The Authority of Jesus Questioned - Luke 20:1-8
Understand It
- Where did the events of this story take place? (20:1)
- What was Jesus doing in the temple courts? (20:1)
- Who approached Jesus while He was preaching in the temple? (20:1)
- What question did the religious leaders ask Jesus? (20:2)
- How was Jesus put to the test? (20:2)
- In what way were the actions of the religious leaders hypocritical? (20:2-7)
- Why did Jesus answer the religious leaders’ question with another question? (20:3)
- What was it about Jesus’ question that stumped the religious leaders? (20:5-6)
- How did the crowds’ beliefs affect the religious leaders’ willingness to answer Jesus’ question? (20:6)
- How did the leaders respond to Jesus’ question? (20:7)
- In what way did Jesus demonstrate His wisdom? (20:8)
Apply It
- In what settings do you need to put forth extra effort to be completely honest and forthright in all your dealings with people?
- In the next few days, how can you rely on Jesus’ authority and wisdom?
The Parable of the Tenants - Luke 20:9-19
Understand It
- Why did Jesus choose to tell the people a parable in this situation? (20:9, 19)
- What are the main points of the parable Jesus told? (20:9-16)
- Whom does the man who planted the vineyard represent? (20:9)
- Whom do the servants the owner sent to the vineyard represent? (20:10-12)
- How were the servants treated? (20:10-12)
- Whom do the tenants in the story represent? (20:10, 19)
- Why did the owner send his son to the vineyard? (20:13)
- What is the inheritance to which the tenants referred? (20:14)
- How will the owner of the vineyard respond to the terrible actions of the tenants? (20:16)
- How did the people listening to Jesus respond to the parable? (20:16)
- What is the meaning of the Scripture that Jesus quoted? (20:17-18)
- How did the religious leaders react to Jesus’ teaching? (20:19)
- How did the mood of the people affect the actions of the religious leaders? (20:19)
Apply It
- What people could you reach this week with the news of God’s mercy? How?
- Over the next few days, what can you do to support or encourage a person devoted to telling others about Christ?
Paying Taxes to Caesar - Luke 20:20-26
Understand It
- Who sent the spies? (20:19-20)
- Why did the religious leaders send spies? (20:20)
- Why did the religious leaders want to hand Jesus over to the governor? (20:20)
- What did the spies do to trap Jesus? (20:21)
- How did the spies demonstrate hypocrisy? (20:21)
- In what way was the question the spies asked a trick question? (20:22)
- What did Jesus think of the spies? (20:23)
- How did Jesus respond to the spies’ question? (20:24)
- How was Jesus’ response a show of His wisdom? (20:24-25)
- Why were the spies astonished by Jesus’ answer? (20:26)
Apply It
- What preparations can you make for the tough questions that you will encounter as a follower of Christ?
- In what situations this week do you want to make a conscious effort to avoid flattery?
- What obligations to the government do you need to fulfill?
- How can you obey more fully this week Christ’s command to "give to God what is God’s"?
The Resurrection and Marriage - Luke 20:27-40
Understand It
- How did Luke describe the Sadducees? (20:27)
- Why did the Sadducees approach Jesus? (20:27)
- What was the main point of the lengthy story the Sadducees told Jesus? (20:28-33)
- What controversial question did the Sadducees want Jesus to answer? (20:33)
- How did Jesus respond to the Sadducees’ question? (20:34-35)
- What is the "age" to which Jesus referred? (20:35)
- Who is "considered worthy"? (20:35)
- In the age to come, what did Jesus promise to those who take part in the resurrection of the dead? (20:36)
- Who is like the angels? (20:36)
- For what reason did Jesus refer to Moses? (20:37)
- How did Jesus describe God? (20:37-38)
- Why did Jesus describe God as "the God of the living"? (20:38)
- Why did people stop asking Jesus questions? (20:40)
Apply It
- Whom can you encourage with the truth of the resurrection? How?
- What younger or less knowledgeable Christian could you instruct this week? How?
- What can you do this week to prepare for people’s tough religious questions?
Whose Son Is the Christ? - Luke 20:41-47
Understand It
- What dilemma did Jesus set before His listeners? (20:41)
- What was Jesus revealing to His listeners about His own identity? (20:41-44)
- For what reason does Jesus quote the words of David to His listeners? (20:42-43)
- How does David refer to the Christ? (20:44)
- Why could Jesus’ opponents not answer His question? (20:44)
- What did the teachers of the law seek? (20:45-46)
- About what did Jesus warn His disciples? (20:45-47)
- Of what were the teachers of the law guilty? (20:46-47)
- What point was Jesus trying to make about such religious behavior? (20:46-47)
- How did Jesus criticize the teachers of the law? (20:47)
- What did Jesus mean when He said, "They devour widows’ houses"? (20:47)
- How did Jesus say proud people would be treated for their actions? (20:47)
Apply It
- In what areas of your life do you need to battle a pride that prevents you from drawing closer to God?
- In what ways could you be an advocate this week for those who are mistreated by powerful persons?
