Testing Jesus Christ Challenges God
An all-creatures Bible Message

Testing Jesus Christ Challenges God
 
A Sermon Delivered to
The Compassion Internet Church
 
29 October 2017
 
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References

Matthew 22:34-46
Mark 10:13-16
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Testing Jesus Christ challenges God, because such actions are not in the heavenly will of God, and are really following the worldly ways of the devil.
 
When anyone does this they are really being the devil’s advocate, and this is the reason that when anyone says they are speaking as the devil’s advocate, we always tell them that they don’t want to do that, because they are challenging God.
 
This is also why testing Jesus Christ challenges God, for the people who do such things are really being the devil’s advocates.
 
As we look at Matthew 22:34-46, we can clearly see this happening…

34. But when the Pharisees heard that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they gathered themselves together.

The Pharisees were conspiring together to think of ways that they could test Jesus to somehow find a way to condemn Him.

35. And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him,
 
36. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
 
37. And He said to him, " 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 
 
38. "This is the great and foremost commandment.
 
39. "The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 
 
40. "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

Jesus responded this way, because He knew that they really knew the truth that we all are supposed to live in the heavenly will of God, and to not live in God’s heavenly will is to live in the corrupt and evil ways of this world, which He knew they were doing.

41. Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,
 
42. saying, "What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?" They said to Him, "The son of David."

Now Jesus was turning their evil intent back upon their own heads.

43. He said to them, "Then how does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying,
 
44.'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Thine enemies beneath Thy feet" '? 
 
45. "If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his son?" 
 
46. And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question.
NASB

This is a perfect example how testing Jesus Christ challenges God, and Jesus wanted the religious leaders to fully understand the evil that they were trying to do, and that He was aware of their intent, and that it wouldn’t work.
 
These kinds of things are recorded in our Bibles to help us to understand that we are not to be like the Pharisees; we are to be the peacemaking children of God who do everything they can to help free creation from its present corruption.
 
In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Paul gives us another example of how testing Jesus Christ challenges God…

1. For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain,
 
2. but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.

When true disciples and apostles of the Lord, who live in the heavenly will of God, are persecuted for telling the truth about Jesus Christ, we should recognize that their persecutors are doing the same kinds of things that the Pharisees were doing with Jesus; testing Jesus Christ challenges God, as Paul explains.

3. For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit;

…as the Sadducees and Pharisees were doing…

4. but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts.

And God examines every one of our hearts and souls, whether or not we live in the heavenly will of God or in the corrupt and evil ways of this world, and He knows who we really are, for we cannot hide the truth from the Lord our God.
 
So Paul continues to explain…

5. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed — God is witness — 
 
6. nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.

This is the difference between the way that Paul was living and the way that the Sadducees and the Pharisees were living.
 
We need to always remember that as ambassadors of God, we are to always do everything to glorify God and not ourselves.
 
And in perfect heavenly will, we are to always serve others before ourselves.

7. But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.

We also need to be gentle with everyone and everything around us, and even in the whole of God’s creation.
 
So, if we do any harm to any human being, or any animals, or to the environment in which we all live, we are not being gentle, are we?
 
This is why we all need to think about these things, and resolve in our hearts and souls to always live in the heavenly will of God.

8. Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
NASB

We should feel this way about the whole of God’s creation.
 
We are not to be like the corrupt world around us.
 
Now, let’s see if we can spot anything in Mark 10:13-16 that indicates that testing Jesus Christ challenges God…

13. And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them.

In a way, we might say that at times even the disciples fell into the trap that testing Jesus Christ challenges God and His heavenly will.
 
And, we also may find ourselves doing the same thing, even if we don’t want to, for we all sin and fall short of the glory of God, but if we catch ourselves and repent, then the Lord is faithful to forgive us, just as He did with the disciples.

14. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Jesus said this because most children have an innocence about them and don’t connive and scheme like adults do, which is way Jesus said that the kingdom of God belongs to them.
 
And each and every one of us needs to have this same kind of innocence about us; we are to be pure of heart.

15. "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all."

This is a warning, which we hope that all of us recognize. 

16. And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands upon them.
NASB

We also believe that even the animals are really like the children in the eyes of God, and they should be with us.
 
We cannot truly be peacemaking children of God unless we are like this.
 
Remember that testing Jesus Christ challenges God, and we are not to be like this.
 
We are to live in the heavenly will of God, and do everything in our power to free creation from its present corruption.
 
Amen.

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