Note-Worthy Observations Series

LUKE 20: 41-21:4 [JESUS’ LAST WEEK SERIES]

NOTE-WORTHY OBSERVATIONS

[Romans 1:3–4]

The scribes, Sadducee and Pharisees did not dare question Jesus anymore. Why? The wisdom of His words silenced their cynicism and pride. With His opponents silenced, this controversy section concludes with Jesus asking His questioners a question and then probes their motives. The question is designed to clarify from Scripture who the Christ is. Jesus asks the religious leaders about the nature of the relationship of David to the Messiah [Mark 12:35–37a; Matt. 22:41–46].

Jesus then moves from theological fault to moral fault as He addresses the religious leaders sinfully misusing their position. He concludes this public address by pointing out a poor widow’s example of faith and sacrifice.

Who is Jesus? Who is the Messiah? This question is one of the basic questions for every living person. This passage deals with that question as Jesus asks His opponents to listen to the words of Holy Scriptures. They wouldn’t. Will you?

I. Whose Son Is the Christ? 20:41-44.

II. Beware of the Scribes, 20:45-47.

III. The Widow's Offering, 21:1-4.

After being questioned concerning His authority, integrity, and theology, Jesus now has a question for His questioners. That must have seemed an unforgivable affront to those who were attempting to challenge His power by means of those three shrewd and potentially explosive questions.

Jesus begins by discussing His lineage. Listen carefully as verses 41-43 Jesus asks a question of ancestry. ‘But he said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is David's son? (42) For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, (43) until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

Jesus now takes the initiative by criticizing inadequate views of the Christ or Messiah. The term “Christ” is used here as a title for “the Messiah.” The Messiah was understood by the Jewish people to be a son (descendant or “sprout) of David. The Jews awaited the coming of an earthly deliverer who would be a king descended from David. Jesus quotes a verse from the Psalms which emphasize that the Messiah is the Lord of David and all his descendants.

Verse 44 is the question Jesus ask them to consider and answer. “David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?”

Jesus is raising an apparent paradox: The Messiah is described as David’s son or descendant, but David also addresses Him as a superior. The question is, Why does David, in Psalm 110:1, call his descendant his “Lord” (v. 42)? [In that passage “The Lord” is the translation of the LXX ho kyrios, which in turn represents the Hebrew Yahweh, the sacred name of God. “To my Lord” represents the same word in the LXX but ?adonai in the Hebrew. This word conveyed a sense of dignity and was often used as a substitute for the name of God. Although the rabbis of the first Christian centuries did not interpret ?adonai as referring to the Messiah, that is the only meaning that makes sense here. [Liefeld, W. L. (1984). Luke. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, pp. 1017–1018). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.]

[Jesus’ question is not intended to suggest that there could not be a descendant of David who was also “Lord” but that] the seemingly irreconcilable has meaning only if he is more than just a human descendant. The difficulty can only be solved by the higher and lower—the divine and human natures of our Lord (Mt 1:23). [Note the testimony given here to the inspiration of the Old Testament (Lk 24:44).]

Paul expressed the complete answer to the question in Romans 1:3–4, which says that Jesus was a descendant of David as to his human nature but declared Son of God by His resurrection. [Liefeld, p. 1018.]

Two points are evident in these words of Jesus. First, the Son of David is also David’s Lord. [In Acts 2:34–35 Peter used the same verse from Ps. 110 to prove that Jesus’ superiority is based on His resurrection.] Second, David must have realized that the Son, who was to be the Messiah, would be divine, for David called Him Lord. [Martin, J. A. (1985). Luke. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 256). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.] While Jesus is the descendent of David, He is also David’s Lord.

II. BEWARE OF THE SCRIBES, 20:45-47.

In the final verses of chapter 20 and the first four verses of chapter 21, Jesus contrasts two lifestyles: that of the scribes, who are living a lie, making an elaborate show of their piety, and that of the penniless widow who is serving God with all she has.