Three Attempts to Trap Jesus (Luke 20:20-44)
It is often claimed that Jesus rarely answered questions directly. This is a claim that is overstated. Jesus did masterfully use questions as answers, especially when confronting ulterior motives. However, He also used stories, extended teachings, and actions to communicate answers and truths. Here in Luke 20, we get three “tests” where Jesus happens to use different methods to respond to objections.
The religious leaders respond to Jesus’s clear warning against them in the preceding parable by attempting to trap Him. They first try to get Him to stumble on a political issue. Should a person pay taxes to Caesar? If Jesus says no, He will endanger Himself with Rome. If He says yes, He will upset the crowds who see Him as the Messiah meant to free them from Rome’s oppression.
Jesus cleverly refines the question by pointing out that temporal politics are not what He is ultimately concerned with. Asking whose image is on the currency, He declares that people should distinguish between worldly powers and concerns, and eternal, spiritual things. Even today, followers of Jesus submit to the ruling authorities where those authorities don’t come into conflict with God. (So, sorry, no. Paying taxes is not immoral.) Today it is helpful for us to remember politics are important, but our faith informs our political stance, not the other way around.
Next, the Sadducees tried to trip Him up on a doctrinal issue. They did not believe in the resurrection. Using what they thought of as logic, they tried to belittle His stance. If people will rise from the dead, what will happen to people who have been married multiple times? Who will they be with in eternity?
Jesus begins by addressing their logical flaw. They are presenting a false dilemma. They assume that the resurrected life will be just like the current one. Jesus corrects this error. People will not marry in eternity. He doesn’t stop there, however. He dismantles their position with a logical argument as well. When God tells Moses in Exodus, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” they must be alive because God is the God of the living, not the dead.
Jesus does not stop there, however. He counters a question (unraised directly here in Luke) about the Messiah. How can the Messiah be David’s son, when David calls him “Lord?” The Messiah is greater than a mere earthly ruler. He is greater than David. He is seated at the right hand of the Father and is the Lord of all, even the great king David.
Jesus warns His disciples once again against the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. They desire power and prestige and followers. This is an important and pertinent warning for the disciples, as they will be leaders in the church. It is also an important and pertinent warning for anyone who leads today.
The religious leaders respond to Jesus’s clear warning against them in the preceding parable by attempting to trap Him. They first try to get Him to stumble on a political issue. Should a person pay taxes to Caesar? If Jesus says no, He will endanger Himself with Rome. If He says yes, He will upset the crowds who see Him as the Messiah meant to free them from Rome’s oppression.
Jesus cleverly refines the question by pointing out that temporal politics are not what He is ultimately concerned with. Asking whose image is on the currency, He declares that people should distinguish between worldly powers and concerns, and eternal, spiritual things. Even today, followers of Jesus submit to the ruling authorities where those authorities don’t come into conflict with God. (So, sorry, no. Paying taxes is not immoral.) Today it is helpful for us to remember politics are important, but our faith informs our political stance, not the other way around.
Next, the Sadducees tried to trip Him up on a doctrinal issue. They did not believe in the resurrection. Using what they thought of as logic, they tried to belittle His stance. If people will rise from the dead, what will happen to people who have been married multiple times? Who will they be with in eternity?
Jesus begins by addressing their logical flaw. They are presenting a false dilemma. They assume that the resurrected life will be just like the current one. Jesus corrects this error. People will not marry in eternity. He doesn’t stop there, however. He dismantles their position with a logical argument as well. When God tells Moses in Exodus, “I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” they must be alive because God is the God of the living, not the dead.
Jesus does not stop there, however. He counters a question (unraised directly here in Luke) about the Messiah. How can the Messiah be David’s son, when David calls him “Lord?” The Messiah is greater than a mere earthly ruler. He is greater than David. He is seated at the right hand of the Father and is the Lord of all, even the great king David.
Jesus warns His disciples once again against the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. They desire power and prestige and followers. This is an important and pertinent warning for the disciples, as they will be leaders in the church. It is also an important and pertinent warning for anyone who leads today.
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