Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.
Sometimes you can learn a lot about a person by what their enemies say about them.
Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
These men admit Jesus is a good man. But they don’t like Him because they don’t like anyone who disagrees with them. They would even kill Him, but they’re afraid of the people.
Still, their words reveal the Teacher’s reputation with the people. Integrity, no respecter of persons, a Teacher of the truth!
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" He asked.
This is the sort of thing that goes on when religion is reduced to arguing about what one believes instead of becoming and doing.
Anyway, Jesus has endured this kind of cat and mouse game for nearly three years now. Check that! Nearly 2,000 years now…
Through the years, millions of similar questions posed in various forums of inquisition and entrapment! This day it was a tax question. It doesn’t matter. It’s the reason it keeps happening that hurts!
Because whenever something like this occurs one thing is always absent. The most important thing! Much more important than the answers to the questions!
It’s what the Teacher has in His heart and inquisitors usually don’t.
The Love of God!
Strinkingly opposites revealed here.
ReplyDeleteThey said of Jesus: You are full of integrity, you are not swayed by men, and you teach the truth.
They said that while they were being deceptive (trying to trap Jesus) because they were afraid of the crowds (swayed by men) and Jesus claims in other places they aren't teaching the truth (ref Matt 23:13-14.)
I find it interesting that they were "amazed at him." They were so sure they had him, and yet he had the perfect answer (he always does!)
His ability to answer them and escape their traps should have opened their eyes. What teachings of Jesus do we have trouble with? What are our eyes blind to?
Are we still amazed by the Teacher?