Matthew 12: A Decision to Confront Evil
Friday, March 24, 2023
James Tissot: The Pharisees Question Jesus
We considered Matthew 12 during Advent a number of years ago and today, as e move toward the great celebration of Easter, we understand that as we move toward conversion we must do more than reflect and pray. We must take action.
The Pharisees are familiar figures in the Easter story and today we see them in Matthew’s story challenging Jesus who heals so many faithful. When we encounter those who want to quash goodness in order to wield power, we must find the strength to confront this evil.
The Pharisees try to trip Jesus up by challenging him on the details of the cumbersome Mosaic Law. When they realize that Jesus is too clever – and too grounded in God – to be caught in a trap of their design, they challenge his very authority. This is the beginning of their undoing.
How does Jesus defend himself and what lesson can we take from his actions? Jesus does not waste words of explication but instead asks questions. What did David do? What do the Pharisees themselves do? We might follow this tactic and practice asking questions rather falling into the trap of arguing when we confront evil.
How does Jesus reveal the fallacies in false charges? Rather than point out the hardness in the Pharisees’ hearts, Jesus describes what happens when people work against one another in a greedy struggle for control. Again he asks questions. By whom do your own people drive out demons? How will a kingdom stand when it is divided against itself? We might follow this strategy and develop our own skills of looking for the truth rather than focusing on proving others wrong.
When we see evil we know that we must confront it but we must do so wisely – as Jesus does. Let us take a lesson from the master and decide that rather than argue with the devil, we will ask questions instead. Rather than point fallacies and errors to those around us, we will empty ourselves of our well-honed arguments and allow the Spirit to speak instead. And rather than throw ourselves against barricaded corruption and power in high places, we will turn to the God who knows and sees all, and give thanks to the God of all creation. In this way we bear fruit for the kingdom, and we ask God to confront evil.
As Easter draws ever nearer, let us prepare to receive this most wonderful, most impossible, most loving gift.
For more detail about how Jesus confronts he Pharisees who seek to control him, enter the words Confronting Evil into the blog search bar and explore the December 23,2011 reflection.
Image from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authority_of_Jesus_questioned
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