GOODNEWSLETTER
Number 438 October 31, 2012
When Jesus Answers
"Jesus answered them and said," Matthew 11:4
The Lord did a lot of answering whilst among the Jews. People had a lot of questions for this Jesus of Nazareth. Some asked in doubt; while, some tried to tempt Him. Yet, the Lord did not always answer in the same manner. He knew the hearts of all men and, He knew why they questioned Him. He called some hypocrites. But, His disciples were given the meaning without such accusations. Jesus knew the hearts of men, alright.
The Pharisees tried to trick Jesus with their questions. They thought they had Him was when they questioned Jesus about the tribute to Caesar. Of all His answers, this one is a favorite of mine. Approaching the Lord, they said: "Tell us...what thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?"(Mt 22:17). No one expected the answer that Jesus gave them. His reply to their question was beautiful. His answer shut them up and, after they heard His words, they marveled and went their way.
Really, Jesus asked them a question. Who says you can't answer a question with a question? "Whose is this image and superscription?," He asked them; to which they replied, "Caesar's" (22:21). They were dumbfounded when Jesus gives them His beautiful answer. "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's," Matthew 22:21.
The Pharisees were always tempting Jesus. But, His answers were correct and Scriptural and, right on the money. They tried to tempt Him on divorce(Mt 19:3). Even a lawyer tried to tempt the Lord (imagine that !). The question is in Matthew 22:35. "Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?" Here, Jesus gives him the truth about God and our neighbors, as well. Love the Lord and thy neighbor as thyself was the answer that He gave. "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets," Matthew 22:39.
Of course, His answers to the devil are so vital for us to understand. When Jesus was tempted this time, we see how to deal with this life and make right choices in our service to the Lord God. The temptation is after Jesus fasted. Yet, Jesus knew the correct answer for this great deceiver. "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," Matthew 4:4.
Just before He dismissed the devil, it was clear that Jesus always followed what was written. "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the LORD thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Mt 4:10). Amen! So, God did not leave things up to our own thinking, did He? He showed us how His Son answered life's questions. So, the next time we are tempted, let's go to the Word of God and learn how to live by the Word. Today, like never before, we must read the book and memorize it's content; especially, when it come to the questions we are going to get from others. Let us know what the Son of God said. It's no different for us than it was for the Lord. Amen!