WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.000 It's good to see all of you this morning. 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:11.320 And if you were paying attention to the songs that we were singing, you would recognize 00:00:11.320 --> 00:00:18.879 ! that they had to do with what Christ accomplished for us on the cross. His death, his resurrection, 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:26.080 the redemption, reconciliation, ransom, all those big words that essentially allude to 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:34.019 the fact of forgiveness and purchasing us to God, making us belong to him, having us be 00:00:34.019 --> 00:00:41.079 part of his family. The question that we're going to come to in our passage this morning 00:00:41.079 --> 00:00:49.439 in Luke chapter 20 is really a response to what Christ has done, that price that he paid 00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:56.239 for us. And the question kind of comes down to this, what did Christ's death and resurrection 00:00:56.239 --> 00:01:02.739 accomplish for you? What did it purchase for you? What did it do for you? And of course, 00:01:02.839 --> 00:01:07.959 the answer to that question is, for those who believe in Christ and ask forgiveness for their 00:01:07.959 --> 00:01:13.939 sins, it means that we have to look forward to life in heaven. We have forgiveness of sins 00:01:13.939 --> 00:01:20.420 and cleansing that we can look forward to, but it's done so much more than that. That we are 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:28.500 bought with a price. And so we are called to live in consistency with that truth. What does 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:35.140 it look like to be bought with a price? The precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without 00:01:35.140 --> 00:01:41.439 blemish and without spot. What does that point to? What does that mean day by day for us? 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:48.519 If you've not read this book, it's a book called God is the Gospel. I know it's kind of small for 00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:55.500 those of you in the back. God is the Gospel by John Piper. I would commend it to you. It's a great 00:01:55.500 --> 00:02:00.680 book because it's small. I like that. So you can kind of get through it and kind of feel like you've 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:06.079 accomplished something. But also because of the truths, the truths that are there and helping to 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:15.379 point us to the fullness of the Gospel and what it means. In this book, John Piper asks this question 00:02:15.379 --> 00:02:21.300 that maybe you've heard before, but I think it helps set the tone for our passage today in Luke 00:02:21.300 --> 00:02:22.599 chapter 20. He says this, 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:31.219 The critical question for our generation and for every generation is this. If you could have heaven 00:02:31.219 --> 00:02:37.659 with no sickness and with all the friends you ever had on earth and all the food you ever liked and all 00:02:37.659 --> 00:02:43.699 the leisure activities you ever enjoyed and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical 00:02:43.699 --> 00:02:51.620 pleasures you ever tasted and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with 00:02:51.620 --> 00:03:03.060 heaven if Christ were not there? Now, my guess is that the immediate kind of response to that 00:03:03.060 --> 00:03:09.180 question is, well, that doesn't sound so bad. I kind of like that idea of heaven. That's kind of the 00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:17.259 picture I've painted in my mind of what heaven would be like. I mean, that sounds pretty amazing. I want 00:03:17.259 --> 00:03:25.899 that kind of heaven. But of course we know the right answer. We know we can't say that that would be good. 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:33.399 We can't say that that would be the heaven that we could be settled with because we understand that 00:03:33.399 --> 00:03:41.239 Jesus is our Savior, that we owe our life to Him, that He's forgiven us, that He's taken the price, 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:49.159 the penalty for sin that we deserve, that of course that He's our Savior. He's drawn us into His family. And so 00:03:49.159 --> 00:03:56.840 we couldn't possibly have that kind of heaven. We know that intellectually. But perhaps the reason 00:03:56.840 --> 00:04:05.159 why we struggle to answer that question, probably consistently and with some integrity, 00:04:06.280 --> 00:04:16.439 is because that's how we live from day to day. We live our life day by day as if Jesus doesn't matter. 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:25.319 So living in eternity that's free of all the things that kind of make us sad and bitter and frustrated, 00:04:25.319 --> 00:04:32.519 that kind of heaven doesn't sound so bad because that's just a better thing of what we're trying 00:04:32.519 --> 00:04:40.680 to accomplish here on this earth. And that's really the essence of our passage today. There are two 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:47.480 questions that are posed to Jesus here in this final week, a couple of days leading up to the cross. 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:55.639 And those two questions in essence have this in mind, what are you living for? And that's the question 00:04:55.639 --> 00:05:02.120 that you have there in your notes. What are you living for? And the answer to that question of course 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:12.040 is that the question of belonging. Do you live for the things that you desire? 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:18.920 You live for the things that you value. And to put it in a in a piper-esque kind of way, 00:05:18.920 --> 00:05:27.160 you live for the things you treasure. The objectives of your life are oriented towards the things you really 00:05:27.160 --> 00:05:33.320 want, the things you really love, the things that really make you feel happy. And so the direction of 00:05:33.320 --> 00:05:40.760 your life really is a window. It's a picture. It helps to know the real you and not just for the people 00:05:40.760 --> 00:05:49.640 around you. It helps the you to know yourself in what really drives you and motivates you and steers you in life. 00:05:49.639 --> 00:05:59.000 What do you want more than anything? Well, your life is a picture of what you treasure. Your life is a window 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:08.439 to this belonging. What are you living for? And that's what Jesus will come to. Really, the essence of 00:06:08.439 --> 00:06:16.759 the answers to these questions that are being posed to him have at the heart of it, the belonging of God, 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:22.839 that we belong to God. And so I've got just two points this morning. It should be very simple. 00:06:23.719 --> 00:06:30.599 The first point is is that your present life belongs to God. Your present life belongs to God. 00:06:30.599 --> 00:06:37.399 That's verses 19 to 26. And then we're going to see, well, your future life also belongs to God. That's 00:06:37.399 --> 00:06:46.839 that that's verses 27 to verse 44. And and and that's the simple structure of our message this 00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:53.560 morning and and the answers to these two questions. Your present life belongs to God. I trust you're 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:59.399 with me there in Luke chapter 20. If you're using the pew Bible, I believe it's on page 879. 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:03.319 We're going to be picking this up at verse 19. Here's what it says. 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:10.039 The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him at that very hour for they perceived 00:07:10.039 --> 00:07:17.079 that he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. So they watched him and sent 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:24.120 spies who pretended to be sincere that they might catch him in something he said so as to deliver him 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:30.759 up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor. So they asked him, teacher, we know that you speak 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:38.920 and teach rightly and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful for us to give 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:49.319 tribute to Caesar or not? So these chief priests and and scribes are coming and we're verse 19 kind of 00:07:49.319 --> 00:07:56.759 forms a transition for us between the the parable that was shared by Christ uh last week that we saw 00:07:56.759 --> 00:08:03.800 in the preceding verses and and now what we're going to find as the response question in trying to trap 00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:12.199 Jesus here by these scribes and Pharisees here in verses 19 to 26. As we saw last week, Jesus had kind of 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:19.079 given a parable a parable about some some tenants that had been entrusted to a vineyard by 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:27.399 an owner of of this of this vineyard and some time had gone by and the owner sent some servants. He sent 00:08:27.399 --> 00:08:33.799 at least three servants. They beat those servants. They turned them away and so the owner thought, wait, 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:39.159 I'm going to send my son. They're going to respect my son. So so so the owner sends his son 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:47.480 and what they do to the son? They killed him and they turned him out of the vineyard. And Jesus responds. 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:54.600 He looks straight in the faces of these scribes and Pharisees, these scribes and chief priests who 00:08:54.600 --> 00:09:01.079 who've come to ask this question and he says to them directly, the stone that the builders have rejected has 00:09:01.080 --> 00:09:11.400 become the cornerstone. Meaning don't reject the stone because your response to the stone 00:09:12.440 --> 00:09:17.800 will indicate the response of your heart and and the future judgment that's coming. You're either 00:09:17.800 --> 00:09:23.639 going to stumble on that stone and you're going to break to pieces through your rejection or 00:09:24.439 --> 00:09:29.960 maybe even ignorantly or passively. You're going to go along the way but but in your heart that 00:09:29.960 --> 00:09:35.960 rejection is going to lead to the stone falling on you and and dashing you, crushing you to bits. 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:45.080 Don't reject the stone. And here are these Pharisees or these scribes and chief priests. 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:53.560 They know that Jesus is talking about them and and and they are they are ticked off. They are angry. 00:09:53.560 --> 00:09:58.840 And they've been wanting to arrest Jesus this whole time but but they've been unable to do this and we 00:09:58.840 --> 00:10:08.120 find the reason kind of embedded again in this in this verse in verse 19. They they're unable to arrest 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:17.639 Jesus because they feared the people. They feared the people. So they devised this plan. Their plan is 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:28.120 kind of fairly simple but it's covert. It's covert plan. And the the the the language that Luke uses here 00:10:28.120 --> 00:10:35.960 is descriptive. You can see several different things that they do in this plan to try to trap 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:43.160 Jesus. And I want you to recognize that as you're working through a passage on your own, any time 00:10:43.800 --> 00:10:50.759 the writer of scripture slows down, provides more details, then you need to sit up and listen. Pay 00:10:50.759 --> 00:10:59.639 attention. So notice what how how Luke describes the response of these leaders. It says they watched him. 00:10:59.639 --> 00:11:08.840 They sent spies. They pretended. They want to catch him. They want to deliver him, right? All of these 00:11:08.840 --> 00:11:16.519 things, these action words that describe their activity, this covert operation so they can put Jesus 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:24.519 down. But but here's the here's the really uh funny thing to me at least that I that I recognize in this in 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:34.600 this passage is the the whole point of their plan is now to defer to Roman authority. Okay? So so the the 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:42.519 religious leaders there in Jerusalem who were given jurisdiction over the matters of Jewish law and 00:11:42.519 --> 00:11:51.879 process, they have been immobilized. They have been paralyzed by the people. And so the only way now to get 00:11:51.879 --> 00:11:58.439 Jesus, they can't go do it because of the people. So now they have to defer to other authorities. 00:11:59.559 --> 00:12:06.759 They need the Roman authorities to do their dirty work for them. They need the the Roman authorities that 00:12:06.759 --> 00:12:13.960 who they by the way they hated, they resented, they needed them to do the cleanup job in their plates. 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:25.639 And because of their self-serving nature, they defer and they're okay with deferring in this case to Roman authority. 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:34.680 So so even in this, Jesus is exposing their true heart, their true nature. They're not men of conviction. 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:43.079 They're men of convenience. They're men of compromise. And and and they're not men of courage. They're men of cowardice. 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:52.839 Because they're not willing to act on the things that they believe. They are willing to defer to others because of their compromising heart. 00:12:54.120 --> 00:13:01.000 We'll see this reveals the hypocrisy that's taking place deep down inside. Here by the way, 00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:10.279 they're appealing to the very Roman authorities that they feel in this question are going to help to bring Jesus down. 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:20.039 Because in their minds with this question, Jesus is either going to reinforce that God has given promises to Israel 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:26.759 and that the nation belongs to God. Or Jesus is going to say, well, Roman authorities are fine. 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:33.639 In their mind, that's the struggle. And yet they're asking this question and essentially deferring to Roman authorities, 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:37.399 which shows the hypocrisy of their heart. You see that? 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:44.039 So they come in secrecy. And now they're going to try to set Jesus up through flattery. 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:51.000 Notice this in verse 21. So they ask him, teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:59.879 and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. We know, Jesus, the true nature, 00:13:59.879 --> 00:14:08.279 the character of the content of your teaching. We know we can trust it. In other words, we can trust you to 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:15.639 shoot straight even when politically and culturally it's incorrect. So then they ask their question, 00:14:15.639 --> 00:14:24.039 is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar? And of course, at the heart of this is this issue of 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:31.480 belonging. Do we belong to God? Are you going to say that we belong to God as a teacher in Israel? 00:14:31.480 --> 00:14:41.399 Or do we belong to the system? We belong to those who are over us. Does our nation belong to God? Or are 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:47.000 we going to be okay with the fact that these Roman authorities, these Roman oppressors have come in? 00:14:47.559 --> 00:14:54.919 Are we going to support their regime? Are we going to advocate their allegiance to them as being from God? 00:14:56.120 --> 00:15:03.639 In their minds, this was a yes or no question. It was a dilemma. Jesus had two options. And by the way, 00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:11.080 neither option was going to be favorable for Jesus. He was either going to say, yes, it's right for you to 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:19.639 pay taxes to Caesar, tribute to Caesar. And the people were going to hate his guts because they were under 00:15:19.639 --> 00:15:28.279 severe oppression. Somewhere to the tune of 30 to 40 percent of their income was given to this oppressor 00:15:28.279 --> 00:15:36.759 in their mind. And they felt it day by day. They felt the strong hand of Rome that guided and governed 00:15:36.759 --> 00:15:45.319 their day-to-day decisions and restricted travel and exchange and trade. They were those who hated the 00:15:45.319 --> 00:15:52.439 imperial court of Rome. So if Jesus was okay with his tribute, certainly the people who had been hanging on 00:15:52.440 --> 00:16:01.160 his every word would now finally reject his teaching. But if Jesus said, no, you should not pay this tribute, 00:16:01.640 --> 00:16:08.960 then now he has the Roman authorities to answer to. He might be seen as an insurrectionist, seen as a threat to Rome. 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:15.160 And they could use that as a weapon against Jesus, which by the way they do in Luke chapter 23. 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:22.839 It becomes a part of their criticism of Jesus to Pilate. He would have us even, he says, 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:30.199 forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar and saying that he himself is Christ a king. That's what they say 00:16:30.199 --> 00:16:38.439 in Luke 23 before Pilate. But Jesus is not deceived by this group. He's not falling for their flattery. 00:16:38.440 --> 00:16:45.720 And we find that in verse 23. He perceived their craftiness. In response, Jesus will say, 00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:51.400 so in verse 24, show me a Daenerys. Whose likeness and inscription does it have? 00:16:52.600 --> 00:17:00.920 They said, Caesar's. He said to them, then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the 00:17:00.919 --> 00:17:09.559 things that are God's. So here are these chief priests. Here are these scribes. They've come to Jesus. 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:17.399 And they're able to produce in an instant the currency of the government that they are supposedly against. 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:25.159 They're operating under the authority already of that government. And they're doing business with that 00:17:25.160 --> 00:17:34.200 currency. Those coins that they would show, the Daenerys, had the image of Caesar on it. This coin 00:17:34.840 --> 00:17:43.240 had the emperor and the superscription on that was on it that said, Tiberius, son of the divine Augustus. 00:17:43.240 --> 00:17:53.480 There's, in Jesus' mind, there's no either or question in his mind, but a both and question. 00:17:54.599 --> 00:18:04.120 Notice his response. Give back to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. It has his image stamped on it. 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:11.400 It's his coinage. You are operating within his jurisdiction. It's a coin that has his imprint. 00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:18.519 And so you give back to Caesar the things that belong to Caesar. You are under authority. You do business in this realm. 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:25.500 You use the coins that bear his image. But the greater point is the second piece of this, where he says, 00:18:26.040 --> 00:18:33.200 give to God the things that belong to God. Well, what is that? Well, it's everything else. 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:43.319 Everything else that doesn't belong to Caesar belongs to God. You, in fact, were made in his image. 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:52.700 So the image that's printed on this coin of Caesar bears the image of his currency. But guess what? 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:59.519 The image of God has been placed on every person. And you bear the image of God. And so your life 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:07.039 belongs to him. Your heart, your life, your future, your everything belongs to God. Give to God your 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:16.559 everything. You belong to him. That's the point. You were made in his image. You belong to him. 00:19:16.559 --> 00:19:26.899 So give God the things that belong to God. God's realm is transcendent. God's realm is over every 00:19:26.899 --> 00:19:35.079 other realm. You may live in a Roman governmental system, but God is over all. That's what we see in 00:19:35.079 --> 00:19:37.539 Psalm 24, verses 1 and 2. 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:43.779 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. For he has 00:19:43.779 --> 00:19:51.879 founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Do we realize that one of the greatest 00:19:51.879 --> 00:19:59.299 ways that we ourselves reject the stone in the same way as the scribes and the chief priests, 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:06.960 the way that we reject the stone is by rejecting his belonging of us, his ownership of us. 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:11.380 Because the next verse is telling. We see that in verse 26. 00:20:12.860 --> 00:20:19.840 They were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said. But marveling at his 00:20:19.840 --> 00:20:27.360 answer, they became silent. They marveled. They were surprised. They wondered. They were in awe 00:20:27.360 --> 00:20:36.400 of his answer. 30 times this word is used throughout the gospel, the gospels, to indicate the marveling 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:44.160 and the wonder and even the worship, the apparent worship of the people of his words and his miracles. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:49.519 And here is the marveling that happens again. But there's a lesson in this. 00:20:50.800 --> 00:20:55.040 It's possible to be amazed at God and never to believe in him. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:21:04.960 It's possible to stand in wonder, to marvel, and even to be one he respects and reveres and just 00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:11.759 is blown away by the incredible nature of God and never bow the knee to him. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:20.079 Never give your heart to him. Never trust him in faith. The marveling must move us to faith. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:27.440 The marveling of God must move us to a recognition of his belonging, that we belong to him. 00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:35.119 It is possible to marvel, to be captivated, to be wooed, and never be saved. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:45.039 Have we given or have you given your life to Jesus? Have you entrusted him? He is overall. 00:21:45.919 --> 00:21:51.839 You do belong to him, but have you entrusted yourself? Have you given yourself to God and 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:59.199 recognize that exchange, that belonging? Or are we living like Jesus belongs to us? 00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:08.240 He does your bidding. He fixes your problems. He answers your prayers. He comforts your griefs. 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:16.880 He serves your purposes. But for the most part, you've got it covered. And you can go day to day 00:22:16.880 --> 00:22:23.759 without ever thinking about Jesus. Because he belongs to you, rather than you belonging to him. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:30.400 You barely give him a thought. So this question of the tribute is a question of ownership. 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:39.119 And as we are reminded this morning in our time of communion that we were bought with a price. 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:46.799 You belong to Jesus if you've given your life to him. He is overall. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:56.399 In verses 17 and 18, we see that Jesus is looking directly at this crowd and he wants them to know, 00:22:56.879 --> 00:23:00.399 he wants them to be warned about the stone that the builders rejected. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:09.519 May you not be like that in rejecting the stone. So the question from the scribes and the chief priests 00:23:09.519 --> 00:23:15.759 deals with the here and now. But the question from the Sadducees that we turn to in verses 27 to 40, 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:20.400 we'll deal with the future, that your future life belongs to God as well. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:23.279 We pick that up in verse 27. It says, 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:27.519 There came to him some Sadducees who deny that there is a resurrection. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:29.680 And they asked him a question. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:33.519 Luke adds this little footnote for Theophilus. 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:37.599 And remembering all the way back to the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:41.000 Luke is writing this account for this person named Theophilus. 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:46.359 We really don't know who he is, but he wants to insert for him some information about the Sadducees, 00:23:46.359 --> 00:23:48.279 that they're the ones who don't believe in the resurrection. 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:55.400 Those Sadducees who were part of the elite class there in the constituency there in Jerusalem. 00:23:56.200 --> 00:24:00.279 They were the tippity top and they dominated the Sanhedrin, 00:24:00.279 --> 00:24:05.559 which was this group of 70 men that essentially made all the decisions for the nation. 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:07.960 This is that group. 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:11.079 That group who denies the resurrection. 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:18.759 And mainly because that group only adhered to or thought authoritative the first five books of the Bible. 00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:21.799 Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:28.980 Those books of the Bible that were kind of authored by Moses through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, of course. 00:24:30.200 --> 00:24:33.259 This is a fairly quiet group throughout Jesus' ministry. 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:37.079 Really the first time that we see them in the Gospel of Luke. 00:24:37.240 --> 00:24:38.819 And they have this question. 00:24:39.879 --> 00:24:43.379 This question that we see in these remaining verses. 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:46.899 And it's an interesting question because in their minds, 00:24:47.079 --> 00:24:50.460 they thought they found a way to disprove the resurrection. 00:24:50.460 --> 00:24:54.940 So those who didn't believe in the resurrection are posing this, 00:24:55.100 --> 00:24:57.880 what they seem to be, this impossible question, 00:24:58.140 --> 00:25:01.400 which will help to prove that there is no resurrection after all 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:06.660 because of the conundrum that's created by laws in the book of Deuteronomy. 00:25:07.740 --> 00:25:11.680 But Jesus will, of course, answer that question as we'll see in our passage. 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:13.220 Verse 28 says, 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:14.539 They asked him this question saying, 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:44.539 00:25:44.539 --> 00:25:51.960 In summary, this question refers to a passage of Scripture back in Deuteronomy. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:56.240 And it deals with something that was known as the Leverite marriage. 00:25:57.399 --> 00:26:02.519 Leveri is, or Lever is a Latin word that means husband's brother. 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:07.059 And in this record or in this law, 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:09.619 there were protections not only for a man, 00:26:09.740 --> 00:26:11.819 but also for his wife that were built in. 00:26:12.639 --> 00:26:14.180 Deuteronomy 25, 5 and 6, 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:44.039 And the whole purpose of this was to ensure that the legacy or the heritage, 00:26:44.039 --> 00:26:49.099 of this brother, his name, his property, his legacy would continue. 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:52.639 So it was really a protection for the men of Israel. 00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:57.700 But also, by the way, as we saw a couple of summers ago in the book of Ruth, 00:26:57.899 --> 00:26:59.659 a protection for the woman as well. 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:06.259 As you remember, Ruth and Naomi and the poverty that came upon them 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:09.599 because of being widows in that place. 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:14.799 And so this was a way to help ensure that she was going to have protections as well. 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:17.259 So they asked this question, 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:20.000 In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? 00:27:20.699 --> 00:27:23.059 It really is an interesting question for two reasons. 00:27:23.379 --> 00:27:29.199 First, the resurrection that these Sadducees don't even believe in, 00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:32.359 they're trying to stump Jesus with this question 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:34.240 that involves the resurrection. 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:38.339 And second, they pose this sticky question 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:41.039 that doesn't appear to have a solution. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:42.940 And Christ responds. 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.579 We see that response in verse 34. 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.620 Jesus said to them. 00:27:47.640 --> 00:27:50.700 The forcefulness, though, is really captured for us 00:27:50.700 --> 00:27:52.220 in the record of Matthew. 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:54.620 In Matthew chapter 22, verse 29, 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:57.660 Jesus comes with them in force when he says, 00:27:57.660 --> 00:28:03.420 You are wrong because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:06.880 You show ignorance of the Scriptures 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:11.779 and you show that you don't understand the true nature of God. 00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:14.200 What's happening here? 00:28:15.620 --> 00:28:16.660 Well, the truth is, 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:22.480 the essence of the Christian life is what at the heart of Jesus' statement. 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:25.440 You are what you value. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:28.500 What are you living for? 00:28:28.860 --> 00:28:30.220 That's what Jesus is asking here. 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:32.779 Every time we make a decision, 00:28:33.340 --> 00:28:35.720 it's a value decision. 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:38.680 No decision that we make is neutral. 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:43.299 The decisions we make show what's really important to us. 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:47.340 And here, they're demonstrating what they value. 00:28:47.339 --> 00:28:53.599 Paul, in Philippians chapter 3, verse 8, 00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:57.539 talks about what the Christian life should treasure and value. 00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:58.579 He says, 00:28:58.679 --> 00:29:01.699 I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth 00:29:01.699 --> 00:29:03.959 of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 00:29:04.659 --> 00:29:07.699 For his sake, I've suffered the loss of all things 00:29:07.699 --> 00:29:10.759 and count them rubbish in order that I might gain Christ. 00:29:10.939 --> 00:29:12.740 Well, what's the correlation here, Andrew? 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:14.579 Well, the correlation is this. 00:29:15.859 --> 00:29:19.920 That whether it comes to things like extra sleep or leisure 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:23.319 or the activities that we fill out our life with, 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:25.500 wanting good grades, 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.519 wanting to preserve friendships, 00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:29.720 that spot on the team, 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:31.299 that future scholarship, 00:29:31.680 --> 00:29:32.319 that promotion, 00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.720 that home renovation, 00:29:34.039 --> 00:29:35.380 or that dream vacation, 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:38.480 the decisions that we make show what we value. 00:29:38.480 --> 00:29:42.339 And there are times, I think, 00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:45.960 that the things that we value demonstrate 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:48.039 that they're more important 00:29:48.039 --> 00:29:51.039 than the all-surpassing worth of Christ. 00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:54.000 And that's what Jesus is trying to get at here. 00:29:54.680 --> 00:29:57.640 They're asking this question about heaven 00:29:57.640 --> 00:30:01.539 that's related to marriage and human relationship. 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.819 And what they've forgotten 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:06.920 is that marriage is not ultimate. 00:30:06.920 --> 00:30:08.220 God is ultimate. 00:30:08.480 --> 00:30:10.759 And the joy that we have 00:30:10.759 --> 00:30:14.160 is not joy that's bound up in human relationships 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:16.180 or even in the wonder, 00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:20.440 in the beauty of that fulfillment in marriage itself, 00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:22.460 the wonder of what we have 00:30:22.460 --> 00:30:23.980 and what we're looking forward to. 00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:26.360 The thing that we can't wait for 00:30:26.360 --> 00:30:28.620 is the life that we have with God, 00:30:28.759 --> 00:30:31.140 not a continuing of this life. 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:33.620 And that we belong to His family, 00:30:33.620 --> 00:30:35.759 we're not about making our own families. 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:40.720 And so by the very nature of the question of the Sadducees, 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:42.500 they're bringing Christ down. 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:46.799 They're making Christ equal or God equal to us. 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:49.079 They're putting Him on our plane 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:52.980 so that God is at the same level 00:30:52.980 --> 00:30:57.480 or even sub-level than the human relationships that we enjoy. 00:30:57.480 --> 00:31:00.059 That's the essence of this question. 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.240 What do you value? 00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:04.339 What are you living for? 00:31:05.180 --> 00:31:07.299 And the things that they were living for 00:31:07.299 --> 00:31:10.900 and demonstrated were a priority for them in this life. 00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:14.220 They wanted those things to continue in the next life. 00:31:14.220 --> 00:31:18.559 Jesus wants them to know there's no marriage in heaven 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:21.200 because marriage is not ultimate. 00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.559 God is ultimate. 00:31:23.880 --> 00:31:26.240 Your future joy is not bound up 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:30.000 in the human relationships that you can experience here. 00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:31.819 They're only meant to be a picture 00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:35.819 of the greater, fuller friendship that we have 00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:38.700 and union that we have with God in the future 00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:40.339 and even now. 00:31:40.339 --> 00:31:43.639 So in a sense, Jesus is saying, 00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:46.059 how can you even ask such a question? 00:31:46.899 --> 00:31:48.459 How can you bring God down? 00:31:49.579 --> 00:31:53.299 How can you so misunderstand the essence of creation 00:31:53.299 --> 00:31:56.659 and the supremacy of the nature of God? 00:31:57.859 --> 00:32:00.079 Don't you understand what heaven is? 00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:03.319 And in verse 36, we find, 00:32:04.279 --> 00:32:05.299 for they cannot die anymore 00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:07.059 because they're equal to the angels 00:32:07.059 --> 00:32:08.899 and are sons of God. 00:32:08.900 --> 00:32:11.280 Being sons of the resurrection. 00:32:13.040 --> 00:32:15.340 And in this, Jesus is trying to point them 00:32:15.340 --> 00:32:18.640 to understand how one even gets to enjoy 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:22.140 the benefits of that heaven experience. 00:32:23.340 --> 00:32:25.160 It happens as we belong to Him. 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.740 And Jesus has been sharing that 00:32:27.740 --> 00:32:30.200 throughout the testimony of His ministry. 00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:32.259 Forgiveness of sins. 00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:35.040 He's talking about repentance 00:32:35.040 --> 00:32:36.460 and forgiveness of sins. 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:38.680 And time and time again, 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:41.299 we find that Jesus is calling attention 00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:42.600 to faith. 00:32:42.700 --> 00:32:44.140 Your sins are forgiven. 00:32:45.340 --> 00:32:47.120 And so for those of you in this room 00:32:47.120 --> 00:32:49.340 who want to enjoy that experience 00:32:49.340 --> 00:32:51.759 of prioritizing who God is, 00:32:51.840 --> 00:32:53.380 it begins with a recognition, 00:32:53.579 --> 00:32:54.100 first of all, 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:56.480 of what you really and I really deserve. 00:32:56.579 --> 00:32:56.940 And that is, 00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:58.720 we deserve judgment from God. 00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:01.140 And yet God in His mercy 00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:03.500 has given us His Son 00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:05.799 who has lived the life we could never live, 00:33:06.120 --> 00:33:09.500 who died a death that we deserved in our place, 00:33:09.779 --> 00:33:11.380 and who extends to us 00:33:11.380 --> 00:33:14.120 something more than just forgiveness. 00:33:14.360 --> 00:33:15.400 He's extending Himself. 00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:19.660 God has given Himself to you. 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:22.360 He's offered Himself to you. 00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:25.599 And He wants you to belong to Him. 00:33:26.979 --> 00:33:29.319 He wants you to enjoy the relationship 00:33:29.319 --> 00:33:31.979 that only happens through faith in Christ 00:33:31.979 --> 00:33:33.339 and forgiveness of sins. 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:37.599 So Jesus will then touch on verses 37 to 40 00:33:37.599 --> 00:33:40.079 on this piece of the resurrection. 00:33:40.459 --> 00:33:41.500 He doesn't want to let that go. 00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:43.919 He says, beginning in verse 37, 00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:45.840 but that the dead are raised, 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:48.800 even Moses showed in the passage about the bush, 00:33:49.180 --> 00:33:51.060 where He calls the Lord the God of Abraham, 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:51.980 the God of Isaac, 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:53.140 and the God of Jacob. 00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:55.480 Now He is not God of the dead, 00:33:55.539 --> 00:33:56.440 but of the living, 00:33:56.779 --> 00:33:59.160 for all live to Him. 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:00.620 Did you hear that? 00:34:01.640 --> 00:34:02.320 All live to Him. 00:34:03.539 --> 00:34:08.480 So Jesus goes back to the defining parts 00:34:08.480 --> 00:34:11.340 of the Scripture that they see as authoritative. 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:14.360 He goes back to the Mosaic Law, 00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:16.559 and He refers to this experience 00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:18.900 with the preeminent prophet Moses, 00:34:19.400 --> 00:34:22.100 and what He is experiencing at the burning bush, 00:34:22.180 --> 00:34:24.300 and God's testimony about Himself 00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:27.160 of being the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 00:34:28.039 --> 00:34:30.140 And He uses the present form of the verb. 00:34:30.380 --> 00:34:33.100 I am the God, not I was the God, 00:34:33.660 --> 00:34:38.539 to help describe the continuing promises 00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:43.039 that are extended to those who are still alive in Him. 00:34:44.179 --> 00:34:48.119 The promises that He will continue to address, 00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:50.159 and He will continue to extend 00:34:50.159 --> 00:34:52.739 to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 00:34:53.440 --> 00:34:56.059 This is God's testimony of Himself. 00:34:57.179 --> 00:35:00.880 And the point is that the patriarchs are not dead, 00:35:01.279 --> 00:35:03.759 and neither are God's promises to them. 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:07.880 But then really this peace that I think drives home 00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:09.340 the point that Jesus is making 00:35:09.340 --> 00:35:11.320 there at the end of verse 38. 00:35:12.200 --> 00:35:14.640 For all live to Him. 00:35:15.780 --> 00:35:17.000 You belong to Him. 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:19.740 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 00:35:19.980 --> 00:35:22.020 You don't only belong to Him in this life, 00:35:22.240 --> 00:35:23.800 you're going to belong to Him forever. 00:35:24.960 --> 00:35:26.140 God is over all, 00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:27.940 and all live to Him. 00:35:27.940 --> 00:35:31.960 And as Paul says in Romans 14, verse 8, 00:35:32.059 --> 00:35:32.539 he says, 00:35:33.559 --> 00:35:35.840 For if we live, we live to the Lord. 00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:38.220 And if we die, we die to the Lord. 00:35:38.320 --> 00:35:41.119 So then whether we live or whether we die, 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:43.240 we are the Lord's. 00:35:45.700 --> 00:35:49.099 Those who truly belong to Him 00:35:49.099 --> 00:35:51.559 will show the testimony 00:35:51.559 --> 00:35:52.960 of what they're really living for. 00:35:52.960 --> 00:35:55.940 And if you want a picture, 00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:56.659 a window, 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:59.800 to what that really looks like in your life, 00:36:00.599 --> 00:36:02.780 I think one of the greatest ways 00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:05.619 that we can see an accurate picture 00:36:05.619 --> 00:36:07.720 of what we're really living for 00:36:07.720 --> 00:36:09.420 is by the testimony 00:36:09.420 --> 00:36:11.960 of your expression of thanks. 00:36:12.679 --> 00:36:15.480 Are you generally a thankful person 00:36:15.480 --> 00:36:17.300 or generally a complainer? 00:36:18.380 --> 00:36:20.220 Are you generally somebody 00:36:20.219 --> 00:36:23.239 who is satisfied with the things 00:36:23.239 --> 00:36:24.579 that God has done for you? 00:36:24.739 --> 00:36:26.119 Are you generally critical? 00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.279 Paul will say, 00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:32.639 I have learned in whatever state I am 00:36:32.639 --> 00:36:33.559 to be content. 00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:35.799 I've learned to be content. 00:36:36.579 --> 00:36:38.019 I know how to be abased. 00:36:38.379 --> 00:36:39.500 I know how to abound. 00:36:39.779 --> 00:36:40.899 I know how to be full. 00:36:41.219 --> 00:36:42.439 I know how to be hungry. 00:36:42.899 --> 00:36:45.719 I can do all things through Christ 00:36:45.719 --> 00:36:47.739 who strengthens me. 00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:48.500 Why? 00:36:48.500 --> 00:36:50.960 Because Paul knew what he was living for. 00:36:51.719 --> 00:36:53.460 And he knew he didn't own 00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:54.500 or possess anything 00:36:55.019 --> 00:36:56.519 that didn't belong to God. 00:36:56.679 --> 00:36:58.920 It was free in his heart and life. 00:36:59.179 --> 00:36:59.960 God could take. 00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:00.940 God could give. 00:37:01.019 --> 00:37:01.760 It didn't matter. 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:03.119 It belonged to him anyway. 00:37:03.659 --> 00:37:05.960 And so the expression of Paul's heart 00:37:05.960 --> 00:37:07.840 was one that overflowed 00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:10.420 with great joy in thanksgiving. 00:37:11.079 --> 00:37:13.219 He had learned in whatever state he was 00:37:13.219 --> 00:37:13.920 to be content, 00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:15.199 to be joyful, 00:37:15.440 --> 00:37:16.079 to be thankful. 00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:21.099 That's a pretty good reflection 00:37:21.099 --> 00:37:23.659 of what you're really living for. 00:37:24.360 --> 00:37:25.980 Not to mention day to day, 00:37:26.840 --> 00:37:29.900 the looking to and loving 00:37:29.900 --> 00:37:31.679 and longing for Jesus. 00:37:33.900 --> 00:37:35.039 And so, of course, 00:37:35.420 --> 00:37:37.400 all that we enjoy 00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:39.079 because of what Christ 00:37:39.079 --> 00:37:40.739 has done for us 00:37:40.739 --> 00:37:43.299 is pictured for us 00:37:43.299 --> 00:37:44.819 in the symbols 00:37:44.819 --> 00:37:46.000 that we're about to take part of. 00:37:47.239 --> 00:37:51.000 And the work of the broken body 00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:52.559 and the blood of Christ 00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:53.119 that was shed 00:37:53.119 --> 00:37:55.500 to make this a reality 00:37:55.500 --> 00:37:58.099 for those who accept Christ in faith, 00:37:58.639 --> 00:38:00.179 who ask forgiveness of sins. 00:38:00.899 --> 00:38:02.919 And so there's a transfer of possession 00:38:02.919 --> 00:38:05.359 that you don't belong to yourself anymore. 00:38:05.579 --> 00:38:06.539 You belong to God. 00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:06.619 God, 00:38:07.179 --> 00:38:09.659 in the nature of our life, 00:38:09.699 --> 00:38:10.139 will show 00:38:10.139 --> 00:38:11.460 what we truly treasure 00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:12.659 from day to day. 00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:13.559 Let me pray for us. 00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:15.779 I'll ask the deacons to come forward 00:38:15.779 --> 00:38:17.360 and we'll take these elements. 00:38:19.659 --> 00:38:21.719 Lord, thank you for your son, Jesus. 00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:24.300 Thank you that 00:38:24.300 --> 00:38:26.239 his answers to 00:38:26.239 --> 00:38:27.900 the chief priests 00:38:27.900 --> 00:38:28.659 and the scribes 00:38:28.659 --> 00:38:29.639 and the Sadducees here 00:38:29.639 --> 00:38:30.679 were so masterful 00:38:30.679 --> 00:38:32.039 and really got at the heart 00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:32.719 of the issue. 00:38:33.679 --> 00:38:35.559 It was a heart of belonging. 00:38:35.559 --> 00:38:37.420 A heart of value. 00:38:37.539 --> 00:38:38.299 A heart of treasure. 00:38:39.039 --> 00:38:40.000 And recognizing 00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:41.719 why we exist 00:38:41.719 --> 00:38:42.579 in the first place. 00:38:43.940 --> 00:38:44.799 And Lord, I pray 00:38:44.799 --> 00:38:45.920 that you would help us. 00:38:47.099 --> 00:38:48.119 Help us who do 00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:49.039 belong to you. 00:38:50.099 --> 00:38:50.940 To show 00:38:50.940 --> 00:38:52.779 the reality of that 00:38:52.779 --> 00:38:53.480 day by day. 00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:55.219 In a heart, 00:38:55.380 --> 00:38:55.820 in life 00:38:55.820 --> 00:38:57.559 that prioritizes you. 00:38:58.259 --> 00:38:59.799 That you don't belong to us. 00:39:00.480 --> 00:39:01.199 You're not just a part 00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:01.840 of the background. 00:39:02.440 --> 00:39:02.920 But you're 00:39:02.920 --> 00:39:03.719 in the forefront. 00:39:03.719 --> 00:39:06.980 I pray that 00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:09.000 it would be true 00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:09.599 of us 00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:10.899 that we could say 00:39:10.899 --> 00:39:11.739 without even thinking 00:39:11.739 --> 00:39:12.199 about it, 00:39:12.739 --> 00:39:14.219 it could not be heaven 00:39:14.219 --> 00:39:15.099 without Christ. 00:39:16.159 --> 00:39:17.279 And that would reflect 00:39:17.279 --> 00:39:17.779 itself 00:39:17.779 --> 00:39:18.859 day by day. 00:39:19.259 --> 00:39:20.279 We can't enjoy 00:39:20.279 --> 00:39:21.599 life 00:39:21.599 --> 00:39:22.379 today 00:39:22.379 --> 00:39:23.059 without 00:39:23.059 --> 00:39:23.859 Christ. 00:39:24.879 --> 00:39:25.779 May that be true 00:39:25.779 --> 00:39:26.279 of us, Lord. 00:39:26.379 --> 00:39:27.000 So help us. 00:39:27.279 --> 00:39:28.559 Whatever is in the way, 00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:30.159 whatever distractions 00:39:30.159 --> 00:39:30.819 there are, 00:39:30.820 --> 00:39:32.640 whatever competing 00:39:32.640 --> 00:39:34.120 affections there may be, 00:39:34.440 --> 00:39:35.400 whatever distractions 00:39:35.400 --> 00:39:37.400 and anxieties, 00:39:37.680 --> 00:39:38.160 fears, 00:39:38.420 --> 00:39:39.920 and even joys, 00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:41.360 whatever is in the way, 00:39:41.539 --> 00:39:41.740 Lord, 00:39:41.840 --> 00:39:42.260 I pray 00:39:42.260 --> 00:39:44.160 in this moment, 00:39:44.260 --> 00:39:44.780 even now, 00:39:44.840 --> 00:39:45.260 that we would 00:39:45.260 --> 00:39:46.480 give it to you. 00:39:47.539 --> 00:39:48.660 It belongs to you. 00:39:48.800 --> 00:39:50.220 We trust you with it. 00:39:50.260 --> 00:39:50.740 We don't want it 00:39:50.740 --> 00:39:51.440 to be a distraction. 00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:52.559 So Lord, 00:39:52.620 --> 00:39:53.460 help us in that. 00:39:53.580 --> 00:39:54.519 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:39:54.519 --> 00:39:55.100 Amen.