READING: Isaiah 1-3, Psalm 9, Matthew 22
I’m always amazed by how willing Jesus was to hear questions from both His followers and His foes. He is the Son of God who knows all things, yet He is patient with questions and gracious toward confusion. As a teacher, I suspect I would have gotten frustrated with disciples who didn’t listen, didn’t always learn, and sometimes repeated their questions. I would have also gotten angry with enemies who sought to trap Him with their questions, like the religious leaders in today’s New Testament reading did.
They thought they would catch Him with their questions, but each time He quieted them with His response. In fact, the response of the people was often wonder and amazement at Jesus’ ability to offer an answer while avoiding the trap:
- “When they heard this [His response to the question about paying taxes to Caesar], they were amazed.” (Matt 22:22)
- “And when the crowds heard this [His answer to the Sadducees’ question about marriage in the resurrection], they were astonished at his teaching.” (Matt 22:33)
- When Jesus captured the religious leaders with His own question about whose son the Messiah is, all they could do, too, was be silent: “No one was able to answer him at all, and from that day no one dared to question him anymore” (Matt 22:46).
No one can outwit or out-argue the Messiah. Indeed, while He welcomes our questions, sometimes our wisest move is to simply be quiet and recognize Him for who He is.
PRAYER: “Thank You, Jesus. I praise You for who You are.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Isaiah 4-6, Matthew 23
