* The Events of The Passion Week. Not all activities are listed.
Friday (Six days before Passover meal.)
-Jesus arrives in Bethany, just east of Jerusalem (John 11:54-12:1).
-Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, anoints Jesus' feet at a banquet (John 12:2-11).
Saturday (Sabbath. Started at dusk on Friday.)
-Though it is not recorded, Jesus left Bethany and returned to Ephraim near the Jordan River. (John 11:54-57)
Sunday (Now called Palm Sunday. 1st day of the Passion Week.)
-Jesus heals blind men while approaching Jericho (Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:34-43).
-Jesus eats at Zacchaeus house in Jericho (Luke 19:1-10).
-Jesus continues onto Jerusalem (Mark 10:52; Luke 19:28).
-Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19).
-Jesus's weeps for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41-44).
-Jesus looked at the Temple at dusk. Then, left to spend the night at Bethany (Mark 11:11).
Monday (10th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-Jesus curses the fig tree (Matthew 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14).
-Jesus cleanses the Temple courts (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17).
-Jesus healed and taught until dusk. Then, left to spend the night at Bethany (Matthew 21:14-17; Mark 11:18-19).
Tuesday (11th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-Jesus explains the withered fig tree to his disciples (Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-26).
-Jesus's authority questioned (Matthew 21:23-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8).
-Jesus teaches in the temple (Matthew 21:28-22:46; Mark 12:1-44; Luke 20:9-21:4; John 12:20-50).
-Jesus wept over Jerusalem's leader's unbelief and rejecting him as their King (Matthew 23:1-39).
-Jesus anointed at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 13:3-9; John 12:2-11).
Wednesday (12th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-No details about what Jesus did except Luke 21:37-38 which says he taught every day in the Temple.
-The Jews plot to kill Jesus (Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6).
Thursday (13th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk.)
-The Passover meal begins at dusk, the start of the 14th of the month Abib (see below notes).
-Jesus and the disciples eat Passover meal, now known as the Last Supper. (Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-18).
-Jesus comforts the disciples and prays in the upper room. Then they leave Jerusalem (John 14:1-16:33).
-Jesus prays at Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 26:26-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46).
Friday (14th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk. Now known as Good Friday.)
-According Hebrew time Jesus is arrested and tried during the night to daylight. (Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16)
-The Jewish leaders turn Jesus over to Pilate at dawn. Pilate questions Jesus then sends him to Herod, who sends Jesus back to Pilate (Matthew 27:11-31; Mark 15:1-20; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:28-19:15).
-Jesus's crucifixion starts at 3:00pm. He dies just before sunset. (Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30)
-Jesus is quickly buried at dusk just before Hebrew day end. (Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42)
Saturday (Sabbath. 15th day of the Hebrew month Abib ends at dusk. The seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread begins).
-Jesus' body is in the tomb. He appears in Sheol and accompanies the saints previously dead to heaven.
Sunday (Abib 16; day of First Fruits Sheaf Wave) See Resurrection chart below.
-Jesus's morning resurrection and appearing to the women. (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18)
-Jesus appeared to the two on the road. (Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35)
-Jesus appeared to ten apostles (no Thomas or Judas) in the evening. (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25)
Saturday (Sabbath)
-Jesus appears to Thomas and the rest of the apostles. (John 20:26-31)
A week later
-Jesus talks and eats with seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee. (John 21:1-25)
Forty days since his resurrection.
-Jesus ascends to his Father in heaven from the Mount of Olives. (Matthew 28:15-20; Mark 18:19-20; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:1-11)
Listen to The Passion Week Timeline.
* Hebrew days start at sunset/twilight and goes thru the night till the next day's sunset.
* Passover always starts at twilight on the 14th day of the month (Leviticus 23:5), not the same day of the week every year. Therefore, Passover starting on Thursday is rare. Passover usually starts on another day of the week. Passover starting on a Thursday the year Jesus was crucified. This timing made it possible for Jesus to fulfill the feasts associated with the Passover.
1st) Jesus was crucified on Friday (still Passover) and died before sunset that same day.
2nd) Jesus was in the tomb during the Sabbath (Saturday) rest. The Sabbath that Jesus was buried was also the beginning of the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:15-20, 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16). The Feast of Unleavened Bread is always on the first Sabbath after Passover.
3rd) Jesus rose on Sunday, the third day since his death. That Sunday was also the day of the First Fruit Sheaf Wave (Leviticus 23:9-15; Exodus 23:16, 19, 34:22). The first fruit (barley harvest) of the land was waved before the Lord. Jesus' resurrected as the first fruit (Acts 26:23; 1 Corinthians 15:4, 20, 23).
All three feasts were thus fulfilled by Jesus and this could have only happened that particular year, the year Passover started Thursday night.
* The Hebrew calendar considered an event lasting for an entire day even though it was only a few hours or even minutes long. Therefore, Jesus died and was buried at the end of the Hebrew day (twilight) on Friday and he is considered to have been buried that day too. The same can be stated for Sunday, the day he rose from the dead. Even though he was in the grave for a few moments after dawn before he rose, he is considered to be in grave Sunday and rise from it on Sunday.
I. "To Caesar What is Caesar's... To God What is God's" (20:20-26)
* The woodcarving titled "Christ and the Tribute Money" by Dore, Gustave (1832-1883) was in "The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments, according to the Authorized Version. With illustrations by Gustave Dore."
Jesus is received a coin as a prop to his lesson while a group of men watch. Jesus in typical art his shown with a halo. The artist, Gustave Doré (1832-1883), has placed his signature at the lower left of the woodcut, and the engraver's signature, Adolphe François Pannemaker (1822-1900), is located at the lower right.
>1. Why did the Pharisees send spies to Jesus? (19-20)
* Luke 20:19-20 "The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor."
* Matthew 22:15-22 and Mark 12:13-17 also record the Pharisees trap concerning taxes.
* "teachers of the law" -The teacher was generally the synagogue "attendant." An assistant was provided if there were more than twenty-five students. The primary aim of education at the synagogue school was religious. The Old Testament was the subject matter for this instruction. Reading, writing and arithmetic were also taught. Memorization, drill and review were used as approaches to teaching. (Holman Bible Dictionary)
* "the chief priests" -The leaders of the Levites.
* "a way to arrest him immediately" -They wanted to do more than they had in the past. In the past they wanted to discredit Jesus so he would lose public support and interest. Now they wanted to get an excuse to arrest Jesus. The traps were set.
* "they knew he had spoken this parable against them." -How much they knew isn't clear. The fact that they knew Jesus said that they were wrong was enough to solicit a response. Jesus hoped they repented. However, he knew most would not. They loved praise of men, power, money, and being the idle of everyone's eye. Thus, they were blinded.
* "But they were afraid of the people" -Jesus popularity only grew over time.
* "Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest" -Common in all human societies is a group seeking to hold onto power by any means.
* "They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor." -Their plot. Eventually, this plot along with others worked. They arrested and killed Jesus through Rome.
>What was their question? (21-22)
* Luke 20:21-22 "So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
* "So the spies questioned him"
* "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right" -Flattery.
* "you do not show partiality" -A statement of truth that every agreed on.
* "teach the way of God in accordance with the truth." -Same as above.
* The Jews hatted Rome occupation. They wanted a nation of their own. They believed they could govern better than Rome or any other nation. They believed the Gentile nations did not understand what it meant to be Jew. So they belileved only a Jew could govern them.
>Why was this such a controversial issue?
* "Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"
* "Not the person, but the tax collection he represented for a nation that was Gentile.
>In what respect was this question a trap?
* The fact that they added it was tax collection for Caesar showed it was a trap. The reason they included it was because insurrection was treason and insurrection if proven guilty was punishable with death.
* A Denarii.
>2. How did Jesus respond to them? (23-26)
* Luke 20:23-26 "He saw through their duplicity and said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?" "Caesar's," they replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent."
* "He saw through their duplicity" -A gift of the spirit that prophets of old had.
* "denarius" -A coin representing a typical day's wage for an ordinary laborer (Matt. 20:2). The King James Version translates it "penny." This unit of Roman currency is the most frequently mentioned coin in the New Testament. (Holman Bible Dictionary)
* "They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public."
* "And astonished by his answer, they became silent."
>Who does this teach man's basic obligations to rulers of the world and to God?
* Who likes taxes, but the receiver? Receiving others' hard-earned income through taxes is good only if not used for self-gratification or honor. Giving taxes is good when a general citizenry has honest collection to build and maintain civil infrastructure. However, the human race has never created a society that is perfect in tax collection and use. Politicians have always stolen from and misused the tax fund for themselves and their families. Even Jesus' disciples included Judas, who stole money from the general collection.
Misappropriation, fraud, and cheating were as common in Jesus' day as it is today. The ruins of many buildings and palaces that Herod and his family built with the money forced from the Jews are still easy to see. The Jew's hatred of Rome, which he represented, can be understood. So can the trap that the jealous religious leaders set for Jesus concerning paying taxes.
Jesus's answer must have been a great shock to everyone. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." This means that even though fraud, mismanagement, and abuse are greater in my day than in Jesus' day, I still need to pay taxes. It also means that just because being a Christian, let alone an active and open one, is considered strange and in some cases invokes persecution and harm, I need to continue to give myself to God and his kingdom. After all, if I say I am his, then I must do as Jesus said, give myself to him and his mission for me.
Apostle Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing, and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2)
Listen to the above comments on Luke 20:20-26.
>What are man's basic obligations to God?
*
*
*
II. "Whose Wife Will She Be?" (20:27-33)
>3. What was the Sadducces' place in Jewish society?
* Luke 20:27 "Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question."
* Matthew 22:23-33 and Mark 12:18-27 also record the confrontation from the Sadducees concerning the resurrection.
* Acts 23:6-8 "Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, "My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead." When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. (The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)
* Matthew 16:12 "Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
* The Sadducees were a religious group which formed during the period between the Testaments when the Maccabees ruled Judah. They took their name from one of David's co-priests, Zadok, and claimed descent from him. Their name meant "righteous ones." (Holman Bible Dictionary
* The origin of the Sadducees, a Jewish sect, cannot definitely be traced. It was probably the outcome of the influence of Grecian customs and philosophy during the period of Greek domination. The first time they are met with is in connection with John the Baptist's ministry. They came out to him when on the banks of the Jordan, and he said to them, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" (Mat 3:7) The next time they are spoken of they are represented as coming to our Lord tempting him. He calls them "hypocrites" and "a wicked and adulterous generation" (Mat 16:1-4; Mat 22:23). The only reference to them in the Gospels of Mark (Mark 12:18-27) and Luke (Luke 20:27-38) is their attempting to ridicule the doctrine of the resurrection, which they denied, as they also denied the existence of angels. They are never mentioned in John's Gospel.
There were many Sadducees among the "elders" of the Sanhedrin. They seem, indeed, to have been as numerous as the Pharisees (Acts 23:6). They showed their hatred of Jesus in taking part in his condemnation (Mat 16:21; Mat 26:1-3, 59; Mark 8:31; Mark 15:1; Luke 9:22; Luke 22:66). They endeavored to prohibit the apostles from preaching the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:24, 31, 32; Acts 4:1, 2; Acts 5:17, 24-28). They were the deists or skeptics of that age. They do not appear as a separate sect after the destruction of Jerusalem. (Illustrated Bible Dictionary: And Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature)
* When the Roman's destroyed the temple in 70 A.D. the temple, their source of power and influence quickly dissipated.
* The Essenes, who were also mostly of the priestly line, left Jerusalem because the Sadducees, who were also mostly priests, used Herod's power to increase their political influence at the temple. Like the Sadducees the Essenes also dissipated after Rome destroyed their villages around the Northern area of the Dead Sea including Qumran. The Essenes shunned marriage and lived a strict ascetic life and the study of Scriptures (the Old Testament and other books). Most scholars associate the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered first in 1947 with the Essene community. Indirect references are perhaps in Matthew 19:11-12; Colossians 2:8, 18, 23)
>Why do you think they said there is no resurrection? (29-32)
* Luke 20:29-32 "Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too."
* They mistakenly did not understand that the resurrection to come will not be like life in this age.
* The Sadducees borrow the story line from the Jewish book of Tobit, where the jealous demon Asmodeus killed righteous Sarah's first seven husbands. (Bible Background Commentary - The IVP Bible Background Commentary - New Testament)
>Why do you think they came to Jesus with this question?
* The reason is similar to the is stated in verse 19, except they believe they could discredit Jesus. They saw themselves as wiser than Jesus.
* "came to him with a question" -On the surface this question looked like wanting to know who this women would be married to in heaven. However, the trap was to show that this verse contradicted the rest of the Old Testament.
* Since this was the Week of Unleavened Bread, also called the Passover, many of the Sadducees would have been very busy with many sacrifices. However, there were so many Levites during Jesus' lifetime that not all were needed to serve at the same time. Some would have had free times.
>4. Notice carefully the main contents of their question. (28, 33) What does this reveal about their inner way of thinking?
* Luke 20:28 "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother."
* Luke 20:33 "Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"
* Deuteronomy 25:5-7 "If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel."
* "Teacher" -"Didaskalos" (a transliteration) in the original Greek. It is used fifty-eight times in the New Testament. Rabbi was the common Hebrew term.
* "Moses wrote for us" -The first five books of the Old Testament was written by Moses as the Holy Spirit prompted him and as the Lord God told him. This is the Law of the Covenant between the Lord God and Israel.
* "must marry" -A strange choice of words since the practice had all but disappeared from use.
* "for his brother" -The purpose of the law was to keep a family line active and on going.
* Marriage, divorce and remarrying was common among many of the religious leaders of the day. Most if not all of the divorces ended up poorly for the woman unless they remarried a rich man which was common.
* "Now then" -Rabbinic literature is full of examples of the "mocking question" posed by pagans, apostates or heretics like the Sadducees. Rabbinic Literature includes the Mishnah, Tosefta, Babylon and Palestinian Talmuds, Mekita on Ezodus, Sifra on Leviticus, and Sifre on Numbers and Deuteronomy. (Bible Background Commentary - The IVP Bible Background Commentary - New Testament)
>Why do you think their inner way of thinking was so miserable?
* "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires." (Rom 8:5-6)
* They were concerned about the hear and now, about the things of this world.
* They didn't understand nor have faith the power or will of God.
* They live a life of no hope, or a hope in this world that often faded away.
* People with no hope in the kingdom of God are often the most cruel and selfish people. They do many things for themselves at the expense of others. They don't believe in judgement nor the kindness and rewards of God.
* Their incorrect belief lead them to interpret the Bible incorrectly.
* Colossians 3:1-4 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
>How are they compared to modern thinking?
* They were materialists. According the AHD there are three definitions of materialism.
1) (Philosophy) The theory that physical matter is the only reality and that everything, including thought, feeling, mind, and will, can be explained in terms of matter and physical phenomena.
2) The theory or doctrine that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value of life.
3) A great or excessive regard for worldly concerns.
III. The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob (20:34-40)
* The woodcarving titled "Sadducees and the Resurrection" is in a book by Lossius, Lucas (1508-1582) titled in "Quaestiones Lucae Lossii in Euangelia Dominicalia : & praecipuorum festorum Iesu Christi Nazareni, filii Dei & Mariae, & sanctorum eius / Ex praelectionibus et scriptis Philip. Melanthonis ... ; ab ipso avtore diligenter recognitae & auctae ... ; Vna cum Indice Verborum et Rerum memorabilium"
On the right side Jesus debates with the Sadducees about the resurrection of the dead. The left side depicts the resurrection.
The online edition of this work in the public domain, i.e., not protected by copyright, has been produced by Pitts Theology Library, Emory University.
>5. How did Jesus describe the main concern of the people of his age? (34)
* Luke 20:34 "Jesus replied, 'The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.'"
* Matthew and Mark do not include verse 34.
* "The people of this age" -The Bible presents "ages". They are mark different ways that God interacts with mankind.
* "age"- The original Greek noun for "age" is "aion" (a transliteration). The KJV and its update the ASV translate this word as "this world" here, very misleading. Those two English translations usually has "ever", "age", "eternal", and "evermore" for this Greek noun. The root noun for "aion" is "aei" meaning "age". The English word "eon" is derived from "aei".
"Age" is used to denote the period of a man's life (Gen 47:28), the maturity of life (John 9:21), the latter end of life (Job 11:17), a generation of the human race (Job 8:8), and an indefinite period (Eph 2:7; Eph 3:5, 21; Col 1:26). Respect to be shown to the aged (Lev 19:32). It is a blessing to communities when they have old men among them (Isa 65:20; Zec 8:4). The aged supposed to excel in understanding (Job 12:20; Job 15:10; Job 32:4, 9; 1Ki 12:6, 8). A full age the reward of piety (Job 5:26; Gen 15:15). (Eaton's Illustrated Bible Dictionary: And Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature)
* "marry... give in marriage" -The original Greek verb for the first word is "gameo" and the second verb phrase is "ekgamisko".
* The age that Jesus is talking about in the broad sense is from Abraham's time till Jesus ascension after his resurrection. Keeping Hebrew lines were very important for every generation in that time period.
>How did Jesus see the new age?
* Luke 20:35 "But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,"
* "those who are considered worthy" -Not everyone will be included in the next age. Many of Jesus' parables and the apostle's letters define what it means to be "worthy" of the next age.
* "the resurrection" -The original Greek noun for "resurrection" is "anastasis" (a transliteration). The Greek root works literally means "standing up" and "resurrection".
* When a person gains interest in Jesus, especially when we accept his rule and love in our lives, the reality of Jesus' teaching concerning the resurrection of the dead must be considered and ascribed to in one aspect or another. The resurrection addressed in this encounter with the Sadducees is not the Lazarus resurrection type (John 11). Nor is this resurrection like Elijah's and Moses' appearances with Jesus on the mount (9:30-33), although there are similarities. Nor is it about where our soul and spirit go when this body stops living.
The Sadducees' question and Jesus's answer regards the resurrection of all the dead in Christ at the beginning of the next age (34-35; Matthew 22:29; Mark 12:24; 1 Corinthians 15). The Sadducees were descendants of Levi and controlled Temple worship in Jesus' time. They did not believe in this resurrection. Most Sadducees believed that after we die, a person's existence ends. They recognized that Jesus's teaching included this resurrection. So they tried to publicly humiliate the man who overturned the tables of the money changers in their temple with a silly hypothetical question.
Jesus first responded to the silliness of their hypothetical question. Matthew and Mark record Jesus telling them they were in error because they do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. Then he tells them that those worthy of the coming resurrection of the dead at the end of this age will neither marry nor be given in marriage as has been done till today (34-35). Secondly, Jesus says the people at the resurrection to come will never die physically, just as angels can no longer physically die (36). Lazarus and all those before like him physically died again. No, the resurrection to come is different.
I do not want to be like the Sadducees who were in error because I do not know the Bible and the power of God.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 20:27-36a.
>How does this suggest that marriage cannot be an ultimate solution to people's problems?
* Many commentaries state that because those in the next age will not die, their will be no need to procreate the human race to keep it going.
* Romans 8:18-25 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
* The woodcarving titled "Olivet Discourse" is in a book by Luther, Martin (1483-1546) titled in "Auslegung der Episteln vnd Euangelien vom Advent an, bis auff Ostern / Durch Doctorem Martinum Luther.
Jesus tells his disciples about his second coming and the resurrection of the dead.
The online edition of this work in the public domain, i.e., not protected by copyright, has been produced by Pitts Theology Library, Emory University.
>What does verse 36 mean?
* Luke 20:36 "and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection."
* "and they can no longer die; for they are like the angles" -Jewish people widely agreed that angels did not procreate (they did not need to replenish their numbers, because they did not die, and also because, in some other traditions, God regularly created new angels), nor did they normally eat or drink. (Bible Background Commentary - The IVP Bible Background Commentary - New Testament)
* The word "resurrection" in Greek is "anastasis", meaning literally "standing again." It is used forty times in the New Testament, and always refers most naturally to a bodily rising from the dead. (Luke 20:36; John 11:24; Acts 4:33, Rev. 20:5) There is certainly no warrant for taking it to mean something else.
Jesus walked out of his tomb in the same body that was crucified. When he arrived in heaven, however, his body was changed, for he shined as many verses state. This is the state of Jesus now. He is in a glorious resurrection body. This is the form that God and he chose him to be in. This is how the Bridegroom looks. This is the state of the King.
What is Jesus' believers' future? Those who believe in Jesus will be married to Jesus alone. This verse and atthew 22:29-32 records Jesus saying, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven." Jesus is saying that an angel does not marry another angel. Similarly, Jesus's bride will not marry another human. Jesus continued, "But about the resurrection of the dead-have you not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."
Like Jesus rose from the dead, so those who believe in him by faith will rise from the dead. We will be married to him alone. In this life we choose to marry someone from the opposite sex and may have children together. In the future, after the current physical body dies, Jesus' bride will be alive in a resurrected body, married to Jesus, the King.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 20:35-36.
* "They are God's children"
* "they are children of the resurrection"
* Daniel 12:1-3 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people--everyone whose name is found written in the book--will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
>6. How did Jesus teach the truth of the resurrection? (37-38)
* Luke 20:37-38 "But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."
*
*
*
>Why did Jesus quote Exodus 3:6 concerning the God of the living?
* Exodus 3:6 "Then he said, 'I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.' At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God."
* Jesus gives the priestly Sadducees definitive Biblical proof to support his dissertation that physical death is not the end of human existence, and that there will be a physical resurrection in the age to come. More so, he provides it from the Law, the first five books, the only books that the Sadducees recognized as canonical (Exodus 3:6)
Moses was meandering with his father-in-law's flock through the far side of the desert when he saw a bush that appeared to be on fire, but did not burn (Exodus 3:1-3). What does one do when one sees a bush burning, but it is not consumed? Well, we'll check it out, of course. So Moses marked his course and started investigating. "Strange, why the bush does not burn up?" he thought.
What do you know, but the bush was not on fire. It was Lord Jesus dressed in bright glory. "Do not come any closer," God said, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Whew. Moses wasn't expecting that. God was talking to him from within the bush. It is impossible to camouflage glory. By the way, that glory is how Jesus appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration and to the apostle John, as recorded in the book of Revelation. Now that is a resurrection body.
Then God Jesus said to Moses something that Jesus, the Son of Man, states to the Sadducees, "I am the God..." Every phrase of the Bible stresses something. In this case, the active present tense indicates Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were alive even though they were generations before Moses. The human soul and spirit do not die when the physical body dies (1 Corinthians 15). Hope exists for modern man through Christ Jesus.
Listen to the above comments on Luke 20:37-39.
>What does it mean that the Lord God is "the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob"?
* "I am" -
* "the God" -
* "of Abraham... Isaac... Jacob" -
*
>What can we learn from this about God and men?
* Luke 20:39-40 "Some of the teachers of the law responded, "Well said, teacher!" And no one dared to ask him any more questions."
* ""Some of the teachers of the law responded"
* "Well said, teacher!"
* "And no one dared to ask him any more questions." -Fear of being humiliated.
*
IV. Whose Son Is The Christ? (20:41-47)
>8. What was Jesus' question to the teachers of the law in verses 41-44?
* Luke 20:41-44 "Then Jesus said to them, "How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David?
42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand
43 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."'
44 David calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"
* Psalm 110:1-3 "The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth."
* Psalm 11:4 is quoted in Hebrews, also concerning Jesus.
*
*
>How does this teach his deity and ultimate victory?
*
*
*
*
*
>How does this suggest that even though they know many meticulous laws in the Bible, they did not know the main point of the Scripture?
*
*
*
*
*
>According to Jesus' warning in verses 46-47 what can we know about them?
* Luke 20:45-47 "While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples,
46 "Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.
47 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
* Jesus had validated the resurrection of the dead at the end of the age to religious bigots, the Sadducees. When he shamed them with the Word of God, their religious opponents, the teachers of the Law, were delighted and praised Jesus (39). However, other than different beliefs, they were the same as the Successors. They were also religious bigots. Both groups picked Bible passages that played into their personal agenda, while ignoring or dismissing the rest.
The teachers of the law liked to receive praise from others. Honor from others was their high (46). Position and status were their motivators. Not even the Messiah, the Son of David, was as prominent as they were in their mind's eye (41).
Admiration from others was the source of self-justification for their sins. They loved themselves more than others. They devoured widows' houses by misusing God's Law for self-profit (47). To compensate for a guilty conscience for this sin and others, they sought justification through others' praise and honor.
Jesus taught the teachers of the Law that the Messiah was so much more than the Son of David, the descendant of a king. He quoted one of David's Psalms, 110:1 where David himself wrote that his descendant was actually his Lord, the Ancient of Days, the Creator God himself (Daniel 7:9, 13, 22). "David calls him Lord," Jesus declared. "How then can he be his son?" (44) Jesus was due honor not for humiliating the Sadducees, but for who he was. The religious leaders' craving for honor blinded them from giving Jesus the true honor due him.
Will I let my ego get in the way of understanding the truth and honoring Jesus? Or will I be like the Sadducees and teachers of the Law? Is my honor blinding me from the Messiah?
