Matthew 22:15-22
15 The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one, for you do not regard people with partiality. 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 are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this and whose title?” 21 They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed, and they left him and went away.
18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites?
“Better the devil you know.” We humans are creatures of habit. While we enjoy the occasional thrill, or a delightful surprise now and then, we want our lives to be ordered and predictable. When something happens that threatens our predictable comfort zone, our “fight or flight” anxiety is triggered and we fight back.
“Nature abhors a vacuum.” Because we love order and predictability, we naturally avoid empty spaces in our lives. When an experience comes to an end, we rush to fill the void with anything that will divert or comfort us. We don’t want to spend any more time in transition than we absolutely have to because it’s unknown territory.
When Jesus came onto the scene, he made the religious leaders of his time extremely uncomfortable. They were living under Roman occupation, so they had to be very careful to follow the rules. They were also operating under 1,000 years of accumulated tradition. Their entire job was making sure that the traditions were honored and that everyone behaved appropriately. There was no room for creativity or free thought.
Jesus was such a threat to the status quo that his own religious leaders conspired to have him executed by Rome.
Prayer: Lord Jesus: Forgive us for all the ways we resist your presence and your teaching in every generation. Free us from slavery to the status quo. AMEN