JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM: HYPOCRITES ALERT

“But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?” ~ Matthew 22:18

Reference: 

Matthew 22:15-22

Things are happening very fast! Purpose is about to be fulfilled. Jesus is teaching, healing, amending old traditions and rebuking the Pharisees for their harmful doctrines. His critics are actively looking for ways to stop or undermine Him. Their direct approaches have not worked, so, they regrouped and plotted an indirect way to entangle Him…to catch Him in His words.

They came to him as friendly eager learners, seeking clarification on matters of religion and state. As a Teacher, He was supposed to have the answers. They waited for Him to answer their trick question which would either pitch Him against religious Israel or the Roman government. If He offended the Jews, they would take Him as a false teacher and stone Him to death. If He offended Rome, He would be termed an insurgent and would be jailed. Whichever way, the Pharisees wanted to do away with Him. So, we only see people seeking innocent answers to innocent questions, but working behind the scenes is the devil.

It is wicked to try to entangle a man in his speech under pretext of wanting to hear his ‘honest’ opinion, only to later turn and use his response against him. It is wicked to use a sweet tongue to conceal an evil heart or to use friendship as a cover for hatred. What was done to Jesus here was wicked and hypocritical, they were ready to quote Him out of context in order to accuse and prosecute Him. Jesus could only escape their trap because of His power of discernment.

A man on a mission is dangerous to the kingdom of darkness; the devil will use every means to try to stop him. There will be all kinds of people around you; some will claim love, they will claim friendship, they will claim mentees or mentors, they will claim to be your supporters’ group, but beneath that cover is selfishness and a plot to take you down – they are tools in the devil’s hands. If you want to successfully fulfill your life’s mandate, be discerning like Jesus. Whenever such people come around you, there must be a bell within you that rings, “Hypocrite Alert!” Be careful whom you ‘open up’ to. I taught my sons about Solomon’s Temple’s Friendship Principle: The outer court, the inner court and the Holy of holies. Some people should be kept in your outer court – you greet them from afar. Others can come into your inner court – you only have conversations around work, study or business with them. A few make it into your Holy of holies – these are your close friends, prayer partners, people who have proven their friendship through thick and thin, whom you can share matters of the heart with. May God give you the discernment to escape all schemes of hypocrites who disguise as friends.

 PHOTO QUOTE:

ADDITIONAL TEXTS: 

Psalm 55:12-14, Proverbs 11:9; 17:17; 20:6 and Matthew 10:16

PRAYERS:

+ Father, I pray for the grace to discern and escape every trap of the devil designed for my downfall.

+ Lord, expose every person in my network of friends, work or business who is unwittingly used to cause me pain or to hinder my journey to my destiny.

+ I call forth good and true friends, destiny helpers and supporters; friends worthy of my Holy of holies.