“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
The trouble with the Pharisees is they couldn’t escape the truth. Their efforts to entangle Jesus were thwarted by the very claims they spoke: He was true and could not be tricked. No matter the vehemence of their sinister motive and strategy to ruin His influence, His majesty would stand immovable and incorruptible. Their plotting turned to marveling as He was simply Himself and upturned their ruse into bewilderment, ending the conversation with a hush.
And the beautiful thing about God is He always takes us higher and deeper than we ever imagined and leaves us in wonderment. He not only thwarts our ill intentions but furthers His redemptive ones. He not only upends our earthly thinking but elevates His eternal mindset. Dealing with Jesus will always restructure our outlook, reorder our longings, and enrich our souls. The paltry attempts we take to Him are transformed to magnify His wisdom, kindness, and grace.
Don’t we realize we cannot deter the Lord’s will and ways? That there is no plan of man that can succeed against Him? Finagling with Scripture’s moral standards and attempts to justify decisions and behavior abhorrent to Him will never succeed. We cannot trick Jesus into being or approving something He is not and does not. No amount of cultural pressure, threat of ruin, or intent for demise can overpower what God has spoken and ordained. (Job 5:12; 42:2; Psalm 119:89; Proverbs 21:30; Isaiah 14:24)
Where do we attempt to fool the all-knowing God? Have we entertained or ignored any taint of malice, deception, or pride within that needs to be reckoned with by naming and confession? What ignorance of His ways, or dismissing of His truth, causes callousness in our hearts? What ingrained tendencies to take false advantage or be conniving have distanced us from His grace? How will we pray, and when will we surrender and hush, so we can humbly fear and devotedly gaze in awe at the royal Jesus? (Matthew 22:29; 1 John 1:9)
Lord, purify me through and through to approach You always with pure motives. Keep me fearing You, ever dumbfounded and marveling at Your greatness and wisdom. Matthew 22:46
As the rain and snow 