Luke Chapter 20

vs 33

Oooh, these guys think they are so smart! Jesus could surely never answer suck a curly question! Notice that the Sadducees are trying to win on two fronts - they want to make Jesus look foolish by not being able to answer a question, and they want to score theological points for their worldview.

vs 34

Fairly obvious statement.

vs 35

Now that's a very interesting idea. Some people think of heaven as a totally different world to this one. Some think of it as pretty much the same. In this verse, Jesus is playing up the difference of heaven. No marriage there.

vs 36

Few lessons here. Firstly, there will be no death after the final resurrection. Secondly, angels can't die - interesting sublesson. Those who take place in the resurrection age (not just those who are resurrected) will also be children of God.

vs 37-38

And here's the counter-assault. In this verse, Jesus shows that a name which Moses uses for God (and which surely the Sadducees used as well) calls upon the names of the dead. But what kind of God is a god of dead people? No, these promises live, so these people must also live. They may not be alive to us, but they are alive to God. And his opinion is surely the one that matters.

vs 39

In other words, "Bam!" to the Saducees and their crazy beliefs. Bam indeed - not only did he foil their attempt to make him look bad, but they also ended up looking like fools who didn't know God.

vs 40

But after that ribbing by Jesus, people weren't so keen to go and ask more questions. He's already deflected the character assassins, maiming them with their own attacks. It's time for the actual assassins.

vs 41

Jesus isn't finished, though! He goes on the offensive and starts into an argument of his own! His attack, though, is rather odd - he is questioning the title of the Messiah as being the 'Son of David'.

vs 42-43

He quotes a Davidic Psalm where there is obviously a messianic bent.

vs 44

But the question is a curly one. David calls this Messiah 'Lord', and a father is always deserving of honour from his son. So how can this Messiah be both a son of David and his Lord? The fact is that no one can be a lord over David, because was is king! The only person who was Lord over David is God. But then God would be talking to God, "The Lord said to my Lord". Jesus doesn't answer the question plainly. He lets them think about it. But what other conclusion can they come to, except that if this is a messianic psalm, that the messiah will be God?

vs 45

I take it they're not listening to Jesus, because Jesus is busy talking to the disciples. Unless Luke just means that he continues talking, but now he's addressing the disciples (even though what he's about to say is anti-Pharisee). Otherwise, 'all the people' might have been busy listening to the ensuing argument over the psalm.

vs 46

In other words, these people like to be self-important.

vs 47

"Devour widow's houses" is an interesting term. Remember, widow = poor. I'm pretty sure you can't read this literally - widows were too poor to all live in gingerbread houses. My opinion is that the teachers of the Law were harsh enforcers of the tithe, and that it was through their religious taxation that they devoured the homes of the widow. That's just poor.

Jesus says they'll be punished severely. Probably for the best.