No Respecter of Appearance

The religious leaders’ questioning of Jesus has come to an end (see Luke 20:40), but Jesus keeps the ball rolling with a question of his own. He asks, “how can they say that the Christ is David’s son?” It’s here that we think back to Luke’s opening words, where he tells us why he has written this Gospel account, “to write an orderly account for you... that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” It’s almost as if, while writing, Luke wants to prove the kingship of Christ, because he then turns and gives us a picture of the upside- down nature of the kingdom of God. Within earshot of his subject, Jesus condemns the scribes, who are hungry for the accolades that come with their position. Instead of affirming what their society would say about this group, he tells the crowd that they will receive greater condemnation. In the next breath (remember, the chapter distinctions were added much later after Luke’s writing), the author tells us the story of the widow’s offering, proving again the upside-down nature of the kingdom of God.