Luke 20:20-40
Message No. 0722 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca
It’s no secret to any Bible reader, that it was not the generality of the Jews that were against Jesus. In fact, the ordinary citizens heard about His deeds and miracles of healing and deliverance and gathered in thousands to listen to His teachings. Sometimes when the Bible says the Jews argued against Jesus, you can interpret that to mean the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and other religious leaders and their cronies. The ordinary Jew on the street would be thinking, how can I meet this Jesus and receive my healing?
Take, for example, Jesus’ healing of the man born blind in John chapter 9. The poor guy was jubilating that he could see for the first time ever, when the neighbors noticed him and asked, is this not the man who sat and begged? Some would be thinking to themselves, has he been faking blindness in order to beg for money all these years? Did he just mistakenly forget to be blind today? While this innocent questioning was going on, the local cronies of the officials brought the guy to the Pharisees, who were instantly gratified at another opportunity to accuse Jesus, after all, it was a Sabbath day, and according to the religious police, it was an offence to heal on that day. This man is not from God because He does not keep the Sabbath, the Pharisees exclaimed. The ordinary Jews questioned them, you said He is not from God, but how can a man who is a sinner do such things?
Now, different methods were used by the Pharisees and other religious leaders to with-hunt Jesus. Sometimes they asked Him direct evil-coated questions like:
"Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" (Luke 20:21-22)
Of course, the all-knowing God could not be caught unawares by anyone or anything, so Jesus asked them, why do you test Me? Then He asked them to bring Him a coin, and asked whose image and inscription was on it, and they, not being able to figure out where He was going with His question, answered, “Caesar’s.” With this, Jesus delivered one of the most famously quoted statements in the Bible, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
When direct questions could not catch him, the authorities used scenario-based questions. In John 20:27-40, the Sadducees asked Him what to do with a scenario where seven brothers had been husband to one woman one after another, passing her on to the next brother when each one died. “Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife does she become? For all seven had her as wife.” When Jesus delivered His answer, it became apparent that the officials could not catch Him napping, so the Bible says that after that they dared not question Him anymore.
While scenario-based questions might seem ordinary in an interview, we all need to be careful when questions of this style are asked in other settings, particularly when they pertain to who we are or what we do. I see this type of questioning all the time between pressmen and politicians. The press always comes prepared, knowing the dangers in the questions they are about to ask. Professional politicians always dodge their questions, either by answering counter questions or by answering a different question that was not asked. When they are pressured on the scenario, some would ask the questioner, how can you expect me to provide an answer to something that did not happen?
It is essential to be watchful when a scenario is painted for you. You may need to ask yourself, who is asking this question, a friend, or a foe? If it’s a foe, then you must be extra careful because you already know that they are looking for your downfall. At such times, you need to rely on the Wisdom of Jesus Christ and ask God to please put in your heart the right words. Let us all be prayerful that the Holy Spirit will grant us the triple gifts of word of knowledge, word of wisdom and discernment of spirits. These are powerful gifts not only for the work of God, but for our own daily lives also. May the Lord deliver us from every trap of the enemy, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
PLEASE ACT NOW:
If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:
Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
To leave a comment for this message, add new subscribers or share through social media, please follow these steps:
1. To leave a comment, please use the comments box below.
2. To add new readers, please use the Subscribe Form below or click on the Subscribe menu and enter your email address.
3. To share through social media, please use one of the relevant icons below.
Comments