Luke 19 – 20
Verses 19:6 & 7 show Jesus being kind to a tax collector:
6 Zaccheus scrambles down and joyfully brings Jesus back to his house. 7 Now the crowd sees this, and they’re upset.
See in that day and age the tax collectors were considered the evil group for two reasons. First, they were taking the hard earned money from their own people and giving it to Rome. Second, working with that much money they often over taxed and pocketed the excess. So they lived lavishly, while everyone else lived poor and under the thumb of Rome. So when Jesus joined this man, it didn’t matter what transpired, there was something wrong with his associating with this kind of person.
NOTE – The IRS today is becoming this evil since they are wielding their power for political and control means.
When I read this story I think of the BMX’er ‘Mustache’ Greg who use to have “Jesus is for losers” sloppily taped on his helmet. I just assumed he was mocking Jesus and did not talk to him about it. Finally when I did it became clear he was right. Jesus did not come to this world to save the righteous, but rather the losers! Unfortunately, those of us who think they are righteous are fooling themselves.
Verse 19:14 is the opening of the 10 servants who get money:
After he departed, the people under his rule despised him and sent messengers with a clear message: “We do not want this man to rule over us.”
I find this an interesting story since this line almost sounds like the outcome will be like the vineyard owner’s parable in chapter 20 where his son is killed. But it ends up quite benign and I wonder why this was put into the story. This parable teaches us to use our resources wisely and those who do well will be given more, and those who do nothing will lose what they had. It’s a story of life! Now does it justify today’s pillaging of the economy? No and again I cannot say 100% that these rich men are not of God and are being blessed wildly, it just doesn’t smell right.
Verse 19:30 has Jesus getting his donkey colt:
Go to the next village. When you enter, you will find a colt tied—a colt that has never been ridden before. Untie it and bring it here.
This fulfills Genesis 49:11 and Zechariah 9:9 where the Messiah, or Anointed One as used in the Voice, rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. One could argue this was forced by someone who knew scripture, for show. But the fact they found what he said they would find is amazing. There will be many questions like these that will be thrust upon us to bring doubt. The key is to remain faithful in your belief, don’t worry about asking, just search for the truth not just give up because the question sounds logical.
The second more telling juxtaposition is consider how Caesar road into town. He was on a white stallion with a great army, while Jesus was humbly riding in on a donkey colt with his rag tag party. Unfortunately the Pharisees were looking for more pomp and circumstance out of Jesus that what was delivered. Hence why most did not accept him as the Anointed One.
I can’t leave without talking about verse 20:25 and the impact it had on our lives.
Well then, you should give to Caesar whatever is Caesar’s, and you should give to God whatever is God’s.
I once owed a great deal to the tax man in sales tax. I had two options, lie and say the business failed or hire an accountant to help me pay the taxes. I prayed on what to do and played “weegie board” Bible and opened randomly to a page and with eyes closed pick a verse. I landed on this one. I rejected it as chance and went on. A few days later I did the same thing hoping for a better result, I landed on Matthew 22:21 which was the same verse in Matthew. So the state got $45k because I believed God was involved in this decision.