Monday, October 13

Matthew 22:15,17,21-22
Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said...."Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” ....Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
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There is part of me that understands the motives of the Pharisees.  They were defenders of the faith as they knew it. They were going to use any means at their disposal including political manuevering and clever public questions to expose the vulnerabilities of their adversary.  But there is the other part of me that questions their motives as being more about personal power than the purity of their faith. I am sad when I read "they left him and went away." Jesus was right there, in front of them, and they walked away. People had an opportunity to ask Jesus questions. Some people took that opportunity to try to trip Jesus.  Some people took that opportunity to ask Jesus to save them.  What question would you ask Jesus today?
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Help me ask the right questions, Lord. Amen.