BE AWARE OF WRONG MOTIVES IN COMMUNICATION
BE AWARE OF WRONG MOTIVES IN COMMUNICATION
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away. —Matthew 22:15-22
There are those who just plot to try and trip you up and catch you saying something that is not right… at least according to their standards. This was what was happening as “the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle Jesus in his words.” They asked Jesus, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” It is a yes or no question designed to accuse him either way Jesus answered. If He answered it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, then they could accuse Him of supporting Rome. If He answered it wasn’t lawful to pay taxes to Rome, then they could accuse Him of rebelling against Rome.
Questions asked that are designed for either yes or no answer without any other information given are many times used to manipulate someone into saying something in which they can be accused of wrongdoing or of giving a wrong answer. Jesus was “aware of their malice” and did not answer with a yes or no. Instead, He said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” After Jesus answered them “they marveled. And they left him and went away.”
Jesus was aware—
- Of their malice
- Of their putting Him to a test
- Of their hypocrisy
Dear Father, please give me discernment as I talk with people and reveal their motives behind their communication. May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. So be it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYu8ZyETnKo