Little Traps

Some people work very hard to figure out ways to trap others and bring them down.

Then they sent to him some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said. And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me see it.” And they brought one. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Jesus said to them, “Give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they were utterly amazed at him. Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that ‘if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.’ There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; and the second married her and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.” Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.” - Mark 12:13-27

First the Pharisees and Herodians took a shot at Jesus and then the Sadducees came up with their contrived story, but neither were able to trip him up.

The problem with these attempts is that they wind up changing no one's opinion.

They walked away amazed at his cleverness, but still convinced they needed to take him down.  It was no more than a game.

Those who come up with the challenge for Jesus have no real desire to learn the truth.  Their goal is to prove him wrong.  His views are not just foreign, they are dangerous.

So they plant these little traps for him every time they encounter him.  And he has to find a way to avoid them each time.

How exhausting that must have been for them and for Jesus.

In a way, it was no different than what we see on social media today.  I know two people who challenge and test each other every day.  One makes a statement to get the other to respond and though they make good arguments, neither changes his mind.

This is how we are, diametrically opposed and unswerving.

What satisfaction do these challenges and little traps bring?

How different would the outcome be if they approached one another with a sincere interest to understand the opposing viewpoint?

In his book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," Steven Covey writes, "Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply."

He challenges us to seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Only a few who came to Jesus sought to understand.  Instead, many came to challenge and prove him wrong before the world.

But when Jesus encountered the Syrophoenician woman, he listened, and when he understood her, he changed his mind about helping her.

This is the lesson we should take away from these teachings.

We are not always right about everything, in all circumstances.

Sometimes we fall into our own little traps.

More to come...