Today's Bible Reading: Luke 20

Selected Biblical Text
But he said to them, "How can they say that the Christ is David's son? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, "'The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.' David thus calls him Lord, so how is he his son?" And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." (Luke 20:41-47 ESV)

Reflecting and Thinking
For some chapters of the Bible, writing a devotional thought that reflects the contents of the chapter is very difficult. Luke has especially long chapters so that in some chapters the overarching themes are difficult to discern, plus there are often subthemes and subplots. This chapter, however, seems pretty clear. The events of this chapter clearly declare Jesus' supremacy. Jesus has authority; he is the son of the vineyard owner in the parable. When his opponents seek to hand him over to the authority and power of the politicians, he effectively positions himself above those earthly powers as he declares their limited arena of authority. He is the teacher without equal, he is the one who stands in the lineage of David; he soundly criticizes the abuses of the teachers of the law. Believers today may tend to take Jesus' authority, power, and supremacy for granted, but many people do not accept his authority, despite the fact that the Bible affirms it again and again. Let us hear the Word afresh and be strengthened!

Is it true that we sometimes take the supremacy of Jesus for granted? Why or why not? This chapter is a good example of how Scripture at times reinforces a basic truth by a series of narratives, all of which point in the same direction. What impact do you think this series of events had on the people? on the disciples? on the Pharisees and Jewish leaders?

Prayer
Thank you, Father, for your revelation. Thank you for making it possible for us to know who Jesus is. Thank you for revealing his power and majesty, his splendor and supremacy. Help us to hear and to apply your truth. In the name of the One who is truth, Amen.