A study in Luke 20

Luke 20:41-47

 Preliminary questions

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?”

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?