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Luke 20 19-26 THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE CRAFTY LEADERS 01 Luke 20 19 His people for our time and generation
📖 Luke 20:19-26
04Mar2021 - *His people for our time and generation* - _Luke 20:19-26_ - THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE CRAFTY LEADERS 1 – Bible reading: _Mark 6:17-18_
We begin this new study on _Luke 20:19-26_. We see here the deception in the heart of man. The Lord knows the heart of man and God’s heart grieves over the evil and the manipulations of our hearts. Yet, He deals with us to confront us as well as bring us to Himself and give us His character and His nature.
_Luke 20:19 And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people—for they knew He had spoken this parable against them._
These leaders were angry with Jesus. In the hearing of the people, Jesus had made known the evil intent of their hearts. Jesus had made it clear and open to everyone that the leaders had failed in their responsibility to be the vine-growers for which they were appointed by God.
The consequence of their decision to stay with the wickedness of their heart and not repent, turn and surrender to the lordship of Christ was also made known to them.
Their unwillingness to repent was also revealed to them in the hearing of the people. They now had no excuse whatsoever to stay on in their sinful ways.
Having thus been so brutally exposed in front of the people, these leaders were boiling. They wanted to lay hands on Jesus that very moment but because of their cunning and crafty ways with the people, they decided not to do so. They needed the support of the people.
_Luke 20:14 But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'_
What is the condition of man’s heart?
_Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (22) thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. (23) All these evil things come from within and defile a man."_
Jesus confronted the evil in the hearts of the leaders. His purpose was to bring conviction and then for them to return and be healed.
The task of the church is to confront the evil in our society. As we are open and available to the Lord, He will bring us into situations where we will come face to face with the evil in the hearts of people.
When we face these circumstances, we ought not to back away but as God’s people, in His Name and in His strength, we must confront the evil in our everyday situations of life.
John the Baptist confronted evil in his time.
_Mark 6:17-18 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. (18) Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."_
This confrontation of evil was a natural matter for John to do. He saw an evil happening in his time and he confronted the evil.
This is our role and task in our time. God will bring to our attention certain evil which is taking place in our circles. As the Lord brings these matters to our attention, we must move forward in His strength and do and speak as the Lord would ask us to.
As we confront the evil in our society, there will be consequences, for we are coming face to face with the enemy. In our hearts, we must prepare ourselves that whatever may be the cost we will have to pay, we will be willing and will not hold back but we will be bold in Christ.
*Thought to ponder*
```If there is darkness in our world it is because the lights have failed to shine.```