Conflict With Religious And Political Authorities In Luke's Gospel

Front 1

Why was it inevitable that Jesus would come into conflict with the religious and political authorities?

Back 1

They did not understand who Jesus was and were afraid of him because they believed he would pose a threat to their position and the peace of Israel.

Front 2

Who were the religious authorities?

Back 2

Chief priests, teachers of the law, Sadducees, and Pharisees.

Front 3

Who did the religious authorities see Jesus as and why was this a problem for them?

Back 3

They saw that the way Jesus performed miracles and spoke about God made him a false prophet, something which the Law of Moses was very clear in such circumstances.

Front 4

Deuteronomy 18:20

Back 4

"A prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded him to say...must be put to death".

Front 5

Why were the religious authorities in such a fragile position?

Back 5

The Romans had given the religious authorities the power to govern the everyday lives of the people, and in return, they expected the religious authorities to keep the people in order.

Front 6

What did it mean that the religious authorities saw it as their sacred duty to preserve Judaism?

Back 6

It meant ensuring people followed the Law of Moses, kept the Covenant with God, and did not threaten the fragile peace they held with the Romans.

Front 7

Deuteronomy 13:4

Back 7

"It is the Lord your God you must follow...serve him and hold fast to him".

Front 8

Who were the political authorities and what did they want?

Back 8

The Romans and they wanted to collect the taxes and to maintain the nation in a state of peace. They were very wary of anyone who was a threat to that peace.

Front 9

What 2 claims did Jesus make about himself?

Back 9

To be the Son of Man and the Son of God.

Front 10

What does the "Son of Man" mean in the Book of Daniel?

Back 10

A divine figure sent by God to introduce the kingdom and bring judgement.

Front 11

Daniel 7:13

Back 11

"I looked and there before me was one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of Heaven".

Front 12

Why could the Jews not understand or accept the title "Son of God"?

Back 12

They saw such a view as blasphemy as it broke the most sacred Jewish concept - the oneness of God.

Front 13

Deuteronomy 6:4

Back 13

"Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one".

Front 14

Leviticus 24:16

Back 14

"Anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death".

Front 15

What does Luke use the expression "Son of God" to highlight?

Back 15

Christ's unique relationship with God the Father.

Front 16

What were the Jews waiting for?

Back 16

The day when the greatest king of Israel would come in fulfilment of God's prophesy made to David centuries earlier.

Front 17

2 Samuel 7:13-14

Back 17

"The Lord declares...'I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father and he shall be my son'".

Front 18

What is one way in which Luke highlights the fact that Jesus is the Son of God?

Back 18

By his authority over demons.

Front 19

Luke 4:36

Back 19

"With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out".

Front 20

Why had Jesus become a cause for concern for the religious authorities and how did he show he knew this?

Back 20

They regarded his teachings as a threat to their own position and Jesus spoke about his death and resurrection in his passion predictions.

Front 21

Luke 9:22

Back 21

"The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders...and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life".

Front 22

What does Hooker observe about why his fellow Jews were so angry that they wanted to kill him?

Back 22

"It is the suggestion that Jesus is bringing salvation to the Gentiles that rouses his countrymen's fury and leads them to attempt to kill him".

Front 23

Why did the healing of the paralytic highlight fears of the religious authorities?

Back 23

Because Jesus healed the man by forgiving his sins - an action only God had the power to perform. This in itself was a great sin.

Front 24

Luke 5:21

Back 24

"Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?".

Front 25

Why did the allowing of the disciples to pick corn on the Sabbath cause the religious authorities to fear Jesus?

Back 25

He ignored the Law of Moses by carrying out work on the Sabbath. The religious authorities failed to understand the significance of the law.

Front 26

Luke 6:9

Back 26

"Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?".

Front 27

Why did Jesus condemn the Pharisees for their wrongful attitude?

Back 27

They were more concerned with their own righteousness than with helping the people, and they would incur the displeasure of God.

Front 28

Luke 11:39

Back 28

"Now then, you Pharisees, clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness".

Front 29

Luke 11:43, 46

Back 29

"Woe to you Pharisees...you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry".

Front 30

How does Luke offer very personal attacks against the religious leaders?

Back 30

In Luke 12:1 where he writes "be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy".

Front 31

When did the Triumphal Entry happen?

Back 31

In the final week of Jesus' life when he knew he had to go to Jerusalem and face the religious authorities once and for all.

Front 32

What was prophesied in Zechariah 9:9?

Back 32

That the King of the Jews would one day enter Jerusalem in triumph, riding on a donkey.

Front 33

Luke 19:38

Back 33

"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord".

Front 34

The Pharisees were enraged and told Jesus to rebuke his followers, but Jesus refused and said what?

Back 34

"If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out" (Luke 19:40).

Front 35

What is the conflict in the Temple called?

Back 35

The Cleansing of the Temple.

Front 36

Malachi 3:1

Back 36

"Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple".

Front 37

Why was Jesus angry with what he saw in the Court of the Gentiles?

Back 37

Market traders were exploiting worshippers by charging them excessively high prices, apparently with the approval of the religious authorities, and Gentiles were not allowed to worship there.

Front 38

Jesus drove them out, quoting from the prophesy of Isaiah 56:7 which said what?

Back 38

"It is written, 'my house will be a house of prayer', but you have made it a den of robbers" (Luke 19:46).

Front 39

Jesus knew animal sacrifices and rituals were not enough to atone people from sins. How then could salvation occur?

Back 39

From faith in Jesus Christ.

Front 40

Psalm 51:17

Back 40

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart".

Front 41

What does Hooker state regarding the Temple?

Back 41

The Temple is to be destroyed and replaced by a new one - the temple of his body - so that from now on worship is to be centred on the risen Lord, not on the Temple in Jerusalem".

Front 42

Luke 19:47

Back 42

"The chief priests, the teachers of he law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him".

Front 43

What did Rivkin observe about the situation the religious authorities found themselves in when it came to Jesus?

Back 43

"It was not easy for the authorities to decide what to do about charismatic leaders who preached no violence and built no revolutionary organisations...were these charismatics harmless preachers, or were they troublemakers?".

Front 44

What was the argument about authority?

Back 44

The religious authorities asked Jesus where his authority came from, but he turned the tables on them and trapped them by asking them where they thought John the Baptist got his authority from. They could not answer and so Jesus refused to tell them the source of his authority.

Front 45

What did Morris observe about Jesus' authority?

Back 45

"It is clear that he is very conscious of possessing the highest authority. But he will not speak about it".

Front 46

Why did Jesus liken the religious authorities to the tenants in the Parable of the Tenants?

Back 46

The tenants' killing of the son reflects the coming rejection and Crucifixion of Jesus by the authorities.

Front 47

Why was it such a clever trap for the religious authorities to ask Jesus if Jews should pay Roman taxes?

Back 47

If he said they should not, this would be a treasonable statement and Jesus could be arrested for Sedition; if he said they should, he would lose the support of many Jews.

Front 48

What was Jesus' reply which was both uncompromising and safe?

Back 48

"Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's" (Luke 20:25).

Front 49

What did the Sadducees not believe in?

Back 49

The resurrection of the dead.

Front 50

By asking Jesus a question about marriage in the afterlife, what were the Sadducees hoping to achieve?

Back 50

To trick Jesus into admitting that there was no resurrection - alienating him from the majority of believers.

Front 51

Luke 22:3

Back 51

"Then Satan entered Judas".

Front 52

What does Hooker say regarding Satan's defeat?

Back 52

"Satan is seen here as the agent of Jesus' death, but in attempting to destroy Jesus he is in fact bringing about his own destruction".

Front 53

How were the proceedings at the Sanhedrin completely irregular?

Back 53

No accusations were made against Jesus.

No witnesses were called.

Proper trial procedures were not followed.

Front 54

When the religious authorities asked Jesus if he was the Son of God, what was his reply?

Back 54

"You are right in saying I Am" (Luke 22:70).

Front 55

Why did Jesus' reply condemn him to be guilty to the religious authorities?

Back 55

Claiming to be the Son of God was blasphemy under the Law of Moses, punishable by death.

Front 56

What did the religious authorities change Jesus' charge to and why?

Back 56

Subverting our nation, opposing the payment of taxes to Caesar and claiming to be "Christ, a king" (Luke 23:2); because blasphemy was not a crime in Roman law.

Front 57

What does Luke highlight about Pilate and Herod when it comes to Jesus?

Back 57

They continually find him innocent, stating they find no basis for a charge against him. Luke is suggesting that the political authorities cannot find a legitimate charge for Jesus to condemn him to death - only the religious authorities find him guilty.

Front 58

Pilate wanted to release Jesus but the crowed wanted what?

Back 58

For him to release a murderer called Barabbas. Pilate reluctantly condemned Jesus to death.

Front 59

What did Morris state regarding Jesus' death sentence?

Back 59

"It was not Pilate or his Romans who called for Jesus' execution: it was the Jewish chief priests and their followers".

Front 60

What did Rivkin observe regarding Jesus' death sentence?

Back 60

"Had there been no Roman imperial system, Jesus would have faced the buffetings of strong words...but he would have stood no trial, been affixed to no cross".