Matthew 22: 15-46 Tricking Jesus? Debating Jesus?

Jesus talked about fruit last time after cursing a fig tree, and seeing that the Pharisees and Chief priest did not bear fruit of the kingdom of heaven, Jesus told 3 parables/ stories that exposed them, first they did not believe John, that he was send form God to prepare the way for Jesus, even when big sinners repented changed their lives, and Jesus said: “they will go in to the kingdom before you, they still did not repent and believe.” The next to stories, Jesus told: was about the people of God rejecting the prophets God has send to them to call them back to him, and that they also will kill the son… Judgment is coming on the wicked servants that also was going ot (rejecting the cornerstone, Jesus. 3 the conserveness of rejecting God’s invitation, and snicking in and not bearing fruit. Hell = weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Have you experienced people asking you questions, but not to get you answers but to get to say their argument, or prove their point? [About being a believer, be open and kind, to the seeker, do as Jesus did, reprove the ones set them striat].

Not able to arrest Jesus because of the crowed, the Pharisees, the regroup and try plan how to trick Jesus to say something they can arrest him for. Then the disciples of the Pharisees and Herodians, (they are enemies, Pharisees, separation from others culture, Herodians, collaborate with Rome).

So, they say false faltering words, but in 17 is the question, what I was not aware of is that, the Herodians and Pharisees may have different hopes in what Jesus will say. Well, both that they can get him arrested, but as we know this is a tick question. What will Jesus do or say? Because who what’s to pay taxes to an forgren occupying force? (Pharisees) But the Herodian’s they are relying on Rome to keep them in power… So, are they both hoping Jesus will say don’t pay taxes to Caesar?

But as before Jesus’ dose the unexpected, (And that is why you should pay your taxes also even if you don’t agree with the government). Side note it is interesting how Matthew again talks about taxes, with his bag ground of being a tax collector (And he uses a technical word for the coin). Jesus knew what they were trying to do, and calls them hypnotists, they are acting playing a role. Jesus asks for a coin, then and asks who on it? And who’s inscription it is? They respond Caesar’s. Then give what is Caesars to him and give to God what is Gods. This response leaves them marveling, and they leave Jesus. They did not know what to say, both groups, failed. Jesus did not entangle him self but exposed them, as he made them marvel at his wisdom. PPT X 3 Give your self to God…

But then the Sadducees (who only believe 5 first books) came to Jesus, Matthew ad they don’t believe in the resurrection, they will ague their case from the Deuteronomy 25:5, (This is what I meant, - people com not to listen but to argue their own case) -but Jesus expose them with the comment, “Your wrong because you know neither the Scriptures (9-10 time) nor the power of God”. Ups...

First Jesus has to correct a faulty belief, as he does, he confirms that there will be a resurrection, as he said: in the resurrection, they don’t get marred in the resurrection, but are like angles in heaven. (Marriage as an idol, or poupous of life is exposed, worship of spouse of God? If we struggle with this, we have no idear what it would be like to be with God in glorious relationship, nothing to intagle us in sin, all thigs made new in near with God. Many of the commentators wrote about the Sadducees, that they were thinking being with God would just be a continuations of life like it is here , but it is altogether different, may we have a much higher view of Jesus Christ and his life death, work, his glorification and making all things new, that we might not live like heaven and new heaven is just like earth, just a little better, - I am lacking words, - but so different so great that the best thing here on earth, can even be compared with the glory and joy of being with God, - I know this is not easy because we live here and only experience this, and when Paul writes that to die is gain, most of us get nervous, but again how glorious is Jesus and fully experiencing being restored to him, and God. )

Back to Jesus and the Sadducees. Then the point of the story is gone… No one will marry. Then Jesus ask them if they have not read, what was said to them by God? And Jesus cites from Exodus 3:6. I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. God is not God of the dead, but of the living. Wow. What wisdom, the whole crowed was astonished, at Jesus teaching. (Like me and many others reading that passage, we may just have been thinking it was to explain who God was that he was the previous peoples God also, but Jesus, uses this to prove the coming resurrection, I did not see that when I read Exodus, did you?) PPT Gods self-revelation.

Jesus has made the people astonished and marvel, Word gets out that Jesus silenced the Sadducees, then the Pharisees, get together. And a lawyer asks Jesus a question, to test him. Will Jesus pass the test?

What is the greatest commandment in the law? Okay Jesus of the 613 laws what is the greatest commandment? Light and heavy, this was debated.

Jesus responds citing Deuteronomy 6:5 this is the greatest commandment. The samar jews would know this passage by heart. And Jesus adds from Leviticus 19:18. A second that is like the first, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. – And Jesus conclusion is on these two commandments depend all the law and the Prophets. Sin and brokenness, is what happen when we don’t do that, if we loved God, with all our hears, soul and mind, with all of who we are. We would not sin; we would worship and obey and live for God. (not our self). We don’t need more commandments, if we had wisdom to live according the first. And Jesus even adds another just to help us, you can’t love God with all your who you are if you don’t love your neighbor. God is not just your God, but of us all. Jesus gives them the path to life… and he will give even more if they will hear…

Jesus now asks them a question, whose son is Christ? They say what would be the obvious answer from the OT, that the Christ is the son of David, a king that would have an everlasting kingdom, and a son from David. But then Jesus asks again, how then can David call the Christ his Lord? If David calls him Lord (Adonai) how is he his son? No one could reply, they did not understand the scripture about the Christ Messiah, and they did not dare to ask Jesus any more questions. PPT (Was that not a mistake, Jesus opens the scripture for them).

Okay, then how could Jesus be both Davies son and his Lord? Well, as Jesus is in the line of David, as he is incarnated, comes to earth, but as John writes and the author of Hebrews, Jesus was with God in the beginning and all things were made true him. Then Jesus is both, Lord and God, and the promised son of David, - the crazy part of Jesus answers and questions is that they lead to life the lead to who He is, if they will hear, they can’t and will not. But what about you? Who is Jesus? Do you have questions? Jesus has/is the answers. And he has some questions to you. Who is your Lord and God? Who do you live for? What is heaven and new earth? (Is your understanding to small? Yes. It is greater and bigger). How do we respond to people asking us questions? What is the important of knowing the scripture and What did Jesus say about the greatest command? Not about how much you can work for God, but about how much you can love God with all your heart, soul, mind strength. If we do that we will also love our neighbor as our self. Because the love of God transforms us to live in that so we obey God and serve and love him and people. Jesus makes it possible.