RECOGNIZE YOU ARE OUTSMARTED
MATTHEW 22:46
MATTHEW 22:46 NKJ
46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
The bulk of this chapter contains the various religious groups of the day trying to trick Jesus.
They came at Him from the tax angle. Hoping to catch Him rebelling against Rome. They lost.
Then the Sadducees worked on Him regarding their pet belief that there was no resurrection. They lost.
Then the lawyers took a shot at Him regarding what was the greatest commandment, and Jesus answered their question and gave them the first and second commandment, basically love God and love your neighbor. Chalk up another score for Jesus and an L for the lawyers.
And Jesus was not done. He asks the Pharisees a question that they could not answer from the scriptures, and these were the leading Old Testament scholars of the day.
They finally wised up and stopped asking Him questions. They realized they were outsmarted by Jesus.
APPLICATION
Over the years, I have witnessed as people have, in effect, shaken their fists at God and demanded answers. I have also witnessed that these people would become bitter and resentful and receive nothing. One of the smartest things we can do is recognize God is far smarter than us and stop questioning Him.
Oh, we need to ask questions, but that's different. Questioning Him implies He is wrong or unfair and owes us an answer. But asking questions is taking a stance of humility. The proud get resisted, the humble get grace.
When we hit a wall or come up with a situation that we can't answer, that would be the time to humbly ask God, who gives His wisdom, and thank Him for the answer.
No one was able to outsmart Jesus, and it's the same today. The smart ones recognize that truth and humbly ask for and receive from The Smartest One.
PRAYER
Dear Father, You are greater and smarter than all. I could really use your wisdom more in my life. Teach me how to receive from You.