A Lawyer Asks a Question - Matthew 22:35

Matthew the apostle wrote, “when the Pharisees had heard that” Jesus “had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse thirty-five of his book, Matthew shared how “a lawyer, asked” Jesus “a question” where we read:

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

The verse reads, “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, ...” Matthew began with the words, “then one of them” or “also, even and indeed one of the Pharisees” “which was a lawyer” which means “who was one learned in the law and a teacher of the Mosaic law”, “asked him” or “accosted Jesus with a question, request or demand” “a question” or “a request or petition”. Matthew shared how this particular Pharisee who was learned in the law questioned Jesus.

The verse continues, “... tempting him, and saying, ...” Matthew added the words, “tempting him” which means “attempting, endeavoring, examining or testing Jesus for the purpose of ascertaining quality, thought and behavior”, “and saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”. Matthew shared how the lawyer's motive was to “examine and test” Jesus.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we notice we are given a description of the man who asked Jesus this next question. This was a “well-educated” Pharisee who not only knew “the law”, but also taught it. As we take note that this was a “testing” or “tempting” question, we understand it was disingenuous from the beginning as it was meant only to “ensnare” Jesus in His answer. God knows there are “educated” people in the world who have questions for Him, particularly when it pertains to “everlasting life” and the “resurrection”. God desires people to “believe and trust” in His Son Jesus as their “Savior and Lord” that they might live with Him eternally, and those who are wise shall submit themselves to Him regardless of the questions they hold.

Next time Matthew wrote how the lawyer asked, “which is the great commandment in the law?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.