Why tempt ye me?

Today’s reading focuses on the futile attempts of scribe and Sadducee to trip up the Lord Jesus in His teaching.

The scribes brought a seemingly unanswerable political question; should they give tribute to Caesar? To answer ‘Yes’ would alienate the masses who hated paying tribute; to answer ‘No’ would expose the Lord to the charge of political rebellion.

The Lord’s answer, ‘Render . . . unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s’ has rightly become proverbial. There are two different spheres of authority: civil and religious. The disciple is obligated to submit to both, providing the demands of the civil power do not infringe on what belongs to God, Acts 5. 29.

There then follows a theological question from the Sadducees regarding resurrection, Luke 20. 27-39. In his answer the Lord exposes their ignorance both of the future state of existence and the teaching of scripture in the past.

In the resurrection, marriage distinctions will no longer apply. Marriage is an earthly arrangement severed by death. Gender distinctions will no longer apply. In that sense, the blessed will be ‘equal unto the angels’, v. 36. It would appear that in glory there will be recognition, but no resumption of marriage relationships. The Lord then reminds the scribes that scripture implies resurrection in referring to God as the God of the patriarchs - at a time when all the patriarchs had died.

The Lord now has a question for them, v. 41. It relates to His own Person and identity - the paradox of being both David’s son and David’s Lord. The real issue was whether they would recognize that the Man standing before them was God manifest in flesh. As at the beginning of the chapter, it appears that the scribes are unwilling to answer the question, and this leads to the Lord’s public denunciation, vv. 45-47.

The actions of the ‘poor widow’, 21. 1-4, contrast directly with the attitude of the scribes. Despite opponents’ hostility and selfishness, there is still a faithful remnant which pleases the Lord. May we bring Him pleasure today, regardless of the cynical and selfish attitudes of a hostile world!