One of the things that Jesus' critics did during the time that He walked the earth was to try to ask questions that had two possible answers, but both answers could be used as grounds for an accusation. One of their favorite scenarios stems from the fact that Israel was under Roman rule at the time. Roman law didn't necessarily match up with the Law of Moses, so by asking him about a situation where the two sets of laws contradicted each other, they hoped to draw Jesus into making a statement that would either qualify as heresy, because it went against the Law of Moses, or insurrection, because it went against the law of the Roman Empire.
For example, they brought to Him a woman taken "in the very act" of adultery. I have mentioned this before, but, I still don't understand how you catch one person committing adultery. The point was, though, that under Moses' Law, she should be taken outside the city and stoned to death. That must be a terrible way to die. Under Roman law, though, her punishment would be, well, nothing, (unless she were a married woman and then her husband had the right to exact vengeance, but I don't think that was the situation here). In any case, death by stoning was not an option under Roman law, and one would have to go through the Roman Courts in order to get her sentenced at all. If they just took her out and stoned her, the Romans would consider that murder. So they asked Jesus what they should do. Not that they cared what was actually the right thing to do, they just wanted to either hear Him tell them to obey the Law of Moses (which would be insurrection against the Romans), or to obey the Roman law (which would be heresy against Mosaic Law). Personally, I can't help but wonder how these righteous men, leaders of the temple, pillars of the community, once they got it into their heads that this was a good way to trap Jesus, how did they know where to find a woman sleeping with another woman's husband? In any case, what Jesus so famously said was, "Let the one among you who is without sin, cast the first stone." He wrote something on the ground; we are not told what it was, but it seems to me that He must have written something to indicate that He knew exactly what sins each of those men were guilty of. A little reminder, in case any of them wanted to try to pretend that they were sinless. Something to put them on notice that He knew (of course, that would indicate that these men were so callous that even when they found out that Jesus knew every thing they’d ever done, they still refused to accept the idea that He was God manifest in the flesh). I don't know that for sure, it's supposition, but I think it must have been something like that.
They tried to get Him with tribute money, too. Should we pay taxes to Caesar, or no? Well, aren’t you using Roman money? Aren’t you already legitimizing the Roman government in so doing? “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Or, obey the laws of the government over you, but don’t forget to obey God’s law, too.
Sometimes we find ourselves facing a decision. Do I do this, or do I do that? Sometimes the right answer isn't either one of the two obvious choices; but it takes a lot of prayer to find God's will for our lives. Don't get trapped with the wrong choice because it seems like the lesser of two evils (well, except maybe in the voting booth, because God uses imperfect politicians, too).
For example, they brought to Him a woman taken "in the very act" of adultery. I have mentioned this before, but, I still don't understand how you catch one person committing adultery. The point was, though, that under Moses' Law, she should be taken outside the city and stoned to death. That must be a terrible way to die. Under Roman law, though, her punishment would be, well, nothing, (unless she were a married woman and then her husband had the right to exact vengeance, but I don't think that was the situation here). In any case, death by stoning was not an option under Roman law, and one would have to go through the Roman Courts in order to get her sentenced at all. If they just took her out and stoned her, the Romans would consider that murder. So they asked Jesus what they should do. Not that they cared what was actually the right thing to do, they just wanted to either hear Him tell them to obey the Law of Moses (which would be insurrection against the Romans), or to obey the Roman law (which would be heresy against Mosaic Law). Personally, I can't help but wonder how these righteous men, leaders of the temple, pillars of the community, once they got it into their heads that this was a good way to trap Jesus, how did they know where to find a woman sleeping with another woman's husband? In any case, what Jesus so famously said was, "Let the one among you who is without sin, cast the first stone." He wrote something on the ground; we are not told what it was, but it seems to me that He must have written something to indicate that He knew exactly what sins each of those men were guilty of. A little reminder, in case any of them wanted to try to pretend that they were sinless. Something to put them on notice that He knew (of course, that would indicate that these men were so callous that even when they found out that Jesus knew every thing they’d ever done, they still refused to accept the idea that He was God manifest in the flesh). I don't know that for sure, it's supposition, but I think it must have been something like that.
They tried to get Him with tribute money, too. Should we pay taxes to Caesar, or no? Well, aren’t you using Roman money? Aren’t you already legitimizing the Roman government in so doing? “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Or, obey the laws of the government over you, but don’t forget to obey God’s law, too.
Sometimes we find ourselves facing a decision. Do I do this, or do I do that? Sometimes the right answer isn't either one of the two obvious choices; but it takes a lot of prayer to find God's will for our lives. Don't get trapped with the wrong choice because it seems like the lesser of two evils (well, except maybe in the voting booth, because God uses imperfect politicians, too).
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