Southern Christian University

Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John

Class Session 10

James A. Turner

Please turn to Matthew chapter twenty‑one. When our time was up for Class Session Nine, we were reading from the latter part of the parable that Jesus gave the chief priests and the elders about the wicked husbandmen. You remember that Jesus had these men to condemn themselves when he asked them the question about their killing the servants and finally killing the Son. And, of course, the Son in the parable is Christ. In the parable, Jesus said they cast him forth, the son, out of the vineyard and killed him, and that is exactly what they were going to do. They were going to cast him outside the city and kill him. Then he asked that question, "When the Lord therefore of the vineyard shall come, what will he do unto those husbandmen?" Notice they answered condemning themselves. "They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will let out the vineyard unto other husbandmen, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons. And Jesus said unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner: This was from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Therefore I say unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation that bringeth forth fruits thereof. And he that falleth on this stone." And Christ is that stone. "Shall be broken to pieces. But on whomsoever it shall fall it will scatter him as dust. And when the chief priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they perceived that he spake of them. And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet." So by way of review, the householder in the parable is God. God had given the Jewish people wonderful opportunities. He had given them the Old Testament law. They were his chosen people and he did everything necessary to make the vineyard a good vineyard. He set a hedge about it and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower so the vineyard could be protected from theives.

The husbandmen are those chief priests and elders that Jesus gave the parable to. He also gave the parable of the two sons prior to this and now this parable about the wicked husbandmen. They are the wicked husbandmen, along with the scribes and Pharisees. The people of Israel down through the years have had a history of rejecting the prophets and all that God said unto them, even killing some of the prophets because of their trying to give God’s message to them. And as represented in the parable, they beat the servants. They killed another and stoned another. He sent other servants and they did likewise unto them. And finally he said, I will send my Son, and surely they will reverence my Son. Mark's account says, he had a beloved Son, and God sent him. And, of course, that Son is Christ. Jesus came to be a sin offering for man, and he knew exactly what was going to happen to him, that those wicked men, before the week was over, would condemn him to death. He set him forth what they would do by quoting from Psalms 118: 22-23 about that Christ would be the rejected stone. They are going to reject him, but he is still going to be made the head of the corner. And he says to them, "Therefore I say unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof." Of course, that would be the Gentile people. Although many thousands obeyed the gospel during the early days of the church (Acts 2:41, 2:47, 4:4, 5:14, 6:1, 6:7), the Jewish people as a people rejected the way of salvation through Christ. And so the kingdom would in process of time be taken away from them and given to the Gentile people. Please remember that the new Israel of God is made up of both Jews and Gentiles who obey Christ (Isaiah 11:5, 11:10, 42:1-7, 49:1-6, 49:19-21; Romans 2:28-29; Philippians 3:4).

Notice that they recognized that he was talking about them. Verse forty‑five, "And when the chief priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they perceived that he spake of them." Well, if they had been humble men, they would have been humbled by the parable of the two sons, and this parable of the wicked husbandmen, and they would have turned from being wicked husbandmen and would have obeyed the Lord. But instead they sought to lay hold on him, but they were afraid to do so, because the people had great regard for him.

I believe we said we would turn to Isaiah chapter five and read about God's vineyard as set forth there. Isaiah chapter five beginning with verse one. It reads, "Let me sing of my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. And he digged it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also hewed out a winepress therein: And he looked that he should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up: I will break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down: And I will lay it waste: It shall not be pruned, nor holed; and there shall come up briars and thorns: And I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of Jehovah of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant. And he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there is no room, and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land! In mine ears saith Jehovah of hosts, of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant. For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the homer of seed shall yield but an ephah. Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that tarry into the night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the lute, and the tabret, and the pipe, and the wine, are in their feasts: But they regard not the work of Jehovah, neither have they considered the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, for lack of knowledge: And their honorable men are famished, and their multitude are parched with thirst." So you see what God has to say about his vineyard there in Isaiah 5:1-13.

Matthew Chapter 22

This chapter makes the third parable that Jesus gave to these chief priests and elders that came to him in the temple and wanted to know why he was doing the things that he was doing in the temple and by what authority doest thou these things and who gave thee this authority, as given in Matthew 21:23-32. Of course, Jesus cleansed the temple again on that occasion, much like he did the first time, as we've read about from the gospel of John. He cleansed the temple twice, once during the early part of his ministry, and then again in that last week of his ministry, he cleansed the temple again. We are ready to read this third parable he gave them. So we have the parable of the two sons, the parable of the wicked husbandmen, and now the parable about marriage feast that the king made for his son. "And Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them." See, he is talking to the chief priests and the Pharisees, the chief priests and the elders. Going back to verse forty‑five, when the chief priests and Pharisees heard this parable, they perceived that he spake of them. So he is still speaking to them. "Jesus answered and spake again in parables unto them, saying, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son. And sent forth his servants to call them that are bidden to the marriage feast. And they would not come. And again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them that are bidden, Behold, I made ready my dinner: My oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: Come to the marriage feast. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise: And the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. But the king was wroth, and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then saith he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore unto the plains of the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage feast. And those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: And the wedding was filled with guests. But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not owned a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his talk."

I believe we will stop and discuss now the parable of the marriage feast and the slighted invitation. The king in the parable would be God, and the marriage feast for his Son would be that way of salvation given through Christ. Remember the church is the bride of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:22-32). The king sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden, and the Jewish people were the first ones that were bidden. It is usually reckoned that it was about seven years after the gospel was preached to the Jewish people on Pentecost before it was carried formally to the Gentile people at the household of Cornelius. Announcement about the marriage and how the feast was made, and when the date was come he sends forth other servants to tell them everything is ready. I have made ready my dinner. My oxen and my fatlings are killed and all things are ready, come to the marriage feast, but they made light of it. And surely these men were making light of the teachings of Christ and the way of salvation through Christ. They are determined that they are going to kill the Son and take over the vineyard. They had a lucrative money‑making business with the way they were doing things in the temple, and they wanted to hold on to their gravy train! Verse five, "They made light of it, and one went to his own farm, and another to his merchandise." And when you consider the economy of that day, that would pretty well get everybody. Basically, the society was an agrarian economy with a few people involved in merchandise, making shoes or other things that people needed. Those two occupation would get most of the society of that day, saying one went to his own farm and another to his merchandise. "And the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully and killed them." They probably had a part in getting John the Baptist put to death, they are going to condemn Christ to death before the week is over. Jesus had already told his disciples that the chief priests would condemn him and deliver him to the Gentiles to be killed and how that the Gentiles would mock him and scourge him (Matthew 20:17-19).

Matthew 22:7, "But the king was wroth: And he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers and burned their city." Would not verse seven refer to the Roman armies destroying Jerusalem in A.D. 70 Jesus plainly taught in Matthew 24:1-21 and Mark 13:1-2, and Luke 21:5-6 that not one stone of the temple would be left upon another. The Lord was concerned about having guests at the wedding feast. In Revelation 19:9-10, 21:1-4, eternal judgment is spoken of as a wedding feast. "Then saith he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the partings of the highways, and as many as ye find, bid to the marriage feast." Do you think that would represent the gospel going to the Gentiles and how that a lot of the Gentiles would receive the invitation! It has been that way for nearly twenty centuries. Those that are going out to invite would be those teachers and preachers of the gospel. Remember when Saul led that persecution against the church as given in Acts eight, they went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:3-4). It was not very long after the persecution led by Saul until the gospel was carried to the Gentile people. The book of Acts shows that after Saul’s or Paul’s conversion that the unbelieving Jews, persecuted Paul from city to city on that first journey and on that second journey.

It surely must have been real good news to Paul when the Lord appeared to him in Corinth in a vision and told him not to be afraid, that no man is going to set on thee to harm thee, for I have much people in this city (Acts 18:9-11). He had been driven out of one city after another on that first and second journey. So that must have been real good news to him. Verse ten, "Those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: And the wedding was filled with guests." And you remember the parable of the net, catching good and bad fish, and the angels then separating the bad from the good in the day of judgment. So the wedding is filled with guests. "But when the king came in to behold the guests." And that surely will come at the time of judgment. "He saw that there was a man who had not on a wedding garment." And what would that mean, if a person does not have on a wedding garment? STUDENT: He didn't follow the way of righteousness.

BROTHER TURNER: Correct. He did not follow in the way of righteousness. The garment is spoken of in several references as righteous living. For instance, in the first part of chapter three of the Revelation, the church at Sardis as a whole was a dead church. The Lord said of that church, Thou hast a name that thou livest but thou art dead. But he goes ahead to say in verse four, "Thou hast a few names in Sardis that did defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: For they are worthy." White, of course, would represent the way of righteousness and purity. And so there were present in that church, in that dead church, the church as a whole was dead, but there were those that were faithful that had not defiled their garments. They had on garments of righteousness. And then in the latter part of chapter three, to that church at Laodicea, those that thought that they were rich and increased with goods and had need of nothing. Let us read Revelation 3:18, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eye salve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see." In the Revelation, there are seven beatitudes. And the third beatitude in the Revelation is given in chapter sixteen and verse fifteen, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame." For a man to walk naked would be not to have on ‑‑ as stated here in the parable, not have on a wedding garment, not have on a garment of righteousness, So the king goes in to see those at the wedding feast, and he finds one that did not have on a wedding garment. In verse twelve he saith unto him, "Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless." What would that mean, he was speechless?

STUDENT: There's no excuse.

BROTHER TURNER: Right. He had no excuse, and I wonder if that does not mean that in the day of judgment, that every man who has turned his nose up at the way of the Lord, that every one of those individuals will be speechless when they hear their doom.

STUDENT: I can certainly believe that.

BROTHER TURNER: Do you remember in Romans in the fourteenth chapter where it talks about every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess. We will all stand before God, and every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess. That will be the state of those who reject the Lord, that they will be speechless, that they will have to recognize that they just deliberately did wrong themselves, and there will be no way they can blame it on somebody else, because they had an opportunity like other men had. "Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth." What would the outer darkness and the weeping and the gnashing of teeth represent?

STUDENT: It would represent that second separation from God.

BROTHER TURNER: All right. That terrible place called hell. It is talking about final judgment, and, again, emphasizing the fact that there will be the good and the bad present. There will be some even in the church that had the appearance of being righteous, but the final analysis, they did not have on a wedding garment.

Matthew 22:15, "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his talk." I would like to see if I can find Luke's on this. Luke gives it a little different way. Turn to Luke twenty and let us read verse beginning with verse nineteen. "And the scribes of the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour." That very hour that he concluded the parable. "And they feared the people: For they perceived that he spake this parable against them." Now, Luke gives that statement at the end of the parable of the wicked husbandmen, but here he is speaking of the things that we are ready to read from Matthew 22:20. "And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous." Matthew does not say that. "That they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor." I guess that the Herodians were reasoning why Jesus would say that you are supposed to give all your allegiance to God, and you are not required by God to pay taxes to this sinful government. To say the least of it, some way or other they thought they would find an authority to have a legal case against him according to that reading. Is that not right? "Who feigned themselves to be righteous that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor." And if they were delivering him up to the governor, they are supposed to have legal charges against him.

Matthew 22:16, "And they asked him, saying, Teacher, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, and accepteth not the person of any, but of a truth teachest the way of God: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?" They thought that either way that he answered that question, they would have him in big trouble! "But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Show me the denarious. Whose image and superscription hath it? And they said, Caesar's. And he said unto them, Render unto them the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people, and they marveled at his answer, and held their peace. We will read Matthew's now, but Luke helps to give a real understanding of it. So back to 22:15 in Matthew, "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might ensnare him in his talk. And they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying." Is it not strange how people can come together when they have a common enemy? They ordinarily would be enemies.

STUDENT: Right.

BROTHER TURNER: But they come together because they have one that they count as an enemy, both parties. "And they sent to him their disciples with the Herodians." The Herodians would uphold for Caesar's household or for the government, the authority of the Roman government, that the people ‑‑ the Jewish people despised to be under. "Saying, Teacher, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth." Do you see what hypocrites they are, they feigned to be righteous. "And carest not for any one: For thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said." And you join the two accounts together, and you can see their wicked motives, and Jesus knew their wicked motives. "Why make ye trial of me, ye hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a denarious. And he saith unto them, whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's'; and unto God the things that are God's. And when they heard it they marveled, and left him, and went their way."

Now, in regard to his answer, render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's, the civil government has a right to tax the people, right? STUDENT: Yes, sir. BROTHER TURNER: And we are to pay our taxes whether we think they are fair or not. Now, in our system of government, we can take steps to try to get those tax laws changed, and you know how that certain income groups have been having to work four months just to pay federal taxes, and that is a shame! Of course, some changes have been made now for the better, but whether we think it's fair or not, the only proper thing for a Christian to do is to pay his taxes, for that belongs to Caesar. But if a government makes any law that is contrary to God's law, then God's law is to be supreme. The God fearing people in America ought not to have ever stopped praying in our schools. There would not have been a thing that the federal court system could have done about it, if they had had enough faith to continue on as usual, to read the Bible, and have prayer in our schools, but so many are ready to use any little excuse to not do such things. Some of course, do not want such things done, and according to the way some reason, is that, “we are just not supposed to” – We are supposed to turn away from the Christian religion, because we have some people in our society today that do not have any regard the Christian religion. Please remember this country was founded primarily on the basis of people searching for religious freedom. There is no separation of church and state in the Constitution as declared by a number of Federal Court Decisions.

The first part of the first amendment to the Constitution reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The first part of this clause meant that the government could not establish a state religion like they had in some of the states during the Colonial Period. In some of the states there were established religions like the Anglican Church or the Dutch Reform Church, and the people by law were taxed for the support of these churches whether they were members of those churches or not. Federal Courts have made a number of decisions in violation of the second part of the clause, or “prohibiting the free exercise.” Decisions that band prayers, and the reading of the scriptures in our schools are in violation of this clause. Congress and the Supreme Court still begin sessions with prayer, but counted unconstitutional for prayer in public schools! Some even want to take off of our currency, “In God We Trust!” I reckon they would substitute, “In The Devil We Trust”! Church going people should have never let such encroachments on the freedom of religion clause. Where do you stand?

Matthew 22:23, On that day came to him Sadducees, they that say that there is no resurrection: and they asked him saying, Teacher, Moses said, If a man died, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up seed unto his brother. Now, the law did provide, that is Deuteronomy 25:5, if a man died not having a child, the next brother was to take him and raise up seed, and that first son then would be counted as the deceased brother's son. One of the reasons for that was that the , land of Canaan was divided up to the tribes (Joshua 11:23, 13:32-14:5, 21:43-45) and it was not sold in perpetuity (Leviticus 25:23-28), therefore it was passed down from one generation to another (Numbers 36:1-11). So that would also have to do with a man having a son, so that the land would pass down.

We are ready to read from Deuteronomy 25:5. "If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no son, the wife of the dead shall not be married without unto a stranger: Her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her. And it shall be, that the firstborn that she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother that is dead, that his name be not be blotted out of Israel." Under the Old Testament system, the land was divided up to the twelve tribes, and the land was not sold in perpetuity, and it was to go from one generation to the other. And so this would also, I think, have to do with that. And so if a man died without having a firstborn, then his brother was to marry. "And if a man like not to take his brother's wife, then his brother's wife shall go up to the gate unto the elders and say, my husband's brother refuses to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel. And he will not perform the duty of the husband's brother unto me. Then the elders of the city shall call him and speak unto him: And if he stand, and say, I like not to take her; then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and she shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto the man that doth not build up his brother's house. And his name shall be called in Israel. The house of him that hath his shoe loosed." Do you remember from the book of Ruth about Boaz, about Naomi thinking that Boaz was first of kin, and he was not first of kin, but he went and settled it that day. He told the first of kin about how that the land would be his first. And if I am remembering correctly, he wanted it until he learned that a wife would be involved, then he did not want it. So he pulled off his shoe, did not he? And so you see that was according to the law.

The Sadducees thought that their story would show that there would be no resurrection, If it was any possibility of that being true, as one writer said, that seventh one sure was a bold man to marry a woman that had outlived six husbands already. For seven brothers would be fighting over the same woman. Do you think that there is any possibility of their story being true? As on writer said, “That seventh one sure was a bold man to marry a woman that had out lived six husbands already.” I believe he would be wondering why all those other husbands were dead!

STUDENT: That child had to be the son of the one that's involved.

BROTHER TURNER: I think that is the case.

STUDENT: The King James version says no child.

BROTHER TURNER: But we have about the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 36:1-11, and they were commanded to marry within the tribe. They did not have any brothers. Well, I think they are coming with a lie, the very idea of a woman marrying seven brothers, outliving seven brothers, and they come with that question, trying to prove another lie, that there would be no resurrection of the dead. It looks like to me they come with one lie trying to prove another lie. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection or angels nor spirits. Do you remember – how that Paul before the Jewish counsel, as given in Acts twenty‑three, that he divided the counsel by saying, touching the hope of the resurrection of the dead, I am called in question, and Roman soldiers were sent to take Paul away from them for his life was in danger by the Sadducees.

And after them all the woman died: In the resurrection therefore whose wife shall she be of the seven? For they all had her?" So they just thought they had a question to show the impossibility of a resurrection, seven brothers fighting over one wife. In the resurrection, therefore whose wife shall she be for they all had her. Please turn to Exodus chapter three, and we will get the context of this passage, where the Lord referred to himself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. When Moses was forty years of age, he had taken it upon himself to try to lead the people of Israel, and they rejected him, and he was not well‑prepared to lead them at that time Acts 7:27-34. He had been in the land of Midian for forty more years, getting wilderness training that he needed, and he led the flocks of his father-in-law to the back of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb. And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: He looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

Moses said, I will turn aside now, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when Jehovah saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said to him, Moses, Moses. And he said to him, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground (Ezodus 3:3-5).. And remember in Joshua5:13-15, the man that had his sword drawn and Joshua went to him and wanted to know whether he was for them or against them, andnd Joshua was told the same thing. So that person must be Christ on both occasions. "And he said, draw not nigh hither: Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy Fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." And I believe that tells us that Christ was back there, and remember I Corinthians 10:4, they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Christ. "And Jehovah said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people that are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; and I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of the land into a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey." And then Moses begins to give every excuse he can think of as to why he is not the man that God should be calling on to lead his people out of Egyptian bondage.

Let us take time to look at the parallels in Mark and Luke about the Sadducees. Turn to Mark chapter twelve beginning with verse eighteen. "And there come unto him Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no child, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were seven brethren: And the first took a wife, and died and left no seed. And the second took her, and died, leaving no seed behind him: And the third likewise. And the seven left no seed. In the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of them? For the seven had her to wife. And Jesus said unto them, Is it not for this cause that ye err, that ye not the scriptures, nor the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as angels in heaven. But as touching the dead, that they are raised: Have ye not read in the book of Moses, in the place concerning the bush." And so Mark gives a little more instruction there. How God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, so Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are living. God is not the God of the dead but of the living.

Now, turn to Luke twenty, and we will read Luke's account beginning with verse twenty‑seven. 20:27, "And there came unto him certain of the Sadducees, they that say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, Saying, Teacher, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, having a wife, and he be childless." And so it does not say male. Each one says childless. "His brother should take the wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were therefore seven brethren: And the first took a wife, and died childless. And the second and the third took her. Likewise the seven also left no children, and died. Afterward the woman also died." She had outlived, according to them, seven brothers! "In the resurrection therefore whose wife of them shall she be? For the seven had her to wife. Jesus said unto them, The sons of this world, marry and are given in marriage: But they that are accounted worthy to obtain to that world." That heavenly world. "And the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: For they are equal unto the angels." So Luke says equal unto the angels. For one thing they are eternal beings. "For neither can they die any more: For they are equal unto the angels; and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed in the place concerning the bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Now, he is not the God of the dead, but of the living. "For all live unto him. And certain of the scribes answered and said, Teacher, thou hast well said. For that they durst not any more ask him any questions."

Back to Matthew, and picking up with Matthew 22:34, "But the Pharisees when they heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, gathered themselves together. And one of them, the lawyer, asked him a question, trying him, Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" I believe I read that the Pharisees had come with six hundred different commands that were great commandments. If that be the case, you are asking a great question, and I guess again they thought that either way Jesus would answer the question, they would be read to say, there is not just one great commandment. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law and he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like unto it, is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments the whole law hangeth and the prophets." In Romans the thirteenth chapter, the writer ssys that love is the fulfillment of the law of Christ, and so it holds also unto the law of Christ, that the two great commandments are to love the Lord with all of your being and to love your neighbor as thyself. Everything else is to fall in proper place if we live to the standards of those two. "On these two commandments the whole law hangeth and the prophets." Now, Luke gives the detail on that. I am not sure I can find it. But he gives a detail that Matthew does not give, that when Jesus the lawyer answered that ‑‑ Well, it does not give what the lawyer answered, does it?

Let me see if I can find Luke. I think I know that I read the parallel in Luke. STUDENT: Would it be Luke 10:25?

BROTHER TURNER: I do not think it would be that far back, but check it.

STUDENT: "Yet certain lawyers stood up and tempted him."

STUDENT: No, that is different. He is asking him how can he inherit eternal life.

STUDENT: Luke 10:25, "And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" No, I do not think this is a parallel. I think I am thinking right. I may have Luke and Mark mixed up where that the lawyer on this occasion, commended Jesus for his answer. And one of them says that Jesus saw that he answered discreetly and said, thou art not far from the kingdom of God. Maybe I will remember and find that and read it next time rather than take time now. But, anyway, there is a parallel to this, that a lawyer approved of what Jesus said, that those two were the greatest. And when Jesus saw that, he answered discreetly. Jesus said to him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. STUDENT: There's one in Mark, Mark chapter twelve.

BROTHER TURNER: I may have the two mixed up.

STUDENT: Mark 12:28.

BROTHER TURNER: Let us read it. Mark 12:28 beginning, "And one of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together, and knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, What commandment is the first of all? Jesus answered, The first is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. The second is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Of the truth, Teacher, thou hast well said that he is one; and there is none other but he. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more important than whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." So this lawyer has considerable understanding, that this is more important, the animal sacrifices were necessary, but you are saying that this is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. "And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly." So I had Mark and Luke mixed up. "He said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question."

Back to Matthew twenty‑two and verse forty‑one. "Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question. Saying, What think ye of the Christ? Whose son is he? They said unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in the spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies underneath thy feet? If David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son? And no one was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions." Notice that the quotation is from Psalms 110 and verse one. And that is an important reference about Christ, that he is to sit at the right hand of God, until all enemies are put under his feet. And it is quoted in Hebrews 1:13, "Which of the angels said he at any time, Sit thy on my right hand, until I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet?" And then verse fourteen, "Are not angels ministering spirits, sent forth to them to do service for them that shall receive salvation?" That separates men from angels too.

STUDENT: Yes, it does.

BROTHER TURNER: Okay. They were willing to admit that he was a fleshly descendant of David, but they maybe did not recognize that he was also God in the flesh. And the reference, the Lord said unto my Lord, the first Lord would be God, his Father, said unto David's Lord, Christ, sit down on my right hand, until I put thine enemies underneath thy feet. So you see the question of Jesus, how then doth David in the spirit call him Lord. Please remember that Jesus’ earthly ministry is quickly coming to a close.

Chapter Twenty-three

In this chapter Jesus pronounced woes on the scribes and the Pharisees, and there is no group of people that the Lord pointed out more directly their sins than the scribes and the Pharisees and the chief priests and the elders. "Then saith Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat: All things therefore, whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe." In other words, they tell you to obey the commandments of God, and then you observe them and do them. "But do not ye after their works: For they say, and do not." Do we have any in the church today that fit in that category of saying and not doing? Those people are usually ready to put heavy burdens on other people. "Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their fingers." You know there are some few in the church today that seem to want to be in a place of great authority, and they can figure out what everybody else is supposed to do and be doing, but sometimes they are not doing anything themselves.

STUDENT: That parallels with Romans, doesn't it? I have forgotten what chapter that was. BROTHER TURNER: Are you thinking about Romans chapter two where, “not the hearers of the law shall be justified before God, but the doers of the law. "Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be born, and lay them on men's shoulder; but they themselves will not move them with their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen of men." And there is still some of that done. "For they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and they love the chief place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called of men, Rabbi." They really want to be recognized as great leaders, and we can have that kind of spirit among us today. Sometimes brethren want to be recognized on the basis of the degrees that they have, and some think that they stand just a little higher because of all the degrees that they have. According to this reference, that should not be the case! "But be not called Rabbi: For one is your Teacher, and all ye are brethren." So to look upon one another in that equal category. "Call no man your father on earth." Of course, that does not mean your real biological father, but it is talking about in a spiritual sense, do not call anyone your father. And think how that when the Pope when he comes to the United States, some of the news people will refer to him as the holy father. How ridiculous! "And call no man your father on earth: For one is your Father, even he who is in heaven. Neither be called ye masters: For one is your Master, even the Christ."

So this last statement is saying that Jesus is the Master of all Christians. "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant." So Jesus has taught this over and over again that the one greatest in the kingdom of God is the one that serves God and other people.. Going back to Matthew twenty, remember the references. "Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted." That reminds me of the words of the apostle Peter in I Peter five, I think beginning with verse five, where Peter says, yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility to serve one another, for God resisteth the proud but giveth grace unto the humble. Humble yourselves therefore unto the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, casting all of your care upon him, for he careth for you." And so Peter, I guess, had heard the Lord emphasize many times that whosoever exalteth himself shall be humbled, and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted. So, again, gird yourselves with humility to serve one another, and he might have been remembering what Jesus did as recorded in John thirteen as when Jesus took the towel after the supper and girded himself and washed the disciples feet.

Matthew 23:13, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: For ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to enter." They did everything that they could do to hinder the work of Christ, and to prevent people from entering into the kingdom of God. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees and hypocrites! For ye encompass sea and land, to make one proselyte, and when he has become so you make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves." So when they proselyte they surely went absolutely contrary to the way of God in their proselyting. "Woe unto you, ye blind guides, that say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, is a debtor!" You remember that even Solomon's temple was decked out with a lot of gold. The timbers were overlaid with gold in the holy place and the most holy place of the temple (I Kings 6:20-30). Then, of course, the temple that King Herod had built had a lot of gold in it. So according to their traditions it was not wrong to swear by the temple, but it was wrong to swear by the gold of the temple. "Ye fools and blind: For which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar." That would be the altar of burnt offering. "It is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it." The animal on the altar. "Is a debtor." So by their traditions it was not wrong to swear by the altar of burnt offerings, but it was wrong to swear by the bullocks or whatever was on that altar. "Ye blind, for which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?" They were making the animals on the altar greater than the altar of burnt offerings that God had ordained where men could make atonement for their sins (Deuteronomy 12:10-13; Leviticus 1:1-9, 4:1-10, 4:22-26).. In their sight, the altar did not matter, it was the animal on the altar. "He therefore that sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. And he that sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein." God promised Solomon that in a sense his presence would beat the temple (I Kings 9:1-3).. "And he that sweareth by the heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and b