Friday, November 4, 2005

Luke - Accusations

Luke 23:1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

The whole of the Sanhedrin, the council of the Jews.

The Sanhedrin, the great council at Jerusalem, consisting of the seventy one members; scribes, elders, prominent members of the high priestly families and the high priest, the president of the assembly. The most important causes were brought before this tribunal, inasmuch as the Roman rulers of Judaea had left to it the power of trying such cases, and also of pronouncing sentence of death, with the limitation that a capital sentence pronounced by the Sanhedrin was not valid unless it was confirmed by the Roman procurator. (Strongs)

Pilate was the Roman procurator, an officer of the Roman empire entrusted with management of the financial affairs of the province and often having administrative powers as agent of the emperor.

Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

The entire council of the law, broke the ninth commandment in bearing false witness.

Exo 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

How can so many be blind? Look at some of our own lawmakers; partisan politics, corruption, anything but righteous judgment. Jesus warned of this earlier.

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

What were the charges?

Charge 1. We found this fellow perverting the nation.

He spoke God's truth, was merciful and just. He spoke to those that John the Baptist sent to him.

Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
Luke 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poorthe gospel is preached.
Luke 7:23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Charge 2: Forbidding to give tribute to Caesar

Jesus addressed this question earlier.

Mark 12:14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
Mark 12:15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.
Mark 12:16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
Mark 12:17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.

Charge 3: Saying that he himself is Christ a King.

Pilate asks him of this.

Luke 23:3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

The apostle John was eye witness to this. His account gives us more of what was said.

John 18:33 Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
John 18:34 Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
John 18:35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Luke 23:4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

Pilate had no reason to accuse Jesus. Later he would say that it was for envy that they delivered Jesus to him. How can he not be involved in this? Each must answer about Jesus. What will we do with him?

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

No comments: