Luke 20-22

Luke 20

Authority of Jesus Questioned 

• Religious leaders challenge Jesus: “By what authority do you do these things?”
• Jesus responds with a question about John the Baptist “was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?”
• They refuse to answer, as either response makes them look bad
• Jesus withholds His answer

Parable of the Wicked Tenants 

• Vineyard owner sends servants to harvest his land but they are beaten by the tenants
• Eventually he sends his son and he is killed
• About the rejection of God’s messengers and His Son
  • Psalm 118:22
• Leaders realize the parable is about them and seek to arrest Him

Paying Taxes to Caesar 

• Spies try to trap Jesus
• Their question: should we pay taxes or not?
• Jesus: “Render to Caesar… and to God…”
• They marvel and are silenced

Sadducees and Resurrection 

• Sadducees deny resurrection
• Present marriage scenario
  • woman with 7 husbands dies, who will she be married to in heaven?
• Jesus explains resurrection life
  • Says God is God of the living

Jesus asks how Messiah is David’s son if David calls Him Lord

• Psalm 110:1

Warning Against Scribes 

• Scribes love honor and attention, and exploit othersJesus warns of greater judgment

Luke 21

The Widow’s Offering 

• Poor widow gives two small coins
• Jesus says she gave more than all because she gave all she had

Destruction of the Temple Foretold

• Temple admired for beauty
• Jesus predicts its destruction
• Signs before judgment:
  • false messiahs
  • wars, earthquakes, famines
  • persecution of believers
  • See also Matthew 24
• Specific to Jerusalem:
  • surrounded by armies
  • destruction and exile

The Coming of the Son of Man ]

• Cosmic signs: sun, moon, stars
• Nations in distress
• Son of Man comes in power and glory
•  For believers: do not fear and redemption is near

Parable of the Fig Tree 

• Fig tree budding means summer near
  • So as signs means kingdom near
• Jesus says His words will not pass away

Warning avoid distraction (cares, drunkenness)

• stay alert pray for strength

Luke 22

Plot to Kill Jesus 

• Feast of Unleavened Bread approaches
• Leaders seek to kill Jesus
• Satan enters Judas Iscariot and agrees to betray Jesus

The Last Supper 

• Passover meal prepared
  • from: https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/luke-22/ The mention of Passover brings up complicated issues of the precise calendar chronology of these events. The main complicating issue is that Matthew, Mark, and Luke present this meal Jesus will have with His disciples as the Passover meal – normally eaten with lamb which was sacrificed on the day of Passover with a great ceremony at the temple. Yet John seems to indicate that the meal took place before the Passover (John 13:1), and that Jesus was actually crucified on the Passover (John 18:28).
• Jesus institutes Lord’s Supper
• Bread: “This is my body”
• Cup:“new covenant in my blood”
• Predicts betrayal

Who Is the Greatest? 

• Disciples argue who among them is the best
• Jesus:
  • greatness comes from serving
  • promises disciples future kingdom roles

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial 

• Peter warned that Satan has asked for him
• He will deny Jesus three times
• Jesus prays for him

Jesus hints at His leaving and there will be difficulty ahead. 

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives 

• In Mount of Olives Jesus prays “not my will, but yours”
• In anguish He is strengthened by angel
  • Sweat becomes like blood
• Disciples fall asleep

Betrayal and Arrest 

• Judas arrives with crowd and betrays Jesus with a kiss
• A disciple strikes the ear of a soldier, but Jesus heals him
• Jesus is arrested

Peter Denies Jesus 

• Peter follows at distance
• Denies Jesus three times
• Rooster crows
• Peter remembers what Jesus said and weeps bitterly

Guards mock, beat, blindfold Jesus

• Leaders question Him
• Jesus affirms the Son of Man identity
• They declare Him guilty

Application

Jesus shows us the importance of not rejecting God. God is God of the living, and those who will believe will one day join Him forever. We must stay spiritually alert, even when plans might seem confusing or hard.