Luke 20:1-19

Deeper

Both of the events in today’s passage have been covered earlier, but let us go back and look a little deeper at both.

Concerning the questioning of Jesus’ authority we saw the purely political considerations and motivations of the questioners in Matthew 21. Jesus refused to answer their question. His refusal to answer was not just because they were trying to trap Him into making a politically awkward claim. He really wasn’t concerned with politics. He refused to answer them because their machinations proved that their hearts were not ready to receive the revelation of who He was. Jesus sometimes does not speak or reveal Himself simply because every rejection of the light drives us further in to darkness. If we reveals at the wrong time we run away rather than draw near. Our hearts are like wounded dogs. We have to be wooed rather than overpowered.

The parable of the Tenants was covered in the blog on Mark 12. Only one thing to add today. Jesus quotes the Psalmist saying: “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

We understand what the first part means. What the world despised turns out to be the most important. That should come as not surprise. The world is notorious for making bad value judgements. We should consider the last part. Everyone must confront this stone. Everyone must confront Christ. There are two options: we fall on Him or He falls on use. If He falls on us that is judgement and likened to being crushed. If we fall on Him we are broken to pieces.

What is the difference? Both outcomes dictate that we cannot stay as we are. We cannot continue as selfish loathsome creatures tottering toward a meaningless destiny. The difference is that we have the option to fall on Him. I choose, of my own free will. What is the difference between being forced to do the right thing and choosing to do the right thing? Love.