November 25, 2016: SOAP #2549:  Matthew 20-22

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words…. 46 No-one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no-one dared to ask him any more questions.

Observation:  It had been quite a day.  First, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with a question paying taxes to Caesar. (verses 15-22)   A second question came from the Sadducees about a woman who had many husbands, the previous ones had died; in heaven, whose wife would she be?  (verses 23-33)    And finally an expert in the law asked which commandment is the greatest? (verses 34-40)    Now it was time for Jesus to ask the question.  How could David call the Christ “Lord” when He was David’s son?   He stopped their questions with a question.

Application:   It is not wrong to ask questions, but using words to trap The One Who is “the Word” is foolish.   No one knows the written word, the Bible, better than the Living Word, Jesus, the Son.  The written word reveals the Living Word who helps me understand the written word.  Loving Jesus leads me to love the Bible.

Prayer:   Heavenly Father, thank you for your written word and the Living Word.  Holy Spirit, help me as the Living Word works in my life to align me with your written word.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!