Luke 20:1-8

Luke 20:1-8 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  It's interesting to me that they approach Jesus when he finishes his teaching in the temple.  There's certainly the angle that they are trying to trap him, hoping he'll say something wrong so that they can then convict him of some form of blasphemy and then be rid of him.  (It's fascinating to think how frustrated these temple leaders must have been when they realized that this was the plan all along -- their best efforts to rid themselves of Jesus only served to fulfill his destiny and launch Christianity into the world.) 
  There's another angle, too.  They had questions.  Jesus taught with authority, and they wanted to know more. 
  The best sermons should do this, right -- leave people wanting more.  Leave people with questions, so that they leave church and pursue the answers.  Preaching should unsettle us in a way, so that we are led forward, pointed in a direction and left to pursue it.  Our brains should be active when we listen to preaching, so that we are processing what is being said and ready to follow up if something doesn't make sense.  One of the things I appreciate most about the Presbyterian church is that listeners are encouraged to ask questions if they don't agree with or understand the preacher.  Let us be a community of people who think for ourselves and ask the big questions, so that our faith might grow and we might mature.