Trying to trap Jesus and deciding his answers are always best

By Dean Collins

The Pharisees had some things right about Jesus. For instance, Mark told us they believed Jesus was not swayed by anyone’s opinion or appearance. And he was not afraid to let religious leaders know when they were wrong.‬‬ I believe the same is true of Jesus today. The issue for us is similar to the issue the Pharisees had; what are we going to do about Jesus?

Trapping Jesus

When you think you know more than God, you might think you can trick him into following your plan instead of his plan. It seems absurd even to suggest that anyone actually thinks they are more informed than God in any particular subject, but it is especially ridiculous to think we know or understand Scripture better than God. Yet that is in essence what some of the religious leaders of the day believed.

In the opening chapter of Mark, Jesus goes to the synagogue. Those who heard him speak were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority in contrast to that of the scribes (1:21-22). By chapter 2 of Mark, we find the scribes questioning Jesus in their hearts and suggesting that he is blaspheming by his words and through his actions (Mark 2:6-7).

Now in the last few days before his crucifixion, the Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus with his own words. Since Jesus has already accomplished the great victory over death and the payment for our sins, our attempts to trap Jesus have nothing to do with his accomplishing his divine calling. Our attempts to trap Jesus have to do with finding ways to give ourselves permission to be our own authority on matters of life and death. If we can trap him, then we won’t have to follow all of his teachings; we can pick and choose what works for us and ignore the unpleasant parts of his teaching.

Yielding authority

I suppose it is an issue or question of authority. Generally speaking, I imagine we are fine with Jesus paying the penalty for our sins so that we receive the gift of eternal life. On the other hand, there are areas of our lives where we might prefer Jesus not to have final authority; if we surrender everything, then he is the Lord of all and not just of some things.

You and I are very similar in many ways; we both are created in the image of God and we both still sin. However since we grew up in different places, in different homes, have different talents and abilities, and have experienced different challenges, we will likely differ about the areas where we would prefer to trap Jesus and keep him out of certain rooms or closets of our lives and experiences.

I suppose we are similar in another way. I think it is a common temptation to think our interpretation of Scripture is right. If we have the correct doctrinal interpretations, then we feel free to drive down the wide lane of our understanding. The result of thinking we have it right might include that we simply ignore some of the hard things Jesus said, especially when they interrupt our lifestyle, our relationships, our politics, and even our bank accounts.

In general, the religious leaders had determined that all the memorized Scriptures they could recite and all of the official interpretations they had written for themselves and others did not line up with what Jesus said. Therefore, the only way not to have to alter their lives was to do away with Jesus. Jesus can be very inconvenient and disruptive if we take him seriously.

The political trap in Mark 12:13-17 failed. The dispute over the resurrection and the implications for marriage didn’t work, either. It seemed that every time a Pharisee, Sadducee, or scribe thought they knew more than Jesus, he said something that indicated maybe there was indeed a crack in their understanding.

Loving God . . . and others

Then a scribe came with one last question before the pace to arrest and kill Jesus accelerated. He had a good question. It is the kind of question students ask when they want to make sure they know the requirements to get a good grade in a class.

“Which is the most important commandment”? The scribe who asked it may have very well been trying to get his life right with God. Maybe he was questioning what the Pharisees and Sadducees and others were trying to do. Jesus seemed to accept his question as good and that it came from an honest desire to know. I think Jesus welcomes heartfelt questions. He is never offended when we admit we really don’t know.

The answer to the scribe was this: “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Jesus agreed with what everyone in earshot believed to be true; there is but one God, and we are called to love him completely: with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus added a part two to his answer; love your neighbor as yourself. His answer was clear and simple. It also had huge implications for how we live our lives and whether we indeed will accept Jesus as God and as authority over everything. Loving others the way we love ourselves is impossible if we live determined to do our own thing our own way.

Setting us free

Jesus did not try to trap the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the scribes, or anyone else. He came to do the opposite. He came to set us free from our way of thinking, from our selfishness, and from the bondage of sins that clings regularly and tightly.

As we get closer to Holy Week this year once again, we must face Jesus with honesty. We can ask him anything. And we must be open and willing to consider that his answers may alter our lives now and forever. His love for us is steadfast and never ceases. And thankfully, his mercy never ends either.

Lord, forgive us when we try to put you in a box and limit your transformation of our minds and hearts. We want to know you fully. We surrender our doctrine, our dogma, and our stubborn self-interests. Forgive us. Transform us. Use us for your glory that we might fully participate in the spread of your kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Amen.

Your time with God’s Word
Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭13‬-‭17, 24‬-‭34 ‭ESV‬‬

Photo by Skitterphoto at Pexels.com

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