Daily D – Matthew 22:15-17

by David Bowman | Sep 2, 2024 | Daily D | 0 comments

Matthew 22:15-17 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap him by what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (CSB)

—

It’s GOTCHA season. From now until Election Day, every politician and minion will scour every speech and every answer from his or her opponents to find logical inconsistencies, flip flops on issues, and outright unAmerican positions and worldviews.

In other words, it’s a good time to watch sports rather than the news.

Could political talk radio exist without Ye Olde Political Trap tactics? Probably not. The Trap was tried on Jesus. It didn’t work. Instead, it exposed the bad theology of both the Pharisees and the Sadducees. As Linus in the Peanuts comic strip says, “Good theology is like that.”

People have a lot of funny ideas about God. Even people who study God at a professional level can come up with some doozies. Matthew 22 is full of tactics and issue-framing practices still in use today.

Jesus did not get caught in their traps. He didn’t fail any of their tests. Instead, he turned the tables on those trying to prove he was not who everyone thought he was. As it turns out, he was, and is, God With Us.

Here’s the only GOTCHA game Jesus plays: He wants you to know and experience him in a deep and abiding relationship where you participate in his highest and best gifts and purpose now and forever.

Why settle for trying to prove the other guy or gal wrong when we can know, embrace, and live in the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?

—

I will set my mind on God’s truth and God’s plans instead of political traps and accusations.

—

Our Father, angry political rhetoric is not making this a better world. Speaking the truth in love redirects our thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Save us from the traps set to cause us indignation, and free us to live in the joy of known and experiencing you. Amen.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

CONNECT WITH ME!

Interested in learning more about Church Unique or Life Younique? Send a note through the Get In Touch box or Message me through the Facebook link above.

GET IN TOUCH!

READ MY BLOG!

Daily D – Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Deuteronomy 26:16-19 “The Lord your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the Lord your God, as he promised.”

Daily D – Deuteronomy 23:4-5

Deuteronomy 23:4, 5 “For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you. However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.”

Daily D – Deuteronomy 17:16-20

Deuteronomy 17:16-20 The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and **he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left.** Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.

Daily D – Deuteronomy 15:7

Deuteronomy 15:7 “If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.”

Daily D – Deuteronomy 13:4

Deuteronomy 13:4 “It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.”