Luke 20:41-47
1. Why did Jesus introduce this query?
2. Why did he follow it up with an
warning?
3. What is at the root of the scribes
behavior
4. What can we guard against?
References
Psalm 110:2
Mathew
22:41-45
Mathew 6
In Mathew’s
account, this incident starts with a question of Jesus that has been omitted
from Lukes account. “What do you think aobut the Messiah? Whose son is He?”
They
answered Davids.
Our identities
are very important. When getting acquainted a very common question that begs
answer is “Where are you from?” Who is your father” The answers permit
placement in societal structure. It permits definition. It gives identity.
The Pharisees
had their identity in Abraham, and David. It was their heritage, it was their
lineage. It provided definition and character.
Jesus
referred them back to God. Do we really find our identities rooted in God? Do
we really trace our roots to Him? If we were to be asked “Who are you?” What
will our answer be? Our answers will
mirror what we consider active components of our lives. Either…
“I am a doctor” or “ I am a Keralite”. The answers are indicative of the active component of our conscious identities. For how many of us will the answer be “I am a child of the most High God?”
“I am a doctor” or “ I am a Keralite”. The answers are indicative of the active component of our conscious identities. For how many of us will the answer be “I am a child of the most High God?”
The scribes
were not able to provide an answer, not did Jesus proffer one. We will have to
work out our own answers to the question. Jesus has provided all we need for us
to realise and live in our identities that are rooted and grounded in Him. It
is for us to realise appropriate and live in that identity.
He went on
to sound a warning as he has often done before in Mathew 6, warning against inappropriate
actions that result from living in mistaken identity. Beware, he says of the
scribes. Not that the scribes were threats themselves, but it was their sense
of mistaken identity that was the vermin. “They go around in long robes”, Jesus
said.
As doctors,
this is a somber warning because we too parade in long coats that provide an
identity. So also with any other uniform that provides identity. Firemen,
pastors, policemen, each have robes or costumes that provide identity. What
does that robe confer on us? For Pharisees it conferred greetings in the
marketplaces, front seats in the synagogues and places of honor in banquets.
These could be called the perks of the job. What do our identities provide for
us? As doctors we are also honored in various ways. The time may come when we
begin to assume that these perks are our bounden right. The perks and honors
then begin to provide definition, becoming a part of the apparel. When denied
these perks, our identities are challenged or offended, and we experience
anger, or disappointment or chagrin at not being “treated right”, or feeling
let down or insulted.
When was
the last time we experienced such emotions? Was it linked to a sense of misplaced
identity? Our negative emotions are a
useful windows into truths that lurk in our souls. Some of those truths are camouflaged
lies, exposed by the truth of the Word.
Appropriating
a misplaced identity then permits us to abuse our power. Every position is
exposed to this risk, of abusing the powers we are given. In each of the arenas
of our service, this virus transforms service of others to service of self,
using our identities. The adage coined by Lord Acton years ago is still a
logical progression of earthly power, that power corrupts, and absolute power
corrupts absolutely. If we don’t have our identities rooted in God, unbridled
misappropriation of authority is the next logical outcome.
Questions
for us to answer for ourselves:
· Who am i?
· What is my identity?
· What does that identity confer upon
me?
· What is the outflow of my identity?
