The Last Tag In...Matthew 22:34-46...Testing Done!


Probably the last snowshoe hike for the season.  I will have to deal with mud, ice and snow here and there if I venture up the trails.  I think I have snowshoed more this season than last even though we didn't have the snow depth of last year.  As I put away the snowshoes I will start dreaming of next year!

We finished up chapter 22 this Sunday.  The testing is done!  4 different groups get into the ring with Jesus.  They are testing Him but soon they realize that He is testing them.  Jesus never really goes into the defensive mode that is normal if you are being questioned or tested but stays in the offensive mode to bring about a bigger issue than the one raised.

Group #1:  Chief priests and elders

They questioned Jesus' authority.  Jesus turns it back upon them to question their discerning authority regarding the baptism of John the Baptist.  They gave a non-answer.

Group #2:  Pharisees and Herodians

They questioned Jesus' loyalty.  Jesus turns it back upon them to question if they had given to God what was God's.  This ask is much bigger than the question about paying taxes to Caesar.

Group #3:  Sadducees

They question Jesus' position on the resurrection.  Jesus turns it back upon them with an answer from their part of the Bible, the first 5 books, and their guy, Moses.  Jesus publicly corrects their wrong doctrine and throws in some important information about heaven too.

Group #4:  The lawyer (scribe, expert in the law)

He questions Jesus' knowledge.  Jesus answers the common question of the greatest command with the common scriptural answer and then turns it back upon the group to answer another question of His from the Psalms.  Did they hold the same position about the Christ, the Son of David, that David did?  Did they hold that the Christ, the Son of David, even though after David would be bowed down to by David as his Lord, Master, the One he belongs too?  

Now it is time for Jesus to speak and He alone.  He will be in full offensive mode in chapter 23.  This is a side of Jesus that is not usually focused on.  We will have to fight the temptation to point fingers at the Pharisees and scribes that will receive the 7 woes from Jesus and turn those fingers back at ourselves.  Because we are not Jesus, our first identifier is with the ones getting the woes.  We can do and maybe have done what they are doing or have done so we need to be ready to repent.  

It has been so enriching to me to go again through the gospel of Matthew.  I feel like I am walking with Jesus through the streets of Jerusalem and into the temple.  I am sitting at His feet as He shares instructions with the multitude gathered and His disciples.  Even though this portion has been read before many times, the Holy Spirit is pointing out new things and connecting dots with other parts of the Scriptures.  More assurance of God and His redemption plan through His Son and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to continue to guide us in the truth.  

Adam


A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 39th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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