20th December – Luke 20: “I Will Send My Beloved Son”
Hey friends, welcome to December 20th. In the final week before the cross, the tension in the temple is electric. The chief priests and scribes demand, “By what authority doest thou these things?” Jesus answers with a parable that echoes straight to Christmas: the heartbreaking love of a Father who says, “I will send my beloved son.”
Part 1 – The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (vv. 9-19) “A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time” (v. 9). He sends servants for fruit; and they beat, wound, shame them. Finally, the owner says, “What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him” (v. 13). But the husbandmen reason, “This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.” They cast him out and slay him.
Jesus looks them in the eye: “What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others” (vv. 15-16). Then He quotes Psalm 118:22: “The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (vv. 17-18).
The vineyard is Israel, who were privileged, and planted by God for fruit. The husbandmen are the leaders, who were to be stewards who acted like owners, rejecting prophets, and now murdering the Son. God’s love revealed in sending servant after servant, finally His beloved Son, the very One whose birth we celebrate this week. Love rejected: cast out and killed. The Son’s return predicted: destroy the wicked, give the vineyard to others (the age of the Gentiles), and become the head cornerstone.
They knew He spoke of them, and “sought to lay hands on him” (v. 19), fulfilling the parable in real time.
We’re all stewards, privileged with time, gifts, the gospel. One day the Owner returns. Are we bearing fruit… or rejecting the beloved Son?
Part 2 – Traps and Truth (vv. 20-47) They send spies: “Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar?” Jesus answers, “Shew me a penny… Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s” (vv. 23-25).
Sadducees, who deny resurrection, pose a trick question about marriage in heaven. Jesus replies, “The children of this world marry… but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry… for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God” (vv. 34-36). Then He proves resurrection from Exodus: “Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed… for he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living” (vv. 37-38).
Finally, Jesus asks, “How say they that Christ is David’s son?” and quotes Psalm 110: “David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?” (v. 44). The scribes can’t answer. The crowd rejoices. Truth silences traps.
Three lessons as Christmas nears: God’s love is revealed in sending His beloved Son: the Babe of Bethlehem who would be slain for us. Don’t reject Him; He’s the cornerstone of salvation or judgment. Know the Scriptures and the power of God. He turns traps into triumphs and questions into revelation.
Friends, the Father said, “I will send my beloved Son.” He did, at Christmas. And one day that Son returns as King.
This Christmas, reverence the beloved Son.
Thank you, Sean Tucker, for reading the chapter today, in the YouTube video, above. See you tomorrow for Luke 21. Grace and peace! 🙏
