Sermon Tone Analysis

Questions, questions and more questions

(James; This one is only about 13 min long, expand on things along the way)

Do you ever have a question asked and it really raises more questions?

This chapter in Luke could be called the question chapter.

What the Chief Priests, scribes and elders came with questions, Jesus turns to teach His followers and to convict the Jews even more.

Now all the questions that arise here in chapter 20 are to try to trick Jesus, or trip Him up, and well that is not what happens as you will see.

A little History first

Sunday - rides into Jerusalem - comes in riding as a king

Monday - cleansed the temple - Cleanses as a priest

Tuesday (that is today) - day of questions - answers like a prophet

So how about questioning authority, is that a good thing?

Historically when it comes to questioning authority you can see it was popularized in the 1960’s about the War in Vietnam, also by psychologist Timothy Leary, also some take it back to days of Socrates, and some, though unproven say Benjamin Franklin claims it is our obligation as American Citizens to question authority.

So is questioning authority a bad thing?

Remember this is in the midst of passion week, and the rejection is leading to the cross.

Jesus, had told them before, what was going to happen, and now it is happening, He is being rejected.

The priests, elders and the scribes are fulfilling the prophesy, they think they are tricking Jesus and in reality He is leading them where He wants.

This rejection mentioned in Lk9:22 is rejection after investigation, they had all the proof needed to know who Jesus was and they still rejected Him.

We may help people to know all they need to know to come to Jesus and they will still reject the truth.

So as we share the truth with others, be ready for questions that may lead to more questions.

So now, open your story book to pg. 119, and bible to Lk20:1-8

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Question 1

I mentioned that this is now Tuesday and yes there is significance to Tuesday when it comes to the Passover.

The date here would have been the 10th day of Nissan and that is the day in Exo12 Moses told the people to get the passover lamb and it would go under scrutiny and inspection for 4 days before it was offered as the sacrifice.

Exo12:1-

Exo12:

So Jesus God’s perfect sacrifice was to be inspected, scrutinized for 4 days, Tues-Fri.

So now back to the story.

Where was Jesus and what was Jesus doing (v.1)?

What did the priest, scribes and elders do (v.1)?

There is a two part question in (v.2) what is it?

The priest claim their authority from Moses.

The scribes claim their authority from the rabbi’s, and the elders were the leaders of their family and in their position is where they claim their authority.

So they thought they were the authority, eventhough Jesus told them before

Their question was pointed and thought to back Jesus into a corner no matter how He answered

If from God; they get him claiming to speak from God.

If from man; then no can be dismissed as just another pretender

One more point to look at in this section “these things;” do you wonder what “these” things is?

Might I suggest

Riding into Jerusalem as a king

Cleansing the temple as a priest

That is some pretty drastic things to ones who thought they had the right authority.

Answer to question 1

How did Jesus respond to their question?

Bible Trivia question: what do you know, remember about baptism of John?

Lk3:3

Preaching baptism for remission of sins

Preaching of the one who is to come who is mightier

While the people rejected Jesus, they rejected John too

Jn1:

Jn1:21-22

Jn23-24

Then we see the One John preached of - JESUS

Jn1:29

Now back to our text.

In (v.4) what was the question and what did that do to the priest, scribes and elders?

What did they do in (v.5-6)?

they reasoned among themselves.

Do we ever do that, take something someone says and try to reason it out so it will come out the way we want it to?

Remember they asked the question to trap Jesus.

Now they were trapped themselves

How did they answer (v.7)?

They knew they were caught, they answered the only way they thought they could get away with.

How did Jesus respond (v.8)? - was there anything Jesus could say that they would accept?

No, even if the dead were brought back to life.

they still wanted signs.

There will be people who when you talk to them about Jesus and you present all the evidence to prove the Bible is the Word of God; Jesus is the Son of God; and in believing in Him you can have redemption and the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

When someone has to face the truth they are responsible for the truth even if they don’t like it.

You cannot change the truth but the truth can change you.

they don’t like it.

You cannot change the truth but the truth can change you.

The key is they have to be willing.

Let me bring in one more passage of scripture.

Jn7:14

JN7:15

Jn7:16-17

Some people will not believe no matter what you say, they need to reason among themselves the truth you share with them and if they come to a place of being willing, then God will do the rest!

(summarize and close) -