The Parable of the Beaten Jew: Part 3 - The Commandment Affirmed and the Lawyer on Trial
We see these commandments affirmed as the greatest two in a similar situation documented in Luke chapter 10. Here, a lawyer asks Christ a question, not truly looking for an answer, but testing Him to find a point of guilt. Now, the lawyer is not a lawyer as we know lawyers today. He was an expert in not just any law, but God's law. And so the question comes in vs 25, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" I absolutely love what Christ does here. In what is just a plain brilliant move, He turns the question back on the lawyer, taking control of the conversation and totally diffusing the situation. "What is written in the Law?" Christ tests the lawyer's knowledge. "How do you read it?" He tests the lawyer's wisdom. What Christ has done here is put the lawyer on the stand. The lawyer was now the one being examined by the jury. If he answered correctly, he would prove his knowledge of the scriptures in front of the Pharisees and other lawyers (which were no doubt with him. Wolves always travel in packs), but, if Christ affirmed what He said, then he would have done nothing but show that Christ was in agreement with the scriptures and guilty of nothing. If the lawyer answered incorrectly, then he would show himself to be a fool to his peers, and would not only have nothing to hold against Christ, but would, no doubt, also earn himself a severe exegetical beating as well. The lawyer who sought to test and accuse Christ now found himself tested and quite likely accused by Christ Himself. (Brilliant!) The lawyer answers, really, in the only way he can. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Upon receiving this answer from the lawyer, Christ replies, "You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live." This is so good! This guy sets out to make Christ look like a heretic and a blasphemer, but ends up being dismissed by Christ with approval and instruction! But the proud lawyer, knowing that he has just been crushed by Jesus, seeks to justify himself and save a little face.
To be Continued....
posted by Ian @ 4:25 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Dude- you are so leaving us hanging!
Hee, Hee....
Yah, sorry about that. School has taken over once again. I've got at least 2 more "Parts" to this whole thing, and I'll try to have one up by this weekend.
On an up note, though, I am gathering some really good stuff from readings, classes, etc. to slap up in the future. No guarantees when they'll make an appearance though....
I'm attending a Ligonier Ministries (that's R.C. Sproul, for those of you that don't already know) conference in Ohio this weekend. Sproul and some other guy whose name I can't remember right now will be speaking. The topic is.........
Election.
Should be good. I'll try and keep everyone "posted". ;P
ooh, ooh, take good notes! [I loved listening to him at the Bible Conference out at Master's a few years ago! I've got a set of the tapes - IF Jason ever finishes listening to them and gets them back to me... ;)] I'm pleased Sproul is speaking again. I was saddened when he had the stroke, but apparently he has made a great comeback. Tim said he spoke at the Pastor's Conference at Grace Community last year.
In doing some historical reading this AM I came across a political backdrop that impacts one of the other times the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus. (Mark 10:2) In case you hadn't come across this, I thought it might be useful sometime:
Herod Antipas had arrested & subsequently beheaded John for speaking against the unlawfulness of his marriage to Herodias. Not only was marriage to his brother's wife unlawful in this instance, but it was also against Jewish law for a woman to bring a writ of divorcement against her husband, which Herodias had done to divorce Herod Philip. (Ok for the guys to do it, but not for the wives. It was allowed under Roman law, however.) Jesus heard of John's death & went to "a desert place" (Mk.6:31)/"Bethsaida" (Lk.9:10). Soon after, He and the disciples took an extended journey to the territory of Tyre & Sidon (Mk.7:24). Shortly after his return to Galilee, He went on a journey to area of Caeseria Philippi (Mk.8:27-9:29). "Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it." and headed to Jerusalem. (Mk.9:30) [Herod Antipas was Tetrarch of Galilee & Peraea.] This secrecy ended when He entered Judaea (Mk.10:1) The Pharisee's question of divorce was a good test question to entangle Him with. They were probably hoping He, too, would speak against the unlawful marriage of Herod Antipas and Herodias, just as John had done! That would have been something they could have used against Him with Herod Antipas! Jesus, however, didn't fall for it.
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