Nougat 17

Are you familiar with the idea of being baited? It involves someone intentionally trying to get you to say or do something that could trap you. If you’ve been baited before, recognize that Jesus was too. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

Matthew 22:15, 23 NIV

[15] Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words.

[23] That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.

Baited By the Institution

In my experience, baiting works best if done by folks who exist in our circles. It may be friends or family, or even our foes. But it increases effectiveness when the person/group trying to set the trap are somewhat familiar with the other.

Jesus and the religious elite occupied somewhat similar circles. One could argue that they were all teachers of ‘The Law’. That is, Mosaic Law. They had virtually the same constituency: Jews under Roman occupation; which meant that the people sought ‘easy’ answers in religious rhetoric. From the perspective of the religious elite, the institutionalized religious right, Jesus was an interloper. To make matters worse, Jesus was educated and articulate enough to question their faulty theology; and He was capable of manifesting spiritual signs and other miracles. In short, Jesus was a formidable competitor.

To some extent, they were operating within their spiritual rights in trying to determine if Jesus was legit. But, if we were to be honest, the motives were suspect, if at all true. In both instances, we realize that the religious right sought to trap Jesus, not to test His legitimacy. That’s the root of the problem, their motive.

When the religious elite perceived Jesus as a threat, they could have taken another approach toward Him. By choosing to treat Jesus as a charlatan, they were moving perilously close to blasphemy. They did not heed David’s warning, ‘Touch not the Lord’s anointed …’ (see Psalm105:15-17). Nor did they consider Jesus’ warning against blasphemy in Matthew 23:22-32. The religious rights opted to ‘expose’ Jesus using subterfuge.

What they didn’t factor in was the fact that as The Son of God, Jesus was on to them. Plus He was sustained by the angelic hosts and prayed Himself up continuously.

Those two factors are key for our own lives. We must have an established relationship with God so we are confident that God’s angels are ready to protect us; and that our prayer life is on point. When our prayer life is active, with us listening to God’s voice, recognizing that we’re being baited is much easier. Knowing we’re being baited gives the opportunity for God to shine through our response.

May we be so yielded to God’s Spirit today that we recognize and avoid the baiting of others. Selah.

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May all we seek be found in Christ