Learning Jesus | Week 29
Learning Jesus Week 29
How to Silence an Enemy
Key Word – love >> Central Passage – Read/Listen to All (See Day 5 Chart.)
In last week’s lesson we learned that Jesus entered Jerusalem on the same day Jews brought in their lambs for testing. His first test was to validate the source of His authority; instead of answering their question, He asks His own question about John’s authority. Because the Jewish leaders feared the crowd instead of fearing God, they remain silent. Jesus then goes ahead and answers their question, but in three parables, each featuring God as a different authority figure: Father, Master, King and the Jewish leaders as a different disobedient subordinate. In the final parable, the King Himself asks His subject a test question: “How did you get in here without a wedding garment?” And the man is speechless. This typifies the silence with which Jesus’ answers are met in today’s texts.
In today’s lesson Jesus is tested three more times in hopes that He will say something that the leaders could take to accuse Him before Jewish leadership or before Pilate.
Day 1 -- Test #2
Read both Matthew 22:15-17 and Luke 20:20-26.
1. What do you notice about the character of those posing the question to Jesus?
Background Information – Note that Matthew’s version of this story names the Pharisees and Herodians as instigators of this second test, but Luke is more direct and refers to their disciples as “spies.” Jesus asked these spies to bring Him a Roman tribute coin. Because this coin bore the image of Caesar whom the Romans considered divine, it was unlawful to use it to pay the temple tax. Only a Jewish shekel was accepted as a temple tax payment.
2. The Pharisees and Herodians think they are oh so clever...for about a minute.
o If Jesus had answered pay the taxes to Caesar, then what would have happened?
o If Jesus had answered, don’t pay taxes to Caesar, then what would have happened?
3. The question posited to Jesus implies that only two choices existed – either a Jew would submit to God or a Jew would submit to government.
o How does Jesus’ reply show that a Jew could submit to both God and government?
o How do we know Jesus passed His second test? (Luke 20:26)
Day 2 -- test #3
Background Information – In contrast to the Pharisees, the Sadducees based their theology on the Mosaic Law alone, focusing on literally interpreting and applying laws governing Jewish rituals and society and rejecting the man-made laws of the Pharisees. However, since the books of Moses, the first five books of the Old Testament, did not directly teach an afterlife, they rejected the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. They also did not believe in the existence of angels.
As to class, the Sadducees were aristocratic. Both the high priest and common priests who implemented the laws pertaining to the sacrificial system usually belonged to this Judaic sect. As to politics, the Sadducees supported Rome because any political tensions with Rome would jeopardize their status and financial holdings.
Read Luke 20:27-33.
1. Sadducees
o Using the underlined details in the Background Information above, what likely motivated the Sadducees to test Jesus? Consider their religious, social, and political reasons.
o Likely the Sadducees used just such a tricky question to make the Pharisees who believed in the resurrection look like fools. What was the gist of their question?
Background Information – According to the law of levirate marriage, if a married man dies and leaves no children, then his brother should marry the widow. The firstborn child of this union would be considered the deceased brother’s heir and carry on his name. With this law in mind, the Sadducees contrived a scenario to ridicule the doctrine of the resurrection.
Read Luke 20:34-36.
2. Jesus’ Answer Part I
o Matthew also records Jesus saying, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” The Scriptures Jesus references could only be what we call the Old Testament since the New Testament did not exist at that time. What story do you know in the Old Testament where you could infer that resurrecting His people to an afterlife is in the power of God?
o The Sadducees erred in making assumptions about the afterlife. How did Jesus correct their theology?
Read Luke 20:37-40.
3. Jesus’ Answer Part II
Remember Matthew records Jesus saying, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” The Pharisees who upheld the entire Old Testament might have quoted from Daniel 12:2; Isaiah 26:19; or Job 19:25-26, three classic passages on the resurrection. But the Scripture Jesus references is from Exodus. He chose this book on purpose because the Sadducees did uphold the first five books of the Old Testament, those Moses wrote, and this included Exodus.
3. Here is the verse Jesus referenced: And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God (Exodus 3:6).
o What tense is the verb am (present, past, future)?
o How does this show God’s present relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
o How does Jesus’ use God’s words to Moses himself as recorded in Exodus 3:6 to perfectly silence this particular sect of Jewish leadership? See the Deep Think for further evidence you could use in your answer.
Deep Think (Totally Optional)
Your answers to question #3 support a covenant principle: God is such a promise-keeping God that if a person dies before receiving God’s promise to him, then God will resurrect that person in order to fulfill it. This explains why Abraham knew God would raise Isaac from the dead if Abraham sacrificed him (Hebrews 11:17-19). God made the same covenant at different times with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He promised to give them and their children the land. But these three patriarchs died without receiving the land, so God can only fulfill what we call the Abrahamic Covenant if in the future He raises Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob from the dead. He is indeed the God of the living!
Record how each passage supports the doctrine of the resurrection.
Daniel 12:2
Isaiah 26:19
Job 19:25-26
Bonus -- Isaiah 53:10. How does this verse support the doctrine of the resurrection for Jesus and believers?
Day 3 -- Test #4
Background Information – The result of Jesus’ first, second, and third test is the same: His interrogators are silenced. This fourth test comes from a scribe, a lawyer whom the Pharisees put forth to pose their question. Like the Sadducees’ question, it also pertains to the law. Matthew records that after Jesus silenced the Sadducees, their rivals, the Pharisees, came together to basically determine their own question of the law that might trip up Jesus. He answers by citing from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and from Leviticus 19:18.
Read Mark 12:28-34.
Background Information – Jews recite: “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one” in the morning and in the evening” and in Rabbinic Judaism, this verse is used to teach the oneness of God; however, according to Dr. Fruchtenbaum, the rabbis do acknowledge that the word “one” used in Deuteronomy 6:4, can convey a unified plurality. Given what Jesus will declare about the Messiah in tomorrow’s text, this is very interesting.
In Matthew’s account, Jesus concludes His answer with “On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” The Law being referred to here is the 613 commandments in the Mosaic Law. Consider how all the Laws depend on these commands to love God and others.
1. Love God & His image bearers
o With this final test, Jesus does not answer a question with a question. Instead He directly states that we are to love God with all our decisions and all our desires and all our thoughts and all our actions (heart/will, soul, mind, and body/strength). Why is God worthy of all our heart and soul and mind and strength?
o Why is each person worthy of being loved by all other persons as they love themselves?
2. Why do you think Jesus answers with these TWO commandments if the Pharisees were seeking only the one most important commandment? Consider how all the Laws (ceremonial, social, etc.) depend on these commands to love God and others.
3. No one this side of heaven is able to love God with all He gave them to love Him with.
o Why, then, does Jesus tell this scribe that he is not far from the kingdom of God? Consider how the scribe's answer is contrary to what we have seen in the Pharisaical heart. (vs32-33)
o Why do you think that all the fully human opponents of Christ do not dare to ask Him any more questions after this fourth test question? (v34)
Day 4 -- Jesus gives the final testing question.
Background Information – Jesus has been challenged by the Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees. In this text He initiates His own challenge with first a question He knows they will answer correctly and then with a question He knows they will not be able to answer correctly.
Read Matthew 22:41-46.
Background Information – The Pharisees knew that the Christ would be a son of David. If you are a son of a human, then what does that make you?... So we see that the Pharisees understood the Messiah would be fully man. In Psalm 110, David does not refer to his son with the title of son, however.
1. In Samuel 7, King David is promised an eternal throne; one day a descendant of his, a son, will reign forever. The Pharisees answered Jesus' first question, therefore, correctly. But Jesus is testing them now. "What do you think about the Christ?
o What title does David give his son?
o It is unnatural for a father to call his son or descendant "Lord." What does this title imply about the Messiah, the son of David?
2. What does this title imply about all those who have been testing Jesus the Lamb of God – the Sadducees, Pharisees, and Herodians -- for our past two lessons? Consider verse 44 in particular.
3. Jesus turns the table on these enemies who have come at Him again and again. How is Jesus loving His enemies by testing them with this particular final question?
Optional Memory Verse – The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool. Psalm 110:1
Day 5
There is no new reading for Day 5. If you have not completed Lesson 28 or Lesson 29, you could use this time to review those. These two lessons review how Jewish leadership inspected the Lamb of God on four occasions after He rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. On this very day Jewish households brought in their lambs to inspect them for flaws for four days. If their lamb passed his test, then this lamb would be sacrificed at Passover.
If you are finished with both lessons, then review the “How to Silence an Enemy” chart on the next page and record any connections you see between the different challenges Jesus’ opponents pose to Jesus and the challenge Jesus issues to His opponents.
How to Silence an Enemy
Mark up what you stands out on the chart above. Notice patterns. Use space below to record your observations. Reflect on how Jesus silences His enemies.
REFLECTION Questions
These questions along with the Central Passage will usually be the focus of your group’s discussion each week.
1. What details or patterns do you notice on the How to Silence an Enemy chart? Consider both questions toward Jesus and questions Jesus poses.
2. Read Matthew 22:41-46. Jesus turns the table on these enemies who have come at Him again and again. How is Jesus loving His enemies by testing them with this particular final question?
3. How does Jesus silence His enemies in ways we should imitate? Consider the scribe who is not far from the kingdom (Mark 12:28-34).
4. How can silencing an enemy be done in love and also a most loving thing to do? Share a story if you have one.
5. Enjoy a time of worship, confession, and petition.
COMMUNITY GROUP TIME
• Discuss the Central Passages questions. (This week that is Day 5 Chart) Hopefully everyone read this week.
• Open Share Time -- Allow time for each to share “starred” insights or questions from Days 1-5. Allow others to respond to the shared insight.
• Is anyone able to recite all or part of Psalm 110:1?
• Discuss Reflection Questions.
• Close in prayer.
God’s joy and strength to you,
kpaulson@gracelaredo.org