Being accountable to the Messiah
Luke 20:41-47
41 Then he said to them, “How can they say that the Messiah is David’s son? 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand, 43until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
44 David thus calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?”
45 In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, 46 “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
The last verse immediately before this passage stated, “they no longer dared to ask him another question.” (vs. 40). The opposition had quit dialoguing with Jesus, they did not know what else to say to him. But Jesus was not finished his challenge to those who thought they knew how God acted.
There are two challenges embedded in this passage. First, a question about how can the Messiah be a descendent of King David, because David refers to the Messiah as David’s “Lord”. No Jewish patriarch would consider calling one of their children, one of their descendents, their “Lord” – “Master” – “boss.” Thus the Messiah, and there were people in the crowd who thought Jesus was the Messiah, was divine because God spoke to the Messiah as though the Messiah was divine. Jesus was making a claim to be the Messiah and therefore divine.
Second, Jesus challenges the outwardly religious to be the same in their religious life that they were in their private and business lives. The outer signs of following – particular dress and long prayers and receiving deference as religious people – are to be matched by appropriate behaviour in being humble and in the use of money. (These are the two matters that Jesus went after the religious elite of his day about.) We are not sure of the details behind Jesus’ comment about the stealing of widow’s houses. But clearly there is a profound question about accountability being asked. Are the religious elite willing to be held accountable for their actions? This remains a challenge to this day.
Parts 1 and 2 are linked in this way. If Jesus is Messiah, Lord of all, then his followers have a built-in accountability system, for Jesus as Lord of all taught humility and accountability. If Jesus is Lord then our lives will be impacted to live our lives accountable to his vision for how lives are to be lived.
PRAYER:
Lord God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, is Lord of all and the Messiah. Shape our lives to live by his pattern. Show us the paths to accountability that will keep us faithful to our following your model of life and spiritual well-being. These things we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.