The Pharisees Take Counsel to Entangle - Matthew 22:15

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus said, “for many are called, but few are chosen”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse fifteen of his book Jesus told how, “the Pharisees … took counsel how they might entangle him” where we read:

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

The verse reads, “Then went the Pharisees, ...” Matthew began with the words, “then went” which means “at that time and moment departed and left” “the Pharisees” or “the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life”. Matthew shared how the “religious leaders” known as the “Pharisees” left Jesus after His story about the king.

The verse goes on to say, “... and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.” Matthew continued with the words, “and took counsel” which means “laid hold of, apprehended, claimed and procured deliberations and assembled in consultation” “how they might entangle him” or “in what way the Pharisees could ensnare or entrap Jesus” “in his talk” which refers to “within Jesus' speech, voice, decrees or sayings”. Matthew shared how the Pharisees met together and deliberated to determine how they could “ensnare” Jesus as He was speaking.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see the pernicious behavior of these “religious leaders” known as the “Pharisees”. The actually met together to ascertain a means to “trap” Jesus in His words. Though God sent His Son Jesus to the world to “save” people from their sins, not everyone believed Him, and they did what they could to make Him look bad. God's desire is for everyone to receive Jesus and His sacrifice upon the cross to forgive their “sins”, and rather than meeting to discover ways to “entangle”, let all who read these words simply “believe and trust” in Him.

Next time Matthew shares how the Pharisees, “sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians”, 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.