The Wisdom of Christ | Matthew

The chief priests and the elders challenged the authority of Jesus. They asked for the identity and origin of His authority. “Where does your authority come from, who gave it to you?”
Christ answered with three judgment parables, and those three parables answered that question.
They are standing before the judge of the entire earth, the judge of men and angels, and Jesus ACTS IN THAT MANNER by assessing them and warning them of where they’re headed.
What follows are three attempts TO ENTRAP JESUS.
We must remember that each of these scenes imparts multiple lessons. Those lessons certainly include truths about us. BUT EACH OF THESE SCENES IS MEANT TO FOCUS ESPECIALLY ON ONE PERSON - JESUS.
What do we see about Jesus as various groups of religious opposition seek to entrap the Son of God that they might destroy Him?
What we see in each attempt is THE WISDOM OF CHRIST.
Divine wisdom is on display as in each situation His answers CONFOUND THEM.
His answers DISARM THEM.
His answers EXPOSE THEM.
They seek to entrap Him, but they expose themselves.
Finally reaching the place where they didn’t dare to ask Him any more questions.
ESV Matthew 22:46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
What we look at this morning is THEIR FIRST ATTEMPT TO ENTRAP HIM.
We will examine it under five headings.
• THE PLOT (vs.15-16)
We are told who initiates this plot. It is the Pharisees. What they want to do is “trap him” in His words.
This was a matter of counsel - discussion and planning.
BDAG - “παγιδεύω (παγίς) 1 aor. subj. παγιδεύσω LXX a hunting term Eccl 9:12 set a snare or trap, entrap fig. (1 Km 28:9; TestJos 7:1) ὅπως αὐτὸν παγιδεύσωσιν ἐν λόγῳ in order that they might entrap him with something that he said (s. λόγος 1aγ) Mt 22:15 (cp. Atamanu, Graec. Venet. Pr 6:2 τοῖς λόγοις. Also in the same, Dt 7:25; 12:30).-M-M. TW.”
But the Pharisees do this in a way that they don’t have to be personally involved.
Remember that the Pharisees, though desiring to destroy Jesus, are acting cautiously because they fear the crowds.
ESV Matthew 21:45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. 46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.
SO, THE IDEA WAS LIKELY, “LET’S GET HIM TO SAY SOMETHING THAT CREATES SUCH DISFAVOR, THAT IS SO DISTASTEFUL, THAT IT TURNS THE TIDE.”
But “let’s do this through others.”
So, they send DISCIPLES to question Him.
BUT WE ARE INTRODUCED, ONCE AGAIN, TO THE FACT THAT HATRED FOR GOD, FOR HIS SON, FOR THE TRUTH, PRODUCES STRANGE FRIENSHIPS.
They send the disciples along with the Herodians.
The Herodians are mentioned three times in the Bible and twice in Josephus. It seems that they were a Jewish political party that sympathized with the Herodian rulers, and thus were more sympathetic toward the Roman government. They were for the kind of “progress” that Herod represented in their minds.
YOU CAN SEE WHY THESE TWO GROUPS, THAT WERE NOT USUALLY FRIENDLY, WOULD HAVE COME TOGETHER.
Jesus is a threat to both of their interests.
Jesus is a threat to the Jewish religious leaders and He would be perceived as a threat to the peace and success of Herod’s interests.
Politics and religion.
Religious loyalties and political loyalties.
Both represent IMPASSIONED PEOPLE.
So, if you want to ensnare someone with their words, have them answer difficult questions, controversial questions, debated questions, in the presence of impassioned people.
This was a partnership, constructed by the Pharisees, for ensnaring the Son of God.
• THE TEST (vs.16-17)
The words put into the mouths of the disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians, was preceded by something evil. They flattered Him.
• THE FLATTERY (vs.16)
This flattery seems to have been meant to embolden Jesus. Notice that their emphasis is on TRUTH to the exclusion of concern about what ANYONE thinks. Let’s build Him up as someone who will say what He thinks no matter whom it offends.
Literally, “you don’t look at the face of men.”
Their nature is on display by THEIR LIES.
What is amazing about this flattery is that their words are ABSOLUTELY TRUE, but THEY ARE HYPOCRITICAL LIARS.
ESV Proverbs 29:5 A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
ESV Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
They don’t believe a single word - though they instinctively must have known the words to be true.
WHY WOULD YOU FLATTER HIM IN THIS WAY?
WHY DO THESE QUALITIES COME INTO YOUR MIND?
THESE THOUGHTS COME INTO THEIR MINDS, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH THEY DESPISE JESUS, THEY SEE THESE THINGS IN JESUS.
• HE IS TRUTHFUL (HONEST)
• HE TEACHES THE WAY OF GOD IN TRUTH
• HE IS A COURAGEOUS AND FAITHFUL TEACHER
All of that was true, but none of that was TRULY ADMIRED BY THEM, none of that was offered in sincere admiration.

[@oliverjamito9902]

Therefore the AM loved for the little "i" the CHILD. The CHILD will say, WILL NOT BE IN VAIN. But to remind GOD'S WILL is FULLFILLED. Now the little "i" the Son of Man sitting with the AM. Who love with patience, mercy, and grace! Love you Pop!

[@danielwarton5343]

I fall on the side of churches staying open, as we are commanded to meet. Peter was forbidden to preach the gospel but went out and did it immediately.
We praise churches in communist countries for meeting in secret against the rules of the land.
I’m proud of men like John MacArthur and James Coates who stood for the truth and some paid the price.