Jesus is Condemned to Death by the People

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 23:1) And the whole multitude of them arose and led Him to Pilate.

At the end of the last chapter, the Sanhedrin had met it seems rather secretly at the high priest's house and had found Jesus guilty of blasphemy that was punishable by death.  Their Sanhedrin was an ecclesiastical court and they had no authority to put Him to death, so they took Him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor.

(2) And they began to accuse Him, saying, "We found Him perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King."

The members of the Sanhedrin who had taken Jesus to Pilate put forth their accusations against Him.  First they said He was perverting the nation, which was a very broad accusation, and if meant perverting the religion of the Jews, I'm sure Pilate couldn't have cared less.  So then they lied and said that Jesus had forbidden people to pay tribute to Caesar which was of course not at all what He taught (Matthew 22:21).  The reason they gave for His forbidding tribute to Caesar was that He said He was Himself King.  They figured that the last part would certainly rile the Roman governor.

(3) And Pilate asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" And He answered Him and said, "You say."

Pilate then asked Jesus point blank if He was the King of the Jews, to which Jesus answered, "You say."  Once again, I find translations and commentaries adding to what Jesus said, declaring that He had said something to the effect of, "You speak rightly," or "It is as you say."  In the original text, Jesus said only, "You say."  Pontius Pilate would declare it himself when he would later put a sign over Jesus saying, "King of the Jews."  I truly believe Jesus and the Holy God's point was to have His accusers themselves state that they were indeed killing the Son of God and the King of the Jews.  

(4) Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the people, "I find no fault in this man."

Apparently, people had gathered around the governor's palace by that time, and Pilate said to them and to the members of the Sanhedrin that he found no fault in Jesus.  He had done nothing against Caesar or the government, and he didn't consider claiming He was King of the Jews to be an offense worthy of punishment.

(5) And they were more fierce, saying, "He stirred up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry beginning from Galilee to this place."

However, the members of the Sanhedrin did not want to accept that answer and began arguing more fiercely.  The best they could come up with was that He stirred up the people with His teaching throughout all Judea.

(6) When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the Man was a Galilean.

When Pilate heard them speak of Galilee, he then asked if Jesus was a Galilean.  Even though Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, He was brought up in Nazareth in Galilee, so everyone thought of Him as a Galilean.

(7) As soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself was also at Jerusalem at the time.

Obviously getting an answer in the affirmative, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod as He would be considered within Herod's jurisdiction.  Herod was also in Jerusalem at the time.

(8) And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad for he was long desirous to see Him because he had heard many things of Him, and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him.

Herod was very glad to see Jesus as he had long heard many things about Him and had desired to see Him.  When Herod first heard about Jesus, he thought He must be John the Baptist coming back to haunt him because he had had John beheaded.  Herod hoped to see Jesus and to witness a miracle performed by Him to satisfy his curiosity.

(9) Then he questioned Him with many words, but He answered him nothing.

Herod questioned Jesus but we aren't told exactly what he asked.  We can gather from Jesus's non-response that Herod's questions were not from a genuine interest in the truth about Jesus, but rather merely out of curiosity.  He probably thought that now that he had Jesus before him in bonds that he could demand a miracle, but just as Jesus was unwilling to play prophecy games when the soldiers were hitting Him in the head and asking who it was who hit Him, He would not say anything to Herod or perform a cheap trick for him.

(10) And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused Him.

Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes of the Sanhedrin intensely made their accusations against Jesus.

(11) And Herod with his men of war treated Him contemptibly like He was nothing and mocked Him and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him again to Pilate.

Herod and his men, we see from this Herod's true thoughts about Jesus.  He thought of Him as nothing of any importance, only to be mocked by him and his men.  They put Him in a robe, mocking Him as King, and sent Him back to Pilate.  The word translated as "gorgeous" actually means more precisely "bright, shining, gleaming white."  The Romans had mocked Him as King in a purple robe.  Jewish kings wore brilliant white robes, so now they put a white robe on Jesus in pure mockery, not realizing the symbolism of the pure and innocent Christ King.

(12) And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were at enmity with each other.

Apparently, Pilate and Herod had been at odds with one another, but through their likely communications about Jesus, they had common ground that brought them together.  Neither saw Jesus as any threat.

(13) And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, (14) Said to them, "You have brought this man to me as one who perverted the people, and behold, I, having examined Him before you, have found no fault in this man concerning those things of which you accuse Him."

Having Jesus back before him, Pilate called together the chief priests and the rulers and all the people who were there to tell them that he had found no fault in Jesus.  Although they had said that He had perverted the people, Pilate had examined Him before them and didn't find Him guilty of any of the things of which they had accused Him.

(15) "No, not even Herod, for I sent you back to him, and lo, nothing worthy of death has been done by Him."

Pilate told the chief priests and rulers that even Herod had found no fault in Jesus, certainly nothing worthy of death.

(16) "I will therefore chastise Him and release Him."

Therefore, Pilate said he would release Jesus after he chastised Him.  Isn't it interesting that he would chastise someone in whom he had found no fault?  Chastise Him for what?

(17) (For of necessity he must release one to them at the feast.)

This was a parenthetical statement that may have been added by someone who transcribed scripture as it is said that it was excluded from some old manuscripts.  It had become a custom to release one prisoner at Passover, and the people expected it, so Pilate felt obliged to do it.

(18) And they cried out all at once, saying, "Away with Him and release to us Barabbas!"

It seems beyond belief that all the people could clamor for Jesus to be punished when they had so recently exalted Him in His entrance into the city.  The account in Matthew stated that the chief priests and elders had stirred up the people against Him.  People have never changed; to this day they can be so easily manipulated by people in power.  The people asked for a prisoner named Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus.

(19) (Who for a certain sedition made in the city and for murder, was cast into prison.)

Luke made a parenthetical statement explaining who Barabbas was.  He had been found guilty of sedition and murder and had been thrown into prison.

(20) Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them.

However, Pilate preferred to release Jesus and spoke again to the people.

(21) But they cried, saying, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"

Again, because he found no fault in Jesus and preferring to release Him rather than Barabbas, Pilate appealed to the people for Jesus's release.  It is so unbelievable and heartbreaking that people could be so cruel to not only imprison someone with whom no fault had been found, but also to see Him crucified!  That would be sad if it were any innocent person, but it being the most innocent and pure and also so loving a person to ever live on earth makes it unbearable.  I think it illustrates just how deplorable we people are, but because He loved us filthy unlovable lot so much, He willingly gave His life to save us.  No greater love has there ever been!  This crucifixion of Jesus was a true historical event; how could anyone deny Jesus and His loving gift to them?

(22) And he said to them a third time, "Why? What evil has He done? I have found no cause for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go."

A third time Pilate pleaded for Jesus, saying he had found no fault in Him that warranted death.  He even asked the people to tell Him what evil He had done.  He declared again that he would chastise Jesus and then let Him go free.

(23) And they were insistent with loud voices requiring that He be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

However, the people and the chief priests were insistent and shouted loudly that Jesus should be crucified.  And it seems they prevailed:

(24) And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

Pilate gave the death sentence to Jesus as the people required.  I find Pilate to be a most weak man.  Perhaps it was necessary for him to release the prisoner of the people's choosing at Passover, but I don't believe there was anything in the law that said the people had the right to choose who should be crucified.  Pilate could have released Barabbas and imprisoned Jesus for a while without sentencing Him to death, but he was a weak ruler who feared the wrath of the people.

(25) And he released to them him who for sedition and murder had been cast into prison, whom they had desired, but he delivered Jesus to their will.

Pilate released Barabbas, a murderer, but delivered up an innocent man to be crucified according to the will of the people.  I'm sure that the will of the people was not the normal law of the Roman government, but so weak a ruler that Pilate was, he gave in to the people.  The account in Matthew stated that Pilate washed his hands before the crowd and said he was innocent of Jesus's blood and that the people bore the responsibility, but I'm sorry, I can't see it that way.  Pilate could have easily in his position as governor saved an innocent life, but chose not to for fear of the people.  However, we know that it had to be done for the salvation of the world, and only God truly knew the heart of Pilate and He is the righteous judge.

(26) And as they led Him away, they laid hold of one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it behind Jesus.

As they led Jesus out of Pilate's court, they took hold of Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming into the city from the country and laid Jesus's cross upon him to carry behind Jesus.  In reading commentaries on this verse, I am very offended by Albert Barnes's commentary.  He said it was because Jesus was feeble that they compelled Simon to help Him.  The Catholic church of my youth always taught me that Jesus fell down and that is when they compelled Simon to carry His cross.  Neither is found in scripture!  I'm sure that Albert Barnes probably just meant that Jesus was weak from all the beating He had received before this point, but still scripture said nothing about that being the reason they forced Simon to carry His cross.  And who knows why the Catholic church said that Jesus fell down when scripture does not say that He did, but I find they way too often diminish the deity of Jesus in some way or another.  Even in my own study, I added to scripture myself when I studied the account in Matthew.  I believed that Jesus carried His cross for a while, as stated in John, but then His tortured and beaten body could do it no more.  Scripture didn't say that!  I believe the purpose in Simon carrying the cross was a more spiritual one and symbolic of following Jesus.  First, Cyrene was a country in Africa; Simon was a foreigner, a Gentile.  But here he took up the cross and followed Jesus, a beautiful picture of discipleship and the fact that it is given to all people to be a disciple of Jesus.

(27) And there followed Him a great company of people, and of women who also mourned and lamented Him.

A crowd of people followed Jesus and among them were women who cried for Jesus.  Some of these were surely His friends and followers, but I imagine that some women of the general public mourned for Him because they had compassion for Him because of the unjust cruelty they had witnessed.  It proves that not everyone was hellbent on seeing Jesus crucified. 

(28) But Jesus turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."

However, Jesus turned to them and told them not to weep for Him, but that they should weep for themselves and for their children.  He willingly went to give His life to save all people.  He called them daughters of Jerusalem, and of course, He referred to what was to happen to Jerusalem because of the people's rejection of Him and His blood on their heads and that is why they should weep for themselves and their children.

(29) "For behold, the days are coming in which they shall say, 'Blessed the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.'"

I know Jesus's human body was tortured and weak at this point, but there is nothing feeble about Him.  He was in complete control and willingly went to His death, and He had the complete presence of mind to tell these women about their fate to come.  There was coming a time when it would be more blessed to be barren and to have never born children that would have to endure what was in store for them.

(30) "Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, 'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'"

Jesus told the women that the days that were coming would be so terrible that people would wish for mountains to fall upon them and kill them rather than be subject to the terrors and complete destruction facing them.

(31) "For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"

Jesus's words were metaphoric.  If such a green fruitful life such as His, completely innocent, can be killed in such a brutal abhorrent way, what could dry unfruitful sinful people expect?  If the Romans punished Jesus in such a manner as this, what would they do to the entire Jewish nation?  The Romans would be used by God to punish Israel.  Sure, they were guilty of evil, too, and persecuted the Jews, but it was not the Roman rulers who condemned Jesus to crucifixion and death.  It was the Jewish people, God's chosen people, who condemned Him.  They were the dry useless chaff that would be burned and destroyed.  I know that God is just and that He can punish anyone or show mercy to anyone as He pleases, but I always think that God doesn't have to personally punish, although He has every right to, but I know all He has to do is turn His back and the wicked world will do it for Him.  

Again, I have to ask Mr. Barnes if this sounds like a feeble man.  I know he meant no disrespect and Jesus's human body had indeed been horribly tortured and weakened, and it pains me to think of the pain He endured, but I know He was a triumphant King who willingly did all this to defeat Satan and death and to bring all of us to Him in eternal life.  He was always in control and teaching to His last moments on earth.

As this is a rather long chapter, I will end this post with this and continue chapter 23 in the next post.

Chief Priests, Scribes, and Sadducees Try to Trap Jesus in His Words

Continuing a Bible study of the Gospels:

(Luke 20:1) And it came to pass on one of those days, as He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon Him with the elders.

At the end of the last chapter, Jesus had made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and He was teaching daily in the temple.  On one of those days that He taught in the temple, the chief priests and scribes and elders confronted Him.

(2) And spoke to Him, saying, "Tell us, by what authority do you do these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?"

The chief priests and scribes asked Jesus by what authority He did the things He did, teaching and healing and performing any other miracles they had witnessed.  In other words, they asked who gave Him the authority to do them.

(3) And He answered and said to them, "I will also ask you one thing and answer Me."

Jesus answered that He would first ask them a question and He wanted them to answer Him first before He answered their question.

(4) "The baptism of John, was it from heaven or of men?"

Jesus asked a simple question about whether the baptisms that John the Baptist performed were from heaven or was it a doctrine made up by men.  After all, it was a rather new ordinance that men be baptized.  So was it of God or did John just do it of his own folly?

(5) And they reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' (6) But if we say, 'Of men,' all the people will stone us for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

The chief priests and scribes reasoned among themselves about what they might answer.  This certainly proves that they were not asking out of genuine curiosity to know the truth.  They knew the truth but did not want to admit it.  For if they admitted that John the Baptist baptized by authority from heaven, then they knew that Jesus would ask why they did not believe him if they knew his prophecies to be from heaven.  Likewise, they would have to admit that Jesus's authority came from heaven, too, since John spoke of Him specifically, and of course, that is one thing they did not want to do.  However, if they said John's baptism was simply from men, they feared the people would rise up against them because they saw John as the great prophet he was.

(7) And they answered that they could not tell where it was from.

Trapped by their own attempts to trap Jesus in His words, they cowardly answered that they didn't know where John's authority came from.

(8) And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

Jesus, knowing they only asked Him to try to trap Him, said He would not tell them by what authority He did those things if they did not want to answer Him.  Of course, they knew the answer, and Jesus knew they knew the answer as it could be easily ascertained by His question to them.

(9) Then He began to speak to the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard and leased it out to farmers and went into a far country for a long time."

Then Jesus began to tell a parable.  He spoke of a man who planted a vineyard and leased it out to farmers, and then went to a faraway country for a long time.  This represented God who brought His people into a rich land of plenty in Canaan and then left them to tend it while He was not physically with them as in the days of Moses.  Physically is not exactly the right word for God's presence with them in the days of Moses, but His presence with them was known back then and was not so much at their present time.  And it was a very long time since Moses's day until that present time of Jesus.

(10) "And at the season he sent a servant to the farmers that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard, but the farmers beat him and sent him away empty."

When it was time for the harvest, the man sent a servant to the farmers to collect the fruit of the vineyard, but the farmers beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.  This servant represented a prophet that God sent to His people to exhort them to bring forth the fruits of righteousness.  However, the Jews only mocked the prophet and abused him and sent him away with no account of any fruitfulness in good works.

(11) "And again he sent another servant and they beat him also and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty. (12) And again he sent a third and they wounded him also and cast him out."

The owner of the vineyard sent another servant and the farmers beat him also and sent him away empty-handed, and again he sent another who was treated the same way.  These servants represented the prophets the Lord God kept sending to His people, but His people rejected and abused them.

(13) "Then said the lord of the vineyard, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; it may be they will reverence him when they see him.'"

The lord of the vineyard then decided to send his son expecting the farmers to show more respect to him.  This is symbolic of our sweet Lord having such love and patience for His people that even though they had rejected His word through His prophets countless times, He sent His only beloved son to save them from themselves and the enemy.

(14) "But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him that the inheritance may be ours.'"

However, when the farmers saw the vineyard owner's son, they reasoned among themselves that they should kill the son and then the inheritance would be theirs.  Of course, that is symbolic of the Jews, especially the scribes and Pharisees, and chief priests and elders, who wanted to kill Jesus so that their little kingdom in Jerusalem would be theirs to run as they wanted to, enriching themselves, not serving the Lord.

(15) "So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. What therefore should the lord of the vineyard do to them?"

The farmers in the parable indeed killed the vineyard owner's son.  Jesus then asked His listeners what they thought the lord of the vineyard should do after the farmers had killed his son.

(16) "He shall come and destroy these farmers and shall give the vineyard to others." And when they heard, they said, "God forbid."

Jesus answered the question Himself and replied that the lord of the vineyard would come and destroy the farmers and he would give his vineyard to others.  When the people heard what Jesus said should happen to the farmers, they said "God forbid."  Of course, the point of Jesus's question was to make them think about the consequences of rejecting and killing Him.  The Lord God would justly destroy them and give His gift of salvation to the Gentiles.  It's hard to believe that they would not see that this was a righteous judgment, but perhaps it was meant to mean, "God forbid that we should go as far to be as guilty of the crime as in Your parable."  But they did nothing to change their ultimate plans.  If their "God forbid" was an indication that they did not see themselves reflected in the parable, then they were very foolish indeed.

(17) And He beheld them and said, "What is this then that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner'?"

Jesus then asked the people who had said, "God forbid," what they thought the scripture meant in Psalms 118:22 that said that the stone the builders refused had become the head of the corner, or the cornerstone.  The word of God in that prophecy had stated emphatically that they would reject their Messiah who would regardless be the cornerstone of their church.  Before He told them this, He "beheld them."  Luke made it a point to add that bit of information which means it was probably more than just looking at them to answer them.  He probably felt compassion and pity for them, grieved to know that they would indeed be guilty of the crime He had described in His parable, and that they did not recognize themselves to their detriment and ultimate demise.

(18) "Whoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken, but on whoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder."

Jesus told them that whoever fell on that cornerstone would be broken, meaning whoever stumbled on His word and was offended by Him, would only injure himself and be broken.  One has to be broken to self to completely submit to Jesus, but whatever a person chooses to do when he shall without a doubt be broken, determines where he will spend eternity.  He really doesn't have to DO anything but choose to let the Lord do for him.  If the persecution and rejection reach the point where that cornerstone falls on someone (as opposed to him falling on it), he will be completely destroyed, ground to powder, just as what was to happen to Jerusalem after they rejected and killed Christ.

(19) And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on Him, and they feared the people, for they perceived that He had spoken this parable against them.

Incredibly, the chief priests and scribes understood that Jesus's parable was about them, but it didn't matter.  They still sought to seize the Son even after Jesus had told them what would happen.  However, they didn't go through with it because they feared the people who would likely rise up against them.

(20) And they watched Him and sent forth spies who would pretend to be just men that they might take hold of His words so that they might deliver Him to the power and authority of the governor.

So the chief priests and scribes continued to watch Jesus and sent spies to pretend to be righteous men who might be able to seize upon something Jesus said against the Romans so that they could deliver Him to the governor.  It seems they realized they couldn't catch Him or at least feared to catch Him saying anything religiously "incorrect," but they felt they might be able to catch Him saying something against the Roman government.

(21) And they asked Him, saying, "Master, we know that you say and teach rightly, neither do you accept the person of any, but teach the word of God truly."

The spies came up to Jesus and complimented Him on His ability to teach correctly the word of God.  They recognized that He did not show partiality or favoritism to anyone because of social status or wealth, but just taught the word of God truthfully.

(22) "Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or no?"

They asked Jesus if it was lawful to give tribute to Caesar.  They had supposed if Jesus answered that it was lawful for Jews, God's people who boasted never to be in bondage again, to pay tribute to a heathen emperor, that the people would rise up against Him because they expected their Messiah to free them from Roman bondage and would stand by them in denying tribute to Caesar.  However, if Jesus had said that it was not lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, then they could take Him to the governor with something to accuse Him of, which is what they were trying to do.

(23) But He perceived their craftiness and said to them, "Why do you tempt Me?"

Jesus knew they only asked in order to try to trick Him up and He let them know that He knew they asked only as a trap by asking them why they were tempting Him.

(24) "Show Me a penny. Whose image and superscription does it have?" They answered and said, "Caesar's."

Jesus told the spies to show Him a penny and asked them whose image and superscription was on the penny.  They answered that it was Caesar's.

(25) And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and to God the things which are God's."

Jesus demonstrated to them that since it was Caesar's image on the coin and the Jews indeed traded with his money, they were accepting the fact that they were under his government as indicated on the coin.  Therefore they were to give Caesar what was due him, in this case tribute, and give to God what was His.

(26) And they could not take hold of His words before the people; and they marveled at His answer and held their peace.

The spies were not able to seize Jesus the way they anticipated they would be able to.  They, in fact, had to marvel at His answer that He had spoken in the presence of the people, so they just held their peace.

(27) Then came some of the Sadducees who deny that there is any resurrection, and they asked Him, (28) Saying, "Master, Moses wrote to us if any man's brother dies having a wife, and he died without children, that his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother."

Some Sadducees then came to Jesus to ask a question.  The Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection.  They may have supposed that they had a logical argument against the resurrection, so they began describing a hypothetical situation.  They first recounted Moses's law that if a man's brother died leaving a wife but no children, that he should marry his brother's widow and raise up children for his brother (Deuteronomy 25:5-6).

(29) "There were therefore seven brothers and the first took a wife and died without children."

So began their hypothetical situation.  There were seven brothers and the first of them married a wife but then died without children.

(30) "And the second took her as wife and he died childless."

The second brother took his dead brother's widowed wife as his wife, but he then also died before having any children.

(31) "And the third took her, and in like manner, the seven also, and they left no children and died. (32) Last of all the woman died also."

Then the third brother took his brothers' widowed wife as his own, and this apparently continued to happen to all the brothers as the Sadducees took their hypothetical to a rather ridiculous level.  All brothers took the woman as their wife and all died childless, and finally the woman herself died.

(33) "Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? For seven had her as wife."

The Sadducees then asked Jesus that if there was a resurrection, whose wife would the woman be since she had married all seven brothers.

(34) And Jesus answering, said to them, "The children of this world marry and are given in marriage. (35) But they who shall be counted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage."

Jesus answered that the people in this world marry and are given in marriage, but those who were counted worthy to be resurrected from the dead and be a part of the kingdom of heaven would not marry nor be given in marriage, nor would marriages be recognized in heaven.  After all, the elect is the bride of Christ.

(36) "Neither can they die anymore for they are equal to the angels and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection."

Jesus continued saying that the resurrected would not die for they were the children of God and equal to the angels.  Death or marriage, neither one, would be recognized in heaven.

(37) "Now that the dead are raised, even Moses showed at the bush when he called the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. (38) For He is not a God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him."

Jesus went on to explain regarding the resurrection of the dead.  He said that even Moses when he was at the burning bush called the Lord the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  He told them that God was not a God of the dead, but only the living.  Therefore when he referred to God as he did, it meant that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob must be living in their afterlife.

(39) Then certain of the scribes, answering, said, "Master, You have well said." (40) And after that they dared not question Him.

One of the scribes who did believe in the resurrection which the Sadducees rejected, told Jesus He had spoken well on the subject, and after that, none of them asked Him any more questions.

(41) And He said to them, "How can they say that Christ is David's son?"

Jesus went on to speak to them all, asking how it was that people said that Christ was David's son, which was, of course, common knowledge among the Jews.

(42) "And David himself said in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit on My right hand, (43) Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'"

Jesus then quoted Psalms 110:1 where David said, "The Lord said to My Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.'"  Of course, David was speaking of Jesus Christ as sitting at the right hand of Father God until He destroyed all Christ's enemies, Satan, the antichrist, all the ungodly who followed them, and sin and death itself.

(44) "David therefore called Him Lord; how is He then his Son?"

Jesus then asked the question how Christ could be David's Son if David himself called Him his Lord.  His point was directed to the Pharisees and all who expected Christ to be a mortal man from the line of David who would sit upon his throne and would be a victorious king who would deliver them out of the hands of their earthly enemies.  If that were so, then why would David have referred to Him as his Lord?  Of course, that could only be reconciled by realizing that Christ was the divine Lord of David who had come to earth in human form through the line of David.  His reign was spiritual in nature and He would indeed deliver those who believed in Him from their enemies.

(45) Then in the audience of all the people, He said to His disciples, (46) "Beware of the scribes who desire to walk in long robes and love greetings in the markets and the highest seats in the synagogues and the chief rooms at feasts, (46) Who devour widows' houses, and for a show, make long prayers; the same will receive greater damnation."

Jesus then spoke to His disciples in the hearing of all the people in His audience.  He told them to beware of the scribes who loved to walk around in long robes and be greeted in the marketplaces.  They loved to have the places of highest honor in the synagogues and at feasts.  For a show, they would make long prayers while they devoured widows' livelihoods and homes.  They were glory-seeking and greedy and they must be avoided for they were worthy of and would receive greater damnation than the average person because they had used their pretended piety for their own gain and had led people astray away from true salvation.  So we must avoid the example of glory seeking and covetous pastors and the like, and so shall they receive greater damnation for leading their flocks astray.