Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 11:53-54 (New Living Translation)

53 As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions. 54 They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him.

As Jesus continues the earthly ministry, teachers of the religious law and Pharisees didn’t like Jesus. Jesus spoke too candidly and pointed to their failings as religious leaders.

Here’s an idea: ask questions. Ask leading questions. Ask trick questions. We can trick Jesus into saying one thing, then double back on his words to show that Jesus wasn’t so smart and so right all the time. That will do it!

This is pretty easy to do. Use carefully chosen words. Toss in a few specific dates and events. Catch the person when they are not concentrating. Then…BANG! Got ’em. Tricked ’em. Trapped ’em. This is pretty easy to do.

And as a result? Well, I’ve showed that I can be more clever than another person. I have won an intellectual argument. And as a result? I have a new enemy. Another person despises me.

And as a result? That isn’t what I am supposed to be doing here and now. That isn’t showing love, compassion, concern, good will, or anything good. It is just bad intentions followed by bad actions that somehow prove that I am superior in some twisted way. Nope. All wrong.

Instead, use the brains God gave me to find ways to love and build up others into the love of God. Much better that way. Please God, help me in my unbelief.