (God) sent his army and destroyed those people (the Jews) and burned their cities (Jerusalem). I imagine this to be 586 B.C. when the Jews went into exile in Babylon or it could be 70 A.D. when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem. Then the king (God) sent more servants (John the Baptist, Paul, and the Apostles) to call in everyone from the streets (Gentiles), both good and evil (today’s churched and unchurched). My Study Bible indicates that the host would have provided wedding garments for his guests so that everyone would be properly clothed – presumably our cleansing through Jesus’ death and resurrection. And when anyone is found not properly clothed, s/he is thrown into the outer darkness (Hell) where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Clearly the Jewish leaders would have taken this personally, this now the third of three parables in a row chastising them for their own history and for their personal rejection of Jesus. Lord, may we learn from their mistakes. Help us to seek You all the more!!

Slava Bohu!