The Gospel of Luke 20:1-2 When God Says...I Say, AMEN!

When God Says …

“And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders, and spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?” (Luke 20:1-2 KJV).

While in the midst of one of His daily teachings in the temple, the Lord Jesus was challenged by the religious chief priests and scribes as to whose authority He teaches and performs miracles. This is a start to the defining clash between the demands of the law and the supply of God’s grace. These religious leaders are self-righteous. They reject the Lord’s grace, and refuse to accept that God's power is displayed freely through the Messiah.

The chief priests and scribes represent the Old Covenant of the Law, which is characterized by a "demand" on human performance. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the person of the New Covenant of Grace, who is the source of the constant "supply" of God’s love, healing, and unmerited favor.

When the religious leaders demand, "Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things?" (Luke 20:2), they were driven by a transactional mindset. They want to know the Who, while rejecting the very source of their salvation and the Person who is the answer to their question right in front of them. This teaches that true authority comes not from keeping religious rules, but from trusting in the only Son of God and His finished work on the cross.

These warn all believers today not to fall into the religious trap of mixing the demands of the Law with the New Covenant’s supply of Grace. As the Lord’s followers, we must shift our focus from the demands of trying hard to observe the law, to totally depend on the abounding supply of God's grace. That, we do by drawing near to His thrown of grace, as it is written: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 ESV).

And I say, AMEN!

Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries

When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.

Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
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