Pam Padgett ... teacher
After Jesus spoke the parable of the king who made a marriage for his
son, but the invited guests did not come (Matthew 22:1-14), the
Pharisees tried to entangle Jesus by sending various people to ask questions of Him. But none were able to stand against
the wisdom and power of what Jesus spoke.
The Herodians asked Jesus if it was lawful to give tribute to
Caesar, and the answer Jesus gave caused them to marvel and they left
...
Matthew 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the
Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the
way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest
not the person of men. 17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it
lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? 18 But Jesus perceived their
wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? 19 Shew me the
tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. 20 And he saith unto
them, Whose is this image and superscription? 21 They say unto him,
Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the
things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's. 22
When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went
their way.
Sadducees, who don't believe in resurrection from the dead, came asking
Jesus about marriage in the resurrection. Jesus' answer astonished
those who heard and silenced the Sadducees ...
Matthew 22:23 The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say
that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24 Saying, Master, Moses
said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his
wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25 Now there were with us
seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased,
and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26 Likewise the
second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27 And last of all the
woman died also. 28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she
be of the seven? for they all had her. 29 Jesus answered and said unto
them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage,
but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the
resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto
you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his
doctrine.
The Pharisees came asking which commandment was the greatest.
Jesus answered, and then asked them questions about their understanding of Christ. When they were unable to answer, they asked no more questions ...
Matthew 22:34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the
Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them,
which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto
him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all
thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great
commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and
the prophets. 41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked
them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say
unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David
in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou
on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David
then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer
him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more
questions.
While considering how all those coming in their own wisdom were silenced by what Jesus said, I was reminded that Paul taught us that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God and vain ...
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you
seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be
wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is
written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The
Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21 Therefore
let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22 Whether Paul, or
Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present,
or things to come; all are yours; 23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is
God's.
It is not by the wisdom of man that we come to God, but through faith ...
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the
gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be
made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will
bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise?
where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God
made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom
of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews
require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach
Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the
foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is
stronger than men.
The wisdom of man cannot stand against the wisdom and power of God.