30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
LUKE 19 28-40 BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD 12 The tragedy of hard-heartedness
📖 Luke 19:28-40
19Jan2021 - *The tragedy of hard-heartedness* - _Luke 19:28-40_ - BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD 12 – Bible reading: _I Peter 2:4-8_
The disciples and the crowd were rejoicing and affirming that Jesus was the long-awaited King, who was coming in the name of the Lord.
This acknowledgement and affirmation should have come from the religious leaders for they were scholars of scripture. They should have connected all the prophesies regarding Jesus as King. Yet, it was these leaders, who were hindering and preventing people from entering into God’s kingdom.
Thus, when Jesus was entering triumphantly into Jerusalem, as a fulfilment of prophecy, these leaders were indignant and complained to Jesus. _Luke 19:39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."_
Why were these religious leaders vehemently against Jesus?
If what the people were shouting of Jesus was true, then these religious leaders would have to submit to Jesus as King. From the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, the religious leaders had been opposing Jesus.
_John 11:47-48 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. (48) If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation."_
We can see here the mindset of the religious leaders. They sought power, status, recognition and acclamation from the people. Seeing the increasing numbers of people following Jesus, they were threatened and were determined that Jesus needed to be eliminated.
Pontius Pilate was able to read them very well. _Matthew 27:18 For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy._
These leaders were disturbed that the sign above Jesus, at His crucifixion, read, “THE KING OF THE JEWS”. They did not want this title but Pilate made sure that he would be protected.
_John 19:19-22 Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. (20) Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. (21) Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews." ' " (22) Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written."_
These leaders were so very bitterly against Jesus that they were willing to go to the very extreme and say that the blood of Jesus is on their hands and on the hands of their children.
_Matthew 27:25 And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."_
Peter and John confronted these leaders head-on and fixed the responsibility of crucifying Jesus on to them.
_Acts 4:10-11 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, *whom you crucified*, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. (11) This is the 'STONE *WHICH WAS REJECTED BY YOU BUILDERS*, WHICH HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.'_
These leaders were then seeking to evade responsibility for crucifying the Christ. _Acts 5:27-28 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, (28) saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and *intend to bring this Man's blood on us*!"_
These were to be shepherds to the people but they led the people astray and crucified the Messiah. Consider all that the Jewish people have suffered, over the centuries, because of the failure of the religious leadership.
How did the Lord see them? _Luke 19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,_
_Matthew 21:42-45 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE. THIS WAS THE LORD'S DOING, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES' ? (43) "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. (44) And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." (45) Now when the chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them._
In all of this, we can see the hard-heartedness of the religious leaders. There was no remorse, no repentance.
*Thought to ponder*
```Does the failure of the Jewish religious leaders stir your heart to a greater passion and love for Jesus?```