The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judea during the time of Jesus Christ. Known for their strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and oral traditions, they often found themselves in opposition to Jesus, whose teachings challenged their interpretations and practices. One of the key interactions between Jesus and the Pharisees involved their attempts to tempt or test Him with questions about the Law, seeking to trap Him in His words and discredit His ministry.

Testing Jesus on the Law

The Pharisees frequently approached Jesus with questions designed to test His knowledge and interpretation of the Law. These encounters are recorded in the Gospels and highlight the tension between Jesus and the religious leaders of His day.

1. The Question of Paying Taxes to Caesar: In Matthew 22:15-22, the Pharisees, along with the Herodians, attempted to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to the Roman authorities. They asked, "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" (Matthew 22:17). Jesus, perceiving their malice, responded with wisdom, asking them to show Him a denarius and inquiring whose image was on it. When they answered, "Caesar's," He replied, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's" (Matthew 22:21). This answer amazed them and thwarted their attempt to ensnare Him.

2. The Greatest Commandment: In another instance, a Pharisee, who was an expert in the Law, tested Jesus by asking, "Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?" (Matthew 22:36). Jesus replied, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40). Jesus' response emphasized the heart of the Law, focusing on love for God and others, which silenced His questioners.

3. The Woman Caught in Adultery: In John 8:3-11, the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, seeking to trap Him by asking if she should be stoned according to the Law of Moses. Jesus responded by saying, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her" (John 8:7). Convicted by their own consciences, the accusers departed one by one, leaving Jesus alone with the woman. He then told her, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more" (John 8:11). This encounter highlighted Jesus' authority and His emphasis on mercy and repentance.

4. The Question of Divorce: In Matthew 19:3-9, the Pharisees tested Jesus with a question about the legality of divorce, asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?" (Matthew 19:3). Jesus referred them back to the creation account, emphasizing the sanctity and permanence of marriage as instituted by God. He stated, "Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Matthew 19:6). Jesus' teaching underscored the original intent of marriage and challenged the Pharisees' more permissive interpretations.

Conclusion

The interactions between Jesus and the Pharisees regarding the Law reveal the depth of Jesus' understanding and His authority over the religious leaders. Through these encounters, Jesus consistently pointed back to the heart of the Law, emphasizing love, mercy, and the true intent of God's commandments. The Pharisees' attempts to tempt Jesus ultimately served to highlight His wisdom and the transformative nature of His teachings.Matthew 19:3
The Pharisees also came to him, tempting him, and saying to him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 22:15,16,35
Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

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