That same day, the Sadducees who don’t even believe in a resurrection, came to Him with a question. Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. Now there were seven brothers and the first married and died, and since he had no children, left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second, third, right down to the seventh brother. Then the woman dies. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them married her?

Jesus replied that they are in error because they didn’t know the scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will not marry or be given in marriage; they will be like the angels. But about the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you:

“I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

Exodus 3:6

He is not the God of the dead but of the living.

When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

They are again trying to trap Jesus in His words so that they can arrest Him. This time…they ask a question about something they don’t even believe in. Jesus takes the emphasis off of the question itself and focuses on who God is. What I get from this passage is the fact that God is God of the living…meaning instead of focusing on the what if’s to come, I should be focused on being faithful in the present. I need to be living a life that is pleasing to God now…because that will be what determines my later. Stop focusing on the what if’s of tomorrow and fix your eyes on Jesus today.

Then the Pharisees made plans to trap Jesus in His words. They sent their disciples and the Herodians. They told Jesus how He also spoke truth and was never swayed by anyone else. They buttered Him up to ask Him the question of whether or not it is right to pay taxes to Caesar.

Jesus knew their intentions. He called them hypocrites and asked them why they were trying to trap Him. He then had them bring Him a denarius. When they brought it to Him He asked them whose image and inscription were on it. They replied that it was Caesars. So Jesus told them to give to Caesar what is Caesars and to God what is God’s.

When they heard this they were amazed. They left Him and went away.

The Pharisees tried to set a trap for Jesus but He understood what they were doing. This little section shows us that God does expect us to follow the laws of the land as long as it doesn’t interfere with being obedient to God. If it’s taxes, pay them. If it’s speed limits, obey them. Sometimes these things seem silly in comparison to eternity. However, God sees it as important and we should too. Obey the laws of the land as you remain obedient to God. In doing this, we will be living a life of righteousness.

Jesus tells another parable. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

He sent more servants to tell them that he has prepared the dinner: oven and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet.

They paid no attention to him. One went to his field, another to his business. The rest took his servants and killed them. The king was so angry that he sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

He told his servants that the banquet was ready but the guests wouldn’t come. So he had them go to the street corners and invite anyone they can find. The servants got everyone They could find whether they were bad or good. The banquet hall was full of guests.

When the king arrived, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. The man was speechless when the king asked him how he got in.

The king had his servants tie up the man and throw him outside into the darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are invited, but few are chosen.

This parable gives a description of the grace God provides for all to be able to inherit eternal life. He extends his invitations to anyone who will accept it. However, what this parable also shows is that God also has requirements for entrance. You don’t just get a free pass. Everyone is invited…but only few are chosen to enter. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to be burned like the others in the city. The want to participate in the banquet. Accept the invitation…meet God’s requirements…and enjoy eternity in His presence.

Jesus told another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. He then rented it out to some farmers and moved away. As the time of harvest approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.

The tenants seized the servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. He then sent other servants to them, and they treated them the same way. Last of all, he sent his son to them. He assumed they would respect his son.

When the tenants saw the son, they recognized he was the owners son and planned to kill him and take his inheritance. So they did just that.

Jesus asked the chief priests and elders what the owner will do when he confronts the tenants.

They replied that he would bring the wretches to a wretched end and then rent out his vineyard to new tenants who will give him a share of the crops.

Jesus then quotes a scripture to them and asks them if they have ever heard it:

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.”

Psalm 118:22-23

Jesus then tells them that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken, and whoever it falls on will be crushed.

When they heard this they knew Jesus was talking about them. They looked for a way to arrest Jesus but was fearful of the crowd because they held that He was a prophet.

This parable that Jesus shares teaches us what will happen if we refuse to produce fruit. God has given us servants such as Moses, David, the prophets and judges. He has also given us His Son. If we refuse to produce fruit, eternity with Him will be taken from us. We must always live our lives in such a way that we aren’t just receiving grace, but are bearing fruit in the world because of it. Are you bearing fruit n your life?

Jesus continued by asking these chief priests and elders what they think. There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first son and told him to go and work today in the vineyard.

The son replied that he would not, but then later changed his mind and went and worked the vineyard.

Then the father went to the other son and told him the same thing. The son said that he would, but never went.

Jesus asks them which of the two sons did what the father wanted, and they answered the first one.

Jesus said tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of heaven ahead of you. John came and showed you the way to righteousness but you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Jesus is saying it doesn’t matter what background you come from, if you believe and follow Him you will inherit eternal life. This is huge…because it means we can’t earn our salvation. It’s not by anything we can do, but all about what He has already done. This is great news for us all! Don’t let your life hold you back from the freedom His grace offers. Repent and believe…follow the path that leads to righteousness.

Jesus entered the temple courts, and the chiefs priests and elders of the people approached Him while He was teaching. They asked Him by what authority is He doing all these things, and who gave it to Him?

Jesus replied that He wanted to ask them a question too, and if they answered it He would answer theirs. The question was where did John’s baptism come from? Was it from heaven or of human origin?

They discussed this question and knew that if they said heaven, they would be questioned on why they didn’t believe him, and if they said human they were fearful of the people who hold John as a prophet.

They answered and said they didn’t know.

So Jesus said we’ll then neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Jesus knew that if He answered their question He would fall into their trap. He knew it wasn’t quite time for everything to take place. He used their plan of attack and turned it around on them. What’s interesting is that their questioning came in the middle of Him teaching. Sometimes it’s important to remember that the attacks from the enemy can happen anywhere at any time, so we always need to be on guard to defend against it. Be ready…do the good work…and when the attack comes be ready to defend against it.

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on His way back into the city, he was hungry. He saw a fig tree, but when He got close to it He saw that it had no fruit. Jesus said to that tree that it will never bear fruit again, and immediately the tree withered up.

The disciples were amazed and asked themselves how the tree withered up so quickly.

Jesus replied to them that if you have faith without doubt, you can do that too. In fact, you can tell this mountain to throw itself into the sea and it would happen. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

What we see here is another example of how with God all things are possible. What I want to focus on is how Jesus says if you have faith WITHOUT DOUBT. I believe there are many times we claim to have faith, but somewhere in us we question if God will show up…we question His motives. In order to truly see God’s power at work, we have to remain doubt. Remove it from our personal struggles. Our failed relationships, our broken homes, our illnesses, etc. If we approach God in prayer in full confidence…He will always give us what we need…knowing it’s not what we want but what He wants. Rid yourselves of doubt today…have complete faith that God will show up in your weakest moments and shine through your struggles no matter what the situation because He is greater. Just have faith!

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all of those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables and benches of those exchanging money. Jesus quotes the following:

“My house will be called a house of prayer…but you are making it into a den of robbers.”

Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11

The blind and lame came to Him at the temple and He healed them. When the chief priests and teachers of the law saw the good things He was doing and heard the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant.

They asked Jesus if He heard what they were saying.

Jesus replies yes and then quoted:

“From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise.”

Psalm 8:2

Jesus then left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where He spent the night there.

In this passage, we see Jesus become very upset by the fact that people had turned His Fathers house into a shopping area. I think today, we can toe this line as well. Maybe not as a shopping area, but I believe sometimes we put so much emphasis on the physical structure of the building and making it more attractive that we miss the point that the presence of God is what is important. We tend to focus on everything BUT the presence of God at times. Keep your eyes and heart focused on the Creator…let the building just be a building.

As Jesus approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethpage on the Mount of Olives. He sent two disciples, telling them to go to the village ahead. There will be a donkey and it’s colt there, untie them and bring them. If anyone asks about it, tell them that the Lord needs them.

This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion, see, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foul of a donkey.”

Zechariah 9:9

The disciples did as they were told. They brought the donkey and it’s colt to Jesus, and laid their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A crowd of people laid their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches and laid them down. Those that followed shouted: Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!

When Jesus entered Jerusalem it created a stir among the people. They asked who this man was.

The crowd responded this is Jesus, a prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.

This is where we get Palm Sunday from. Jesus rode in as a king. What’s interesting here is how he came in. During this time, of a king was riding a donkey it was to demonstrate peace and humility. So as Jesus was being praised, His response was to offer peace and humility. Not only that, but to ride a colt into such a large commotion was unheard of. This young donkey would not have experience carrying such a weight and dealing with such a crowd. But Jesus was different…again He offered peace for the young colt as well. So often in life our response is argument and debate…even in the church. Sometimes, instead, we need to learn to practice humility and offer peace. It’s what Jesus did…and He knew what was coming. Find some peace today and focus on your own humility.

As Jesus and His disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. There were two blind men who were sitting on the side of the road and when they heard that Jesus was going by they called out to Him to have mercy on them.

The crowd rebuked them to be quiet, but they just shouted even louder for Jesus to have mercy on them.

Jesus stopped and asked them what it is they would like for Him to do for them. They my answered that they would like to have their sight.

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. They immediately received their sight and followed Him.

What stands out to me when I read this passage is the phrase, “Jesus had compassion on them…” I think when it comes to serving other above yourself as we discussed in the last passage, it requires a genuine love for people. To have compassion on another individual means you love them, you empathize with them, and you put yourself last. Practice showing compassion to one another today. Don’t just say you love others…prove it today.