Jesus’ Identity and Authority Challenged, Luke 20:1-19 There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the chief priests, teachers of the law, and elders of the Jews opposed Jesus and were determined to eliminate Him. His power over sickness, demons, and death was well known by this point in His ministry. The authority of His teaching was backed by the miracles He performed that only God could do. The evidence was visible throughout the country and could not be ignored. Jesus had intentionally entered Jerusalem in fulfillment of prophecy concerning the Messiah. His teaching and preaching of the Gospel had sparked new understanding among the people listening to Him in the temple. A whole new perception of God, not taught by the rabbis, was conveyed by Jesus, demonstrating the fulfillment of the prophets’ messages happening right there and then.
Our commission from the Lord Jesus Christ remains unchanged despite shifting times and changing opinions among men and women. Our Lord expects us to preach the Gospel so the lost can hear how to be saved. They need to hear the Gospel clearly explained so they understand the importance of repenting of their sins and placing personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone for salvation. We are called to make disciples of those who believe in the Lord Jesus by teaching them God's Word, giving them opportunities to practice what they've learned, and encouraging them to teach others. It is God’s plan that they, in turn, take the Gospel to their own communities and beyond, reaching even the “regions beyond.”
We are also responsible for baptizing those who believe in Christ by immersion as their public declaration of identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and their commitment to “walk in newness of life.” Allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ is not an invisible thing. Confession with one’s mouth is an essential part of conversion. It is our duty to tell those who believe and are baptized that they are “to observe (do) all things” commanded by the Lord. That includes both personal and public responsibility to obey the Lord in the practices of Christian living and testimony. Our authority to teach these things comes directly from the Lord Himself.
That Tuesday in the temple, the religious leaders challenged the Lord's authority. If His answer had been that His authority came from God and He had openly declared that He was the Messiah, the Son of God, they would have accused Him of blasphemy and arrested Him then. He had cleansed the temple as someone with authority from God to do so. That was clearly a challenge to the lesser authority of those who saw themselves as leaders. By asking them a probing question, Jesus challenged their legitimacy as those who claimed to represent God to people and people to God. Their questioning of His legitimate authority continued all the way to His arrest on false charges, a sham trial, and His crucifixion as an innocent victim.
Jesus’ question traced back to the start of His public ministry when He was baptized by John. At that moment, God publicly declared that Jesus was His “Beloved Son,” in whom He was well-pleased. John testified that Jesus was “The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.” With that question to His opponents, it became clear to them and everyone listening that they only had two choices. John was either divinely inspired or humanly inspired. He proclaimed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. The consequences of either answer were obvious. Faced with the risk of condemnation no matter what they answered, the leaders of the Jews chose not to respond.
A lesson for us is that those who know God and love His word should always tell the truth, even if it brings trouble upon us. It is better to fear God than man. Be wise in our answers to tricky questions. The Lord Jesus told the truth and died for it. The testimony of faith in God and His word stands strong against those who attack God and His word, and this is evident in the faith of those who trust in Him.
When everyone was listening, Jesus told the parable of the vineyard and the evil vinedressers. This parable emphasized that Jesus had the authority to act because of who He was. Jewish leaders were familiar with the Old Testament scripture in Isaiah chapter five, which referred to Israel as a vineyard planted by God. They also understood that Jesus meant for them to realize they were the tenants responsible for doing God’s work in His way, according to His will, and for His purposes. The servants in the story represented prophets who came, were harmed, and rejected when they delivered a message from God to His people. They spoke truths the people did not want to hear.
In the parable, the owner’s son represents Jesus Himself, and those who heard the story understood that Jesus knew they were planning to kill Him. They would claim they had the authority to commit their evil act despite what was true and right. This seems like a final plea from the Lord for them to stop and consider the consequences of their actions. He knew they would execute Him on a cross, outside Jerusalem, and he illustrated this point in the story. When He told them the vineyard would be given to others, Gentiles, and all who believe in Him, this was a shocking idea to the listeners, who essentially said, “May this not happen!”
The look Jesus directed at those people must have pierced their souls, and then He quoted a well-known scripture from Psalm 118:22. He again openly challenged the listeners about who He was. He knew He was being rejected, just as the Messiah had been in that scripture passage. To overlook the capstone of a building—the last stone placed at the top of a high corner—was risky. Neglecting that stone could lead to a tragic ending. A Jewish proverb says, “If the stone falls on the pot, alas for the pot! If the pot falls on the stone, alas for the pot!”
This parable was told openly so that everyone who heard it would understand the point that was clear for all to see. Due to this open challenge by the religious leaders, their limitations were exposed. Because of Jesus’ counterchallenge and the consequences outlined for those who rejected Him, the official leadership was ready to fight Him to the death. They would have acted immediately, but they were afraid they would lose to the people listening to Jesus. The further incidents in this chapter show, “The plot thickens!”