Scripture:
Vs 15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle (Jesus) in his words.
Vs 16 … saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances.
Vs 17 Tell us, then, what do you think …
Vs 22 When (the Pharisees) heard it, they marveled. And they left (Jesus) and went away.
Vs 23 The same day Sadducees came to (Jesus) … and they asked him a question,
VS 29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.
Vs 34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.
Vs 35 And … asked (Jesus) a question to test him.
Vs 41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question …
Vs 42 “What do you think about the Christ?
Vs 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Observation:
The religious authorities were conspiring to trick or trap Jesus in His teachings.
They used flattery and false compliments to get close to Jesus and then set Him up with questions.
They also wanted Jesus to affirm what they already believed or thought about the Law and Prophets.
When they didn’t hear what they wanted to hear, they gathered with like-minded opponents to Jesus … even they disagreed with each other on other issues.
Their common disagreement was with Jesus.
Jesus stated plainly that they were wrong because they did not know the Word of God or the Power of God.
After many questions put to Him, Jesus puts one questions to them: “What do you think about the Christ?”
When they did not hear what they wanted to hear from Jesus, they went away.
And no one dared ask any more questions.
Application:
I can be “right” about Jesus and have an accurate description of Jesus … (“true”, “teaching the ways of God”, “not swayed by opinion or appearance”) … and yet, still have an artificial closeness to Him.
I can have a right knowledge about Jesus and a wrong heart about Jesus.
Jesus said the religious authorities did not know the Scripture or the Power of God.
This is fascinating, because they actually had it memorized.
Their confidence, however, was in themselves … their knowledge … their power.
Are my questions of Jesus seeking affirmation of myself or affirmations of Christ?
What motivates my questions of God? … Is it a desire to grow closer to my Savior? Or is it a desire for more knowledge?
When I am wrong … When I disagree with God, do I seek out others who think like me to affirm my own thinking?
Or do I dig deeper into God’s Word to see a change of my own heart?
What am I swayed by more? … The Power of God’s Word or the power of man’s opinions?
Prayer:
Thank you again for your Word, Father.
Help me Holy Spirit to seek answers to my questions from a humble place.
Help me to stay focused on the most important question
What do I think about the Christ
In Jesus name
Amen
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