AWAKE BIBLE IN A YEAR OCTOBER 31
Read Matthew 22:15-46, 23:1-39, Mark 12:13-44, Luke 20:19-47, 21:1-4, 13:31-35
Has anyone ever had BEEF with you and tried to trap you in something you said or could say? The Pharisees collude with one another and bring the Herodians (who believed in an afterlife and were a politically charged sect tied to Herod, who wanted Jesus assassinated) along for the attempt to verbally trap Jesus. They prop it all up with a question posed with fake admiration about money and taxes. JESUS WINS.
We must worship and adore Christ in such way as he had appointed, and not according to the inventions of Caesar. It is God only that has authority to say “My son, give me thy heart.” Matthew Henry, Commentary on Luke 20
After the group of Sadducces, who who don’t believe in the resurrection, ask about the resurrection of the dead attempting to overcomplicate life after death. THINK ABOUT IT, as if raising someone from the dead isn’t hard enough but who’s wife will she be, when she was legally married to all seven brothers. And Jesus tells them they don’t know the scriptures or the power of GOD. HE IS NOT THE GOD OF THE DEAD BUT THE LIVING. And they are going to be greatly annoyed because JESUS will resurrect and their powerless view of the afterlife will lose ground in one day when 5,000 believe (Acts 4:1-4). JESUS WINS CROWDS EVERYTIME THEY COME AT HIM. (Matt. 22:33)
Errors happen when we don’t know the scriptures or the power of GOD. WE must have both to land on correct doctrine.
WHAT IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT IN THE LAW? Jesus responds with a win again! ‘LOVE GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is FIRST and the SECOND IS LIKE IT. ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’
It’s time for Jesus to cross examine them. ‘What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?’ He questions them further on the words of David which on the surface seem a contradiction. ‘If David calls him ‘Lord’ how can he be his son?’ (Psalm 22:44, 110:1) UNLESS the LORD became David’s son?
Back to giving God our heart. What if you or I love something God doesn’t? (Matt 23:6-7) Are we willing to let it go? Give the title up? ARE we willing to see each other as brothers instead of teachers and students? Are we willing to know only GOD as FATHER? AM I WILLING to bend low? Are you? Humble yourself? Humble myself?
