What can we learn about human nature from the plot in Matthew 26:4? Setting the Scene “and they schemed together to arrest Jesus secretly and kill Him.” (Matthew 26:4) The chief priests and elders—Israel’s spiritual leaders—gather under cover of night to plot murder during Passover, the very feast celebrating God’s deliverance. The contrast is jarring and reveals much about the human heart. What the Plot Reveals about Human Nature • Deceit prefers darkness – They seek to “arrest … secretly,” proving John 3:19: “men loved darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.” – Sin instinctively hides; transparency threatens it. • Fear of losing power fuels hostility – Jesus’ popularity endangered their influence (John 11:48). – Self-preservation, not truth, guides fallen hearts. • Religious titles do not restrain sin – Priests and elders, guardians of God’s Law, break the sixth commandment. – Hypocrisy surfaces when external religion lacks inner transformation (Matthew 23:27-28). • Groupthink intensifies corruption – “They schemed together.” Collective agreement emboldens evil (Psalm 94:20-21). – When sin is normalized in community, conscience dulls rapidly. • The heart rationalizes the unthinkable – Murder becomes “necessary” to maintain order (John 11:50). – Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” Supporting Snapshots from Scripture • Cain’s envy led to Abel’s death (Genesis 4:8). • Joseph’s brothers conspired in secret (Genesis 37:18-20). • Plotters against Daniel hid their motives behind legal language (Daniel 6:5-9). Pattern: when confronted with righteousness, unredeemed hearts often resort to covert violence. Why We Must Take This Personally • The same fallen nature lives in every descendant of Adam (Romans 3:10-12). • External respectability cannot cure inner rebellion. Only a new heart promised in Ezekiel 36:26 can. • Honest self-examination under Scripture’s light prevents hypocrisy (Hebrews 4:12-13). Hope Shining through Human Darkness • God’s sovereign plan prevailed—“This Man, delivered over by the deliberate plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed…” (Acts 2:23). • The very plot meant for evil became the pathway for redemption (Isaiah 53:4-5). • Because Jesus endured mankind’s worst, He offers the power to transform our hearts (2 Corinthians 5:17). Takeaway Summary Human nature, untouched by grace, will: 1. Hide sin in secrecy. 2. Protect self-interest at any cost. 3. Cloak evil beneath religious appearance. 4. Grow bolder when sin is shared. Christ exposes this darkness, dies for it, and offers a new nature that loves light, truth, and humble obedience. |
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