SILENCING HIS CRITICS

March 30

Bible Reading: Luke 20

Luke 20:26, “And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people, and marveling at His answer, they became silent.”

They were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus, having even sent spies who pretended to be His disciples (Luke 20:20).  They were trying to find something, anything, in which to accuse Him.  Their plan was to “catch Him in some statement” that could be used against Him, that they might deliver Him up to the Roman authorities (Luke 20:19).

Someone came up with an idea. “Ask Him about paying taxes,” they suggested. So, they first flattered him to be a true and impartial teacher (Luke 20:21), then they laid the big question on Him, “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” One can imagine their smugness and delight in putting the question forth. Like spiders spinning a web, they worked to draw Him into their trap. They would have Him at last, they thought. There was no way He could wiggle His way out of this one. If he answered “yes,” the people would be upset with Him—because the people deemed the tax illegal. The people had stood in the way of their conspiracy before, but a “yes” answer would alienate Him from them. The religious leaders would then be free to do with Him as they pleased. A “no” answer would be likewise beneficial. The tax was the law. To speak against the tax was to speak against the authorities. If he answered “no,” they would have cause to deliver Him up to the Roman authorities as a seditious enemy of the state. He was caught in a trap, either answer would serve them well—so they thought.

“But He detected their trickery and said to them, ‘Show Me a denarius.  Whose likeness and inscription does it have?’  And they said, ‘Caesar’s.’  And He said to them, ‘Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Luke 20:24-25).  He didn’t answer “no”, and He didn’t answer “yes.”  He wisely gave an alternative that they had not considered.

“And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people, and marveling at His answer, they became silent” (Luke 20:36).  We might say, “He silenced His critics.”  This is not the only example of Jesus silencing His critics in this chapter.  The Sadducees concocted a foolish conundrum to likewise challenge His teaching and authority (Luke 20:27-38).  They were silenced too: “For they did not have courage to question Him any longer about anything” (Luke 20:40).

Skeptical foes bombarded Him with questions, as skeptics do to this day. But in Him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). The religious skeptics of His day “searched the Scriptures” but had no heart for the truth (John 5:39). The foolishness of their supposed intelligence was readily exposed in the light of His great wisdom. They marveled at His answer, but not so as to believe in Him. Let us marvel in belief. He is all-wise. His wisdom is imparted to us by the Spirit through His word. Skeptics remain. They love to antagonize and instigate His followers. J. C. Ryle, “Blessed be God, He who silenced the chief priests and scribes by His wise answers, still lives to help His people and has all power to help them. But He loves to be entreated.” He is glad to impart wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5).

We don’t always know what to say when others are critical of our beliefs, but we know the One who does.  And the Spirit can give us the words to speak when we need them (Luke 12:12).

Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Refrain:
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Brightly doth His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.