Preventing Verbal Entanglement
Our Scripture meditation is based on Matthew 22:15-22 from next week’s Gospel Reading for next week, the 21st Sunday after Pentecost. For a meditation on the Epistle Lesson, click HERE.
[15] Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. [16] And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. [17] Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” [18] But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? [19] Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. [20] And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” [21] They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” [22] When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.
How should we respond when at risk for being “entangled” in our words?
In the Eighth Commandment God commands us to not make false testimony against anyone. To live out this commandment we look to always speak well of others.
Yet in a conversation at work the temptation arises to trade slights about a co-worker. A discussion over the backyard fence could quickly turn into veiled criticisms of a neighbor. A debate presents the opportunity to exaggerate the truth.
Our avoiding such entanglements starts with God. We received the indwelling of Holy Spirit at baptism. Through the Holy Spirit we have “mind of Christ” to discern God’s will (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Just as Jesus was aware the Pharisees were trying to entangle Him in His speech, so we develop awareness of the contexts and situations where we can become similarly entangled. In that way we can avoid verbal entrapments.
Until next week, the Lord bless and guide.
