Preaching on The Traps for Christ

The Traps for Christ: Lessons for Our Lives

Let us reflect on the cunning attempts to ensnare Jesus, and glean wisdom from His responses, applying these lessons to the spiritual traps we face today. The enemy, then and now, seeks to deceive and derail us from our path of faith.

1. The Attempt to Test Jesus’ Authority:

Matthew 16:1 and Mark 8:11 tell us that the Pharisees and Sadducees demanded a sign from heaven, attempting to test Jesus’ authority. They sought proof, not faith.

Application: We must ask ourselves: Do we trust God implicitly, or do we constantly demand tangible proof? True faith rests on trust, not signs.

2. Tricky Questions About Divorce:

Matthew 19:3 and Mark 10:2 reveal the Pharisees’ attempt to trap Jesus by asking about divorce, hoping to pit Him against the Law of Moses. Jesus responded by pointing to the sacredness of marriage from its inception.

Application: In the midst of moral controversies, do we seek God’s original intent, or do we bend His word to fit our desires?

3. The Caesar Tax Trap:

Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17, and Luke 20:20-26 detail the attempt to trap Jesus with the question of paying taxes to Caesar. His response, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's,” demonstrates wisdom and balance.

Application: How do we navigate the tension between our civil and spiritual responsibilities? We must honor both, without compromising our allegiance to God.

4. The Trap of Interpreting the Law:

Luke 11:54 shows the scribes and Pharisees trying to catch Jesus in His words, seeking to condemn Him through His interpretation of the Law. This highlights the danger of religious hypocrisy and the manipulation of Scripture.

Application: Are we seeking genuine truth, or are we twisting Scripture to justify our own agendas? We must approach God’s Word with humility and sincerity.

5. The Use of the Adulterous Woman to Test Jesus:

John 8:6 recounts the attempt to trap Jesus using an adulterous woman, hoping to force Him to contradict either the Law of Moses or His own message of mercy. Jesus’ response, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone,” reveals His profound wisdom and grace.

Application: How do we respond to the sins of others? With judgment and condemnation, or with grace and compassion?

Conclusion: The Danger of Spiritual Traps

Just as Jesus faced carefully laid traps, we too encounter spiritual snares designed to derail us. The world, with its allurements and deceptions, seeks to pull us away from God.

Application: We must cultivate wisdom and discernment, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide us. Jesus’ example teaches us to respond with truth and love, refusing to be ensnared by the enemy’s tactics.

Let us learn from Jesus’ wisdom and integrity. Let us walk in truth, guided by the Holy Spirit, and resist the traps set before us. May we respond with grace and discernment, reflecting the light of Christ in a world that seeks to dim it. Amen.