Luke 20:1-8 Refusing to Argue
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: November 5, 2018 Luke 20:1-8
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
One day, as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes with the elders came up and said to him, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority.” He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ all the people will stone us to death, for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
(Understanding the Text) This indicates that it was well-known that John the Baptist had testified that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. It also shows that arguing with people who already have plenty of evidence is useless. John the Baptist was considered a prophet, so his testimony of Jesus’ authority was adequate witness. Many had also witnessed Jesus’ baptism when the Holy Spirit came down like a dove and the voice of the Father was heard, so there were more witnesses. Jesus had performed many signs and wonders that could only come from supernatural origin, so that was a witness. Jesus’ character was merciful and kind, so His character was a witness. Numerous Old Testament prophecies witnessed to who Jesus was. There would have been no purpose in answering the Council members. It would do no good, and would only provoke arguments.
It is interesting that the people were so passionate about John the Baptist that they were likely to stone the priests if they denied John’s calling. The Jewish people of Jesus’ time seemed to have been very volatile and emotional. They were ready to stone people and kill Romans a lot. In contrast, their leaders were wrapping themselves up in dry traditions rather than experiencing the emotional reality of God as presented in the scriptures, especially the Psalms and prophets.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that the scriptures testify of Jesus, and I need to see Him in every scripture. In addition, I need to let the positive emotions for Jesus run free while limiting the negative emotions that want to stone someone for disagreement. It’s fine not to argue with people who already have plenty of evidence about spiritual matters, but I should never let a chance go by to testify of Jesus’ beauty and kindness and love and saving grace. I want to see You always in every aspect of my life including in Your word. I want to reflect Your beauty to others and let them see You in me.
(Understanding the Text) Edersheim has some interesting information about the authority to teach in Jesus’ day among the Jews. “For, there was no principle more firmly established by universal consent than that authoritative teaching required previous authorisation. Indeed, this logically followed from the principle of Rabbinism. All teaching must be authoritative, since it was traditional – approved by authority, and handed down from teacher to disciple. The highest honour of a scholar was, that he was like a well-plastered cistern, from which not a drop had leaked of what had been poured into it. The ultimate appeal in cases of discussion was always to some great authority, whether an individual Teacher or a Decree by the Sanhedrin. In this manner had the great Hillel first vindicated his claim to be the Teacher of his time and to decide the disputes then pending. And, to decide differently from authority, was either the mark of ignorant assumption or the outcome of daring rebellion, in either case to be visited with ‘the ban.’ And this was at least one aspect of the controversy as between the chief authorities and Jesus. No one would have thought of interfering with a mere Haggadist – a popular expositor, preacher, or teller of legends. But authoritatively to teach, required other warrant. In fact there was regular ordination (semikhah) to the office of Rabbi, Elder, and Judge, for the three functions were combined in one. According to the Mishnah, the ‘disciples’ sat before the Sanhedrin in three rows, the members of the Sanhedrin being recruited successively from the front-rank of the Scholars. At first the practice is said to have been for every Rabbi to accredit his own disciples. But afterwards this right was transferred to the Sanhedrin, with the proviso that this body might not ordain without the consent of its Chief, though the latter might do so without consent of the Sanhedrin. But this privilege was afterwards withdrawn on account of abuses. Although we have not any description of the earliest mode of ordination, the very name – semikhah -implies the imposition of hands. Again, in the oldest record, reaching up, no doubt, to the time of Christ, the presence of at least three ordained persons was required for ordination. At a later period, the presence of an ordained Rabbi, with the assessorship of two others, even if unordained, was deemed sufficient. In the course of time certain formalities were added. The person to be ordained had to deliver a Discourse; hymns and poems were recited; the title ‘Rabbi’ was formally bestowed on the candidate, and authority given him to teach and to act as Judge [to bind and loose, to declare guilty or free]. Nay, there seem to have been even different orders, according to the authority bestowed on the person ordained. The formula in bestowing full orders was: ‘Let him teach; let him teach; let him judge; let him decide on questions of first-born; let him decide; let him judge!’ At one time it was held that ordination could only take place in the Holy Land. Those who went abroad took with them their ‘letters of orders.’”
(Revelation of God) Edersheim’s background information and the priest’s questioning of Jesus’ authority give light to another passage of scripture. “Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” (Luk 12:13-14). Jesus is saying that He is not an ordained judge. This goes back to God’s delegation of authority. Jesus commanded authority to speak for the Father and represent Him in spiritual matters, but He gave civil judgment to civil authorities and left it there. He was ordained by the Father to teach humans to reconnect to God. He was not ordained by a civil authority to perform governmental tasks.