Luke 19 and 20

1. 19:1-10 What two attributes of Zaccheus are good examples for us? Why did Jesus come to earth?
   Comments: He sought to see Jesus, he was determined, he welcomed Jesus, and he was repentant.
   Other notes: Zaccheus had faith and trust in God, if he could just get close enough to Him. Sometimes our “shortness” keeps us from seeing what we need to be doing. Zaccheus went out of his way to see Jesus. When Jesus called him, Zaccheus ran to him, even though Jesus knew his profession. Notice that Jesus initiated the contact: He came to seek and to save the lost.
2. 19:11-27 When the nobleman gave each of his servants ten pounds, what did he expect them to do with the money?
   Comments: To put the money to work, to increase it. Those who seek spiritual gain will become richer; those who squander it will lose what they have. If we speak of the money as the gospel, then it follows that those who use their opportunities to spread the gospel will receive even more opportunities.
   He punished the lazy servant who made lame excuses by taking away his money. He executed those “enemies of mine” (verse 27) who hated him and had sent a delegation after him because they didn’t want his leadership (verse 14).
3. 19:28-40 Describe the scene (Jesus, the multitude of disciples, the Pharisees) when Jesus entered Jerusalem.
   Comments: Jesus rode on a colt. The whole crowd of disciples began to joyfully praise God for all the miracles they had seen. Many spread their clothes on the road. The Pharisees were not jubilant; they told Jesus to rebuke his disciples.
4. 19:37-46 What kind of emotion(s) did Jesus have when He entered the city?
   Comments: He had a quiet sadness.
   v. 41 – As Jesus approached Jerusalem and looked over the city, he wept – an open sadness. In spite of the crowd’s  jubilation, Jesus knew they praised him for the wrong reasons. They were looking for an earthly, political kingdom that would free them from Roman oppression. It wouldn’t be long before they would reject him and be shouting for his crucifixion.
   v. 46 – He seemed to express anger when he drove the sellers out of the temple. “My house is a house of prayer, not a den of thieves.”
5. 19:45-48 Who were Jesus’ enemies?
   Comments: vv. 45-46 – The sellers in the temple; v. 47 – the chief priests, teachers of the law, the ruling Jewish council, and other leaders among the people.
6. 20:1-8 Why didn’t Jesus answer the question about his authority?
   Comments: He knew they were trying to discredit him. They had a hidden agenda, planning to use his answer against him, and he saw through it. If he had no credentials, the people wouldn’t want to listen to him. If he claimed divine authority, they could accuse him of blasphemy. Note: “These things” probably included the temple cleansing.
7. 20:9-18 Who do you think the owner, husbandmen, servants, and son represent in the parable Jesus taught? Who is the stone?
   Comments:
   Owner: God.
   Husbandmen (farmers, vinedressers): Israel, including the teachers of the law and chief priests (v. 19)
   Servants: Prophets
   Son: Jesus
   Stone: Jesus
8. 20:19-26 What was Jesus’ answer to the spies’ question?
   Comments: Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. If Jesus said “Yes,” it would alienate the Jews, who hated the tax. If he said “No,” he could be accused of rebellion against the Roman government. In this way, he said “Yes” to paying taxes to the government and “No” to giving Caesar divine honor. That belongs only to God.
9. 20:27-38 What logic did Jesus use to prove to the Sadducees that there is a resurrection?
   Comments: He referred to Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 3), where God calls Himself the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, even though they were dead.
10. 20:39-47 For what does Jesus condemn the scribes? What lesson from the widow contrasts with the behavior of the scribes as Jesus has just described them?
    Comments: They showed off, liked being important, thought they were better than anyone else. They were hypocrites, for while they made a show, they were taking advantage of widows. They used fraud and schemes for selfish gain. Compared to the widow in the next few verses in Chapter 21, they were arrogant, while she was humble. She was quietly generous, while they were brashly hypocritical.