When A Trap Becomes An Invitation | Matthew 22:34-40

Scripture

• Matthew 22:34–40

About this sermon

Introduction: Every sin men commit is an attack on God in at least two ways. Every sin is against God’s holiness, and at the same time, a sin against God’s mercy. Sin is unrighteousness. There is no unrighteousness in God. Sin is an attack against God’s very nature, as well as God’s standards. It not only hateful of His authority — it is hateful of His attributes. THE LOST MAN HATES GOD — THIS IS WHY HE HATES GOD’S STANDARDS. ESV Romans 1:30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, ESV Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ESV Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. But in all sin, there is also ungratefulness. MAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD – HE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S MERCY ESV Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Every breath that man takes, every way that his existence is maintained, has come to him from the hand of God — though he does not acknowledge that. THE LOST MAN USES GOD’S GIFTS TO HIM AS WEAPONS AGAINST THE GIVER OF THOSE GIFTS. The mind that man uses to argue against God is given by God and sustained by God. The powers of expression (the spoken word and the written word) used by unbelievers to assault the truth are abilities granted by God and sustained by God. The health and energy that mankind uses to argue against God and oppose God, is given by God and sustained by God. The TIME that man wastes in his opposition to God, is a gift from God — it is one more moment outside of the hell that man deserves that he then uses to defy God all the while rejecting God’s gracious offer of forgiveness and life found in His Son. This is the sinfulness of sin. It is doubly horrific because it is not only UNHOLY it is UNGRATEFUL. ESV Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. What is strange is how often these two aspects of sin are so clear in the same scene. It is strange how at the very moment where man’s attacks against God’s holiness are at their fiercest that God’s mercy is, at the same time, so unmistakable. This is the scene set before us in the 3rd attempt to entrap the Son of God by His words. What was constructed as a trap proves to be doubly condemning because that trap not only ALLOWED JESUS TO POINT THEM TO THE VERY HEART OF THEIR PROBLEM— it also turned into a gracious invitation from the Son of God. • THE CONCERN OF THE PHARISEES (vs.34) They hear that Jesus has silenced the Sadducees. His wisdom has nullified their attempt to entrap him. When the Pharisees hear about this, it was likely a mixed reaction. On the one hand, Jesus had demonstrated the absurdity of denying the resurrection. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection. There must have been some satisfaction in hearing that the Sadducees had no answer for His answer.