Matthew 22:15-46, "Marginalizing Jesus"

Marginalizing Jesus"

It is easy to focus on things that don’t really matter and to entirely miss important things right in front of us. In fact, we can even focus on things that don’t matter in an effort to avoid dealing with God and dealing with ourselves. The attempt to push God to the margins is the resistance to the change He may call us to make.

In our passage this morning, we see three different groups try to marginalize Jesus with three questions. It bothers them that Jesus is at the center of everyone’s attention. Their questions expose the patterns of people who try to avoid God. But, in His grace Jesus asks a fourth question to help them move past their doubts and to see God’s good promise for them.

Today we will take these four questions to understand four keys factors that help us rightly see God and His call upon our lives.

1. Faith. We will only hear the truth if we ask with trust ()

2. Scripture. Let God’s Word Shape You, Don’t You Shape God’s Word ()

3. Love. The Ultimate Test of Every Motive and Every Action ()

4. Jesus. You Can’t Skip Him or Marginalize Him ()

As much as a person may try, Jesus won’t stay in the margins forever. He graciously calls us to consider who He is. When we open ourselves to the changes that come when we follow him, we will receive God’s power to live for His purposes.