Lying in Wait

At the Lion Park in South Africa.

Scripture:

Luke 11:53   When he went outside, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile toward him and to cross-examine him about many things, ⁵⁴ lying in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.

Observation:

The scribes and the Pharisees had been waiting around, hoping to catch Jesus in a mistake! Remember, all the way along, Jesus was mentoring the disciples. What Jesus was experiencing was just a foreshadowing of the life of a disciple. Jesus had to be careful not to get caught up in the traps that were intentionally being set for him by the religious leaders.

As Neale puts it, “covert observation and entrapment was allowed” by the religious officials (NBBC). Not only was it allowed, but it was actually encouraged. The “cross examination” was actually a provocation, as they tried to prod him into saying things that they would deem worthy of condemnation. Vincent’s Word Studies tells us that they were trying to put “words into Christ’s mouth, …making him say what they wanted him to say.” 

They were nasty and unkind, intentionally trying to trap Jesus. Their time and attention was focused on catching him saying something wrong — all the while they failed to be engaged in God’s mission. 

Application:

I have to always ask where I find myself in this story. It would be easy to spend time and energy lying in wait for some individuals. Sadly, this has happened throughout history. Time and again we have seen faithful followers of Christ who have been seen as a threat to authorities and so teams have been sent out on a mission to catch them saying something wrong. Of course, this began in the life of the disciples, but later during the great theological debates of the third and fourth century, you could get exiled for aligning yourself with the wrong theologian. Martin Luther was a lightening rod for the Roman Church and his friends had to hide him from the religious authorities. 

These days we live our lives open to public scrutiny because of the internet. For a minister — sermons are live-streamed, broadcast and recorded. Jesus was teaching a lesson to his disciples many years ago that is relevant today. There will always be those who are lying in wait, so use wisdom! Preach sound doctrine. Look out for what you post on social media. Don’t spend your time looking at sites on the internet where you shouldn’t be. Be careful to not put yourself in the path of temptation. 

There will always be those who are lying in wait. Jesus wants his disciples to know this is reality, and therefore you must be cautious in all things, staying true to God’s mission. And, remember, scribes and Pharisees were never the positive role-models. 

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the peaceful quiet of your holy presence. I want to follow you today, in your mission. Amen.