How can we guard against plotting evil, as seen in Matthew 26:3? Setting the Scene “Then the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas.” (Matthew 26:3) Religious leaders—people who should have honored God—gathered to engineer Jesus’ death. Their meeting warns us how quickly even the outwardly devout can slide into destructive plotting. Why People Drift into Evil Schemes • Unchecked pride: when reputation matters more than righteousness (Proverbs 16:18). • Fear of losing influence: the leaders worried the crowds would follow Jesus (John 11:48). • Groupthink: evil feels safe when shared (Exodus 23:2). • Darkened hearts: willful rejection of light invites deeper blindness (Romans 1:21). Guardrails for the Heart 1. Examine yourself regularly • “Search me, O God, and know my heart… See if there is any offensive way in me” (Psalm 139:23-24). • Invite the Spirit to expose hidden motives before they harden. 2. Keep Scripture central • “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11). • Daily intake renews the mind (Romans 12:2) and recalibrates desires. 3. Cultivate holy fear • “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.” (Proverbs 8:13). • Remember every secret thing will be brought into judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:14). 4. Stay humble and accountable • “Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” (Proverbs 27:5). • Invite trusted believers to question your plans; isolation breeds deception. 5. Walk by the Spirit • “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16). • Continual dependence on the Spirit breaks sin’s momentum. 6. Guard input and imagination • “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23). • Starve thoughts that nurse resentment or vengeance; nourish thoughts that reflect Christ (Philippians 4:8). 7. Replace plotting with proactive good • “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21). • Plan acts of mercy; intentional kindness leaves no space for schemes. Scripture Anchors to Keep Handy • James 1:14-15 — desire conceives sin before it acts. • Ephesians 6:10-18 — the armor of God protects against unseen plots. • Psalm 1:1-2 — blessing comes from delighting in God’s law, not sitting with scoffers. • Micah 6:8 — do justice, love mercy, walk humbly; simple obedience that disarms evil intent. Living it Out When hearts stay soft through honest self-examination, saturated in Scripture, and yielded to the Spirit, secret councils like the one in Matthew 26:3 lose their appeal. Our gatherings then become places where we plot how to bless rather than how to harm, reflecting the character of the One whom the leaders once conspired to crucify yet who rose to redeem. |
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