Believe Them The First Time
"When People Show You Who They Are, Believe Them The First Time"- Maya Angelou
Early on in Luke 5:21-22 we see the Pharisees begin to question Jesus about forgiving sins, eating with the sinners, and even healing on the sabbath. (see Luke 5:21-22, Luke 5:30, Luke 6:2) They had been watching him closely for a while, waiting for him to do something wrong so they could take him to trial. (Luke 6:7, Luke 6:11) Here in chapter 20 of Luke, almost 3 years later, they still questioned Jesus: About his authority, about paying taxes, and about the resurrection. They wanted to get rid of him, so they planned to trap him with their questions, but each time he turned their traps into a powerful lesson. (Luke 20:20-26) They still didn't grasp the fact that he was the Messiah, even this far into his ministry. (Luke 20:44) Their ways had not changed even after all the warnings and signs. (Luke 12:1-11) If the Pharisees weren't willing to change their ways to follow Jesus, what makes you think people will change their ways for you? I know it sounds harsh, but it's the truth.
I used to think all the value I added to a "situationship" would change a guy. I thought if I stayed even after he treated me unfairly he would see my loyalty and change his ways. There are some people you just have to believe the first time. People will come into your life, show you the red flags and we ignore them thinking that the value we have to offer will convince them that we are worth changing for. Even Jesus couldn't get the Pharisees to change, they were stuck in their ways.
However, I do believe that people can change, but that's only if they are willing. The Pharisees weren't willing to give up their own lives to follow Jesus, and some people won't be willing to give up their way of living to satisfy us. Don't allow anyone to trample on you, when they show you who they are, believe them. God has someone he created just for you, you don't have to settle! If you are ever unsure about someone seek God for clarity. Jesus knew what the Pharisees were thinking, he always knew their intentions. (Luke 5:22, Luke 6:8) In the same way, I believe that the Holy Spirit can reveal to us peoples true motive. That's why it's important to have a discerning spirit. When you experience hurt in a relationship, it's best to forgive that person, give them to God, and pray for them. Just like Jesus continued to love even after all the betrayal he experienced, we must do the same.
After all their questions Jesus asked them a question, and they could not answer it. (Luke 20:44) Each time Jesus responded in a way that didn't contradict who he was. (Luke 20:8) How do you respond to the people who test your faith? or who test your patience?
The Parable of The Evil Farmers Explained
(Luke 20:9-19)
In The Parable of The Evil Farmers the owner of the vineyard is God; the vineyard is israel; the tenants are the religious leaders; the servants are the prophets and priests God sent to Israel; the son is the Messiah, Jesus; and the others are the Gentiles. If you didn't get a clear understanding the first read, try re-reading the parable with this in mind.
The parable was intended to answer the religious leaders question about Jesus' authority, but in an indirect way. It also revealed that Jesus knew they had a plan to kill him. The religious leaders realized that Jesus was comparing them to the wicked farmers in the story, they were furious, looking for a way to arrest him. There response to the parable was, "God forbid!" Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22 ensuring them that everything he said in the parable had already been prophesied in Scripture. Those who cast themselves on Jesus by submitting their wills to him, will be broken of arrogance, and those who do not submit to Jesus will be crushed before him in Judgement for sin. Do you want to be broken from sin or broken by the judgement of sin? God give us the option of which brokenness we desire, it's up to us to submit to him.