Have you ever gone fishing and someone else’s line got tangled up with your? What a mess trying to get it untangled!
That is exactly what JESUS faced from the religious leaders, HIS last week on earth as HE taught the people in the temple at Jerusalem. As one verse says, they were trying to entangle HIM in HIS talk. But instead of getting frustrated as we might, HE used what was thrown at HIM to ensnare HIM as an opportunity to show the right way.
The Pharisees actually went out and plotted together in how to trap JESUS in what HE said. Then they sent one of themselves to HIM with the Herodians (who supported the Roman occupation)and asked if it was right to pay taxes. Taxes were a big issue. A catch 22 no matter what HE said.
But JESUS, who knows all things, knew what was going on. Asking for a coin (for HE had no money for the illustration) JESUS held it and asked, “Whose portrait is this and whose inscription?” Their response of course was, “Caesars” to which JESUS responded… “Give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto GOD that which is GOD.” On hearing this the Pharisees were amazed and they left HIM. Matthew 23;15-22
(in other words, we have responsibilities to our families, to our government and although GOD needs to come 1st to us, we also need to fulfill our other responsibilities as well.)
Then came the Sadducees (who don’t believe in life after death) trying to trick JESUS by asking what would happen in heaven if they followed they followed the Bible’s instructions about a man marrying the widow of his brother to produce an heir. It was quite an elaborate presentation involving 7 brothers.
JESUS skipped the pretense and got to the real issue, “You err because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of GOD Matthew 23:23-29
(how many times are we worried or are wrong because we do not know the Scriptures nor the AWESOME power of GOD? That tells me we need to spend time learning what GOD says and if we do that we will see His AWESOME power)
"Heaven & earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away. "Matthew 24:35)
Hugs
Sharon
That is exactly what JESUS faced from the religious leaders, HIS last week on earth as HE taught the people in the temple at Jerusalem. As one verse says, they were trying to entangle HIM in HIS talk. But instead of getting frustrated as we might, HE used what was thrown at HIM to ensnare HIM as an opportunity to show the right way.
The Pharisees actually went out and plotted together in how to trap JESUS in what HE said. Then they sent one of themselves to HIM with the Herodians (who supported the Roman occupation)and asked if it was right to pay taxes. Taxes were a big issue. A catch 22 no matter what HE said.
But JESUS, who knows all things, knew what was going on. Asking for a coin (for HE had no money for the illustration) JESUS held it and asked, “Whose portrait is this and whose inscription?” Their response of course was, “Caesars” to which JESUS responded… “Give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and unto GOD that which is GOD.” On hearing this the Pharisees were amazed and they left HIM. Matthew 23;15-22
(in other words, we have responsibilities to our families, to our government and although GOD needs to come 1st to us, we also need to fulfill our other responsibilities as well.)
Then came the Sadducees (who don’t believe in life after death) trying to trick JESUS by asking what would happen in heaven if they followed they followed the Bible’s instructions about a man marrying the widow of his brother to produce an heir. It was quite an elaborate presentation involving 7 brothers.
JESUS skipped the pretense and got to the real issue, “You err because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of GOD Matthew 23:23-29
(how many times are we worried or are wrong because we do not know the Scriptures nor the AWESOME power of GOD? That tells me we need to spend time learning what GOD says and if we do that we will see His AWESOME power)
"Heaven & earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away. "Matthew 24:35)
Hugs
Sharon
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