Passion Week

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words....Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”” Matthew 22:15, 17 

As Jesus continued to teach the religious leaders were not concerned with wjat he was teaching. All they wanted was to find fault with Him. 

Instead of having an individual revelation of Jesus they had a group opinion of Him. Jesus knew why they were struggling hence he aaked them; “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”” Mat 22:41-42. Adequate response to His Lordship is settled  after a good understanding of His sonship. 

Latter on as the debates continued he told them “Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” Mat 22:29. Knowledge of scripture and the  is vital to staying in the truth. What happened to these teachers of the law can happen to any believer. 

They held on to the means of religion to the neglect of the motive of religion. When superficiality became the basis of our faith spirituality can easily be lost.

Jesus was moved by their lack of desire for the truth. Therefore He warned: “So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” Mat 23:3. They had reduced religion to a subject to talk about instead a life to be lived.