Leaders Wanted to Trick jesus (Matthew 22)
Matthew 22 recounts an instance of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming together to try to test, trick, and teach Jesus a lesson. They had heard and witnessed so much about this man from Nazareth but were determined to be the ones to put Him in His place. They sought to do so by means of their own worldly wisdom.
How does godly wisdom play a role in Christ’s presence throughout this story? What kinds of warnings does Jesus give to the religious leaders, and to us, in the text? This was not His first run-in with these men, and it would not be His last. Time and time again, they used what they knew of Jesus’ teaching to find fault with His ministry. Though they sought to criticize and condemn Jesus, they found no real means to do so, as all wisdom and truth are derived from Him alone.
While the religious leaders wanted to trick Jesus through flawed earthly insight, they missed the true wisdom that all Scripture speaks to: Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. We know from Proverbs 9:10 that true knowledge and power come from the fear of the Lord, as it is the beginning of wisdom and understanding. How heartbreaking it was that they saw Wisdom with their own eyes yet failed to believe and cling to His words of life!
As you reflect on this chapter, consider what it means to seek and find His truth, though it may appear as folly to the eyes of the world. The leaders who went up against Jesus in the temple sought to stun Him into submission. Yet in the end, they were the ones whose logic had failed and astonished them into silence.
Christ offers us a warning against misunderstanding both the Scriptures and the power of God here in this chapter. As you share this story with kids, point in the direction of Jesus—the One whose power and understanding are unlimited and unwavering, never silenced or made to bow down to the whims of the world.
Christ Connection: When the religious leaders questioned Jesus, He answered with wisdom and power. Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. He is the Word of God, who came to show us exactly what God is like.
Key Passages: We are memorizing Isaiah 53:1-12 during this quarter. Primary children will be memorizing Psalm 23.