A warning: They knew the Scripture, but they missed the truth

By Dean Collins

Memorizing and knowing are two different things. I may be able to quote a poem, a speech, or even a Scripture from memory, but that does not prove nor guarantee that I understand the depth of meaning in the words or that they have changed my life in any significant way. I may have taken time to memorize the content, but I may not have allowed the content to change me.

A common annoyance

In Matthew 22 we find some alignment from three groups who had read and memorized much of Scripture. Nevertheless, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Herodians were divided in their understanding of Scripture. They were proud of their religious and even political uniqueness.

But in spite of their differences, they had a common annoyance in the person of Jesus. All three groups wanted to get rid of him. The Pharisees and Herodians sent their disciples to try and trap Jesus. I suspect the Pharisees sent in the B team so Jesus would encounter fresh faces while the A team kept scheming behind the scenes on how to destroy Jesus. Trapping Jesus was the thing that unified these groups. Jesus was a threat to their biases and their power structures. Sadly, we fall into the same trap trying either to ignore Jesus or twist Scriptures to support our prejudices and preferences.

Failed attempts

Jesus didn't take the bait when the disciples of the Pharisees and Herodians first attempted flattery and followed with whether Jesus believed it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus asked them for a coin and followed with a question about whose image was on the coin. They came together to trap the only one who could give them real and lasting freedom. But it would not be accomplished according to their agendas. Trying to set God’s agenda is neither wise nor productive. Surrender to his will is a far better option.

Trying to set God’s agenda is neither wise nor productive. Surrender to his will is a far better option.

The Sadducees took the next at bat with their long and winding question involving one lady losing seven husbands in her lifetime. Each man was the brother of the previous husband, and none of those unions successfully produced a child. Their question: Whose wife would she be at the resurrection?

I suspect the Sadducees were not the only ones to throw lots of hypotheticals at Jesus. When Jesus gave his answer to them, he pulled no punches. He was direct and to the point: “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” They could quote a lot of Scripture but they neither understood it nor had been transformed by it.

Hard questions

In this season of Lent as we reimagine the sacrifice of Jesus and we realign ourselves with his mission, we can ask ourselves hard questions. We can choose to let the Scriptures and our Savior challenge us. What beliefs and behaviors are we clinging to that might prompt Jesus to tell us the same thing he said to the Sadducees? Since we are on a journey to become fully like Jesus, I think it is fair to consider we are wrong on certain things. It’s OK to admit we might misunderstand the Scriptures and tend to forget that the gospel is the power of God that can knock down walls, change behavior, and speed the coming of Christ if we would only allow God full access to our lives.

It might be scary to consider that we cling to beliefs and behaviors that have been passed down to us and reinforced by culture even though they reflect neither the thinking nor the love of God. Maybe as we pray today we might ask God to reveal the areas in our hearts and minds that need correction. We can approach the throne of grace without shame because Jesus took our shame to the cross. Like Paul we can say, “ I am unashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation.” And we can with grace and kindness approach others who are also wrong because they know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

When we come in love and pure hearts we might just be surprised to watch the power of God at work in lives all around us.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:29; Romans‬ ‭1:16-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Michael Carruth from Unsplash

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