Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 20:1-20 "JESUS' VIEW OF THE SCRIPTURES"
Day 248 – Luke 20
Text: Luke 20:1-20
JESUS’ VIEW OF THE SCRIPTURES
Have you noticed how Jesus would often make reference to the Scriptures? Let us look at the ways in which He referred to the Scriptures!
1. Authority of the Scriptures
The Scriptures were authoritative as far as Jesus was concerned! Reference to the Scriptures was final authority! (Cf. Luke 4, where Jesus cited the Scriptures authoritatively to fend off the evil suggestions of Satan)
2. Source of instruction
Jesus taught the Scriptures with tremendous understanding and authority. It was His source of instruction.
3. Inspiration of the Scriptures
Jesus saw the Scriptures as fully inspired of God and thus He could make reference to the Word of God the way He did. He showed absolute trust in the Scriptures when He cited them!
4. Prophetic-Messianic
Jesus also saw the Scriptures as prophetic-Messianic. The Scriptures foretold the coming of the Messiah. He was that Messiah who fulfilled the prophecies! (Cf. Luke 4:18-19, 21 at the beginning of His public ministry)
These are some of the things that we may observe about how Jesus regarded the Scriptures. He held these views consistently!
Even to the chief priests and scribes who were supposedly skilled in the Law, Jesus cited the Scriptures as authoritative proof that He was correct in His teaching and application of the Parable of the Vineyard!
THE SILENCE OF THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES
How well did the chief priests and the scribes really know their Scriptures! There was no response from the religious leaders to Jesus when He cited this passage taken from Psalm 118:22.
There are a number of reasons why they could not come up with a quick response to Jesus.
1. They were not familiar enough with the Book of Psalms that had Messianic references. The chief priests and scribes had not shown very great interest or knowledge with references to Messianic prophecies at any time (in any of the Gospels)!
2. They rejected the idea of Messianic prophecy-fulfilment. They certainly rejected this concept where Jesus was concerned!
3. They were afraid of replying to Jesus without first returning to their libraries and doing research so that they could give Him an adequate response.
4. They were completely outclassed and they knew it, as they stood before a true Master-teacher of the Scriptures!
Yet, the fact is that Jesus did not intend to intimidate the chief priests and the scribes. His chief intention was to point them to return to the careful studying of the Scriptures. If they were good and honest scholars of integrity, they would see that Jesus was right.
We are reminded of what Jesus said to the Jews on another occasion.
“You search the Scriptures,
forin them you think you have eternal life;
and these are they which testify of Me.”
John 5:39
“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE” Luke 20:17
Jesus used a second figure of speech as He answered the attempt of the chief priests and scribes to rebut the conclusion and application of His Parable of the Vineyard. He saw their reaction as rejection of His teaching. Even more significantly, He understood that the chief priests and scribes had rejected Jesus as the Son, the Heir of God! They saw themselves as the heirs of God’s promise to Abraham!
The imagery that Jesus used would be better understood if we were to understand how the Jews went about their construction of especially grand buildings. They would always choose one special stone called “the chief cornerstone”. This stone is always laid first. It is the stone that sets the direction and alignment of the entire building.
Jesus saw Himself as the chief cornerstone! The prophets preached that one day God would send them a Messiah. He would be their Redeemer and King. Jesus sought to demonstrate to Israel that He was that prophesied Messiah. His power to heal, to cast out demons, and His lifestyle all pointed out the fact He fulfilled Messianic prophecies and expectations!
Even as Jesus cited yet another passage that involved a Messianic prophecy, it was another opportunity for the religious leaders to re-examine their understanding of the subject of the promise of the Messiah!
The chief priests and scribes however chose to reject Jesus. How did Jesus take this rejection? He knew that this reaction was prophetically written in the Scriptures!
However, though this cornerstone may be rejected by men, nevertheless it was appointed and chosen by God. There was nothing that the builders could do about it!
“WHOEVER FALLS ON THAT STONE WILL BE BROKEN; BUT ON WHOMEVER IT FALLS, IT WILL GRIND HIM TO POWDER” Luke 20:18
Jesus had to add another thought as He closed this encounter with the chief priests and scribes. Isaiah’s words might well be in the mind of Jesus as He said these solemn words. The consequences of rejecting Jesus had to be solemnly stated once again!
“He will be as a sanctuary (to those who believed)
But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence…
They shall fall and be broken…” Isaiah 8:14-15