Bible Study for Sunday, February 23, 2025 - Trapping Jesus – The Pharisees’ Motives

Scripture: Mark 12:13-15 (NLT)
"Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 'Teacher,' they said, 'we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?' Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, 'Why are you trying to trap me?'"

Lesson:
The Pharisees and Herodians, though usually opposed to each other, united against Jesus with a shared goal: to trap Him in His words. Their approach was deceptive, cloaked in false flattery as they called Him an honest teacher who did not show favoritism. Their words, however, were empty, as they sought to manipulate Jesus rather than honor Him. Their question about taxes was a carefully laid snare, designed to force Jesus into a no-win situation—either alienate the Jewish people by supporting Roman taxation or invite Roman punishment by rejecting it. Yet, Jesus saw through their hypocrisy. His ability to discern their true motives reminds us that God is never deceived by appearances; He looks at the heart.

Reflection Questions:

• Have you ever encountered insincerity in others? How do you respond?
• How does knowing that Jesus sees beyond appearances challenge your faith?
• Are there areas in your life where you try to justify wrong motives?

Prayer Focus:
Ask God to give you discernment against hypocrisy and to keep your heart sincere before Him.

Share Your Thoughts:
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