Luke 20
Jesus silences his sceptics and provides further teaching
Discussion Questions
- The teachers of the Law and chief priests understand this parable (vv 9-19) as speaking against them, but where do you and I fit into this story, if at all?
- The chapter ends with a very stern warning: ‘These men will be punished most severely.’ Should we take this at face value? What are we to make of it?
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Going Deeper from 'Words of Life'
The opening verse of Psalm 110, which is quoted in this chapter from Luke, may seem a bit confusing at first. It’s prophetic, talking about a messianic King to come. It could be written as such: God says to Christ: ‘Sit at my right hand…’.
Because of this prophecy, New Testament books quote or allude to this psalm more than to any other. Why? The prophecy was fulfilled!
The psalm goes on to speak of the authority given to the messianic King, Jesus Christ – who sits at God’s right hand, a place of great honour and high privilege. Yet the enemies of the messianic King, at his final triumph, will one day become his footstool. People will rally around the messianic King, wearing priestly garments that are consecrated and holy. For he is a glorious King to be honoured and worshipped. Yet a King and priest, not of the Aaronic order. Christ is of an order different from and superior to that of Aaron:
‘You are a priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek’ (v 4).
Melchizedek once met and blessed Abraham after the rescue of Lot (Genesis 14:18-20). Christ’s priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek, whose name means ‘king of righteousness’. Jesus Christ is the supreme King and the eternal priest. The one who drinks from the brooks in order to renew his strength – then lifts his head, ready to rule supremely over the earth in great triumph:
He will drink from a brook beside the way; therefore he will lift up his head (v 7).
Do we really believe Jesus Christ, the messianic King, will return – bringing ultimate triumph and victory? Are we ready? This great psalm is a reminder that Christ is the supreme victor – sitting at God’s right hand, extending his ‘mighty sceptre’ (v 2) over all the earth. What a vision! What a messianic King is ours!
Beverly Ivany