Title: Beware of Flattery/ Topic: Discernment

Today's Reading: Job 23; Job 24; Mark 11; Mark 12

Scripture: Mark 12:13- 15
13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn't we?" But Jesus knew their hypocrisy.

Observation: The Pharisees and Herodians (and Saducees) that were in the audience listening to Jesus wanted to bring him down. But they start their conversation with him with flattering words. What makes the words flattery is that they are uttered insincerely. The compliments they give him are true. Jesus is everything they say he is, but they don't honor those things about Jesus. They are simply trying to get him to let down his guard so that he might “slip up” in what he says and then they will have “evidence” to use against him. But Jesus discerns their true motives and is aware of their duplicity.

Application: Anytime someone begins to flatter me, I must see it as a red flag and have my spiritual ears tuned in to what the Holy Spirit wants to tell me about this person. It's up to me to listen to the Spirit to discern what his/her motives are. As with this example in Jesus' life, the words can be true but the motives impure. I must not let the truth of the words put me off my guard. The Bible says that one of the ways the anti-christ will gain power is though flattery (Daniel 11:32). So anytime someone gives you a compliment, especially if they do it a lot and with an effusive manner, be on your guard and check what their motivation is. They may be seeting you up for a trap or to get you to buy into their agenda for you.

Prayer: Father, keep me from ever being a person who uses flattery, for you make it clear in your Word that it is sin. And give me a discerning heart so that I may detect it right away when others are trying to use flattery on me. May we walk in truth and love with one another. Give us pure hearts.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.