"Watch Out for Respectable Liars"

Matthew 22.11-18 NAS

“The the Pharisees went and plotted together how they might trap Him in what He said. And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, 

‘Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. Tell us then, what do You think?...’

Jesus perceived their malice, and said, ‘Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites?’”

How nice these people were to pay such kind tribute to Jesus. The Son of God must have appreciated their attention to etiquette and enjoyed the comments they lavished upon Him. The Pharisees and their “disciples… along with the Herodians” prefaced their conversation with the customary praise due a man of Jesus’ caliber. They bowed. They smiled. They deferred to the Master. These men were leaders. They were role-models. They were intelligent. They were respectable. They were sweet and proper. 

They were liars.

Jesus saw through their façade instantly. “Yeshua [Jesus], however, knowing their malicious intent, said, ‘You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me?’ ” (Matthew 22.18 CJB).

Here’s an important revelation. People lie. Beware when they say too many very nice things about you. You may be tempted to believe them, and that could be a huge mistake.

“A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit.
Though his speech is charming, do not believe him…”

Proverbs 26.24-25a NIV