…and no deceit was found in his mouth.
Peter’s description of Jesus is grounded in personal knowledge as well as scripture. Peter knows Jesus well. Today’s passage shows us an aspect of Jesus that is easy to contrast with our world today.
What do you think of when you hear the word, “deceit?” Do you, like me, immediately think, “lies?” If yes, we would both be partially right. But a “lie” does not cover the entire concept of the word.
When Cain’s offering was rejected by God (Genesis 4) Cain became angry. God warned him that sin was “crouching at your door.” Cain did not heed the warning. Instead, he said to his brother, “Let’s go out to the field” forgetting to add, “so I can kill you.” This is deceit. More than a lie, it is a trap. In the same way, the Pharisees plotted to trap Jesus so they could kill him (Matthew 26: 4).
“Ulterior motive” is a phrase we might read in a mystery novel. It means that a person has a hidden reason for doing or saying something. When used for evil purposes, the ulterior motive is the reason for deceit.
Jesus didn’t have a hidden agenda. It is true that he spoke in parables, but a parable is not meant to hide the meaning. Rather a parable does an end-run around our intellectual defenses and conveys meaning better than a direct statement can. If a person’s heart and mind are receptive, they will understand a parable.
The Pharisees in Jesus’ day seemed to be operating deceitfully in almost everything they did. In a sense, it had become a habit. They were very good at rationalizing what they were doing.
In Luke 11: 37-53, Jesus attends an awkward dinner. A Pharisee invites him to eat with him and Jesus accepted the invitation. He knew full well the hearts of the men he was to dine with. Perhaps the Pharisee was hoping to win Jesus over to “their side.” It is possible his “ulterior motive” was to educate this itinerant rabbi in the ways of “truth.” Whatever his motive, good or bad, Jesus was not impressed with being there. Instead of small talk and chit chat over dinner, Jesus serves up serving after serving of Truth to his host and the others there.
What makes Jesus’s words unique is that they are spoken not as one man’s opinion about another, but as God’s Truth. Jesus speaks as one who knows everything about these people from how they spend their Sabbath to the thoughts they harbor in their hearts.
I suspect dinner was served cold that night if at all. Jesus did not mince words with the ulterior motive of being accepted or hoping to be invited back. Jesus is unique. In part because no deceit is found in his mouth.
Application: Jesus’ blunt speech is not something we can emulate honestly for two reasons. First, we are not God and there are many things we do not know. Second, there is always the question of an ulterior motive whether we admit it or not.
Food for Thought: How do we as Christians become more aware of our ulterior motives and what should we do with them?
If we are sincerely unaware of an ulterior and sinful motive, God can reveal the truth to us a number of ways. It may be the Holy Spirit’s conviction as we read God’s word. It may be Him speaking through someone’s wise counsel (like the prophet Nathan with king David). Since God is the one that can see the motive clearly, He is the one who can both reveal the truth and soften our heart to accept the truth. The next question is – what will we do when God does reveal a sinful motive? Obey and walk in the Spirit or continue to indulge the flesh (Galatians 5: 16 – 26).
Rich,
I really appreciate the insight you bring to this question this morning. Thank you! One can be exposed to the truth but reject it. Only if we allow God to soften our hearts are we able to accept that change is needed. Not just “change” as in “someone else has to change,” but change that you or I make in ourselves in response what God has shown us about ourselves.
Something plays out in my mind about speaking our mind and not trying to use a double sided word of this world because nothing will hold up to his word I just hope to remember all this if I’m ever sitting at dinner with my wife and one of us says we are fine. I hope that we are able to look back and realize I’m dumb and wont understand anything until we turn towards his word together and communicate with him being a part in our conversation to help us understand each other and grow together spiritually.
Tim,
You are on your way to wisdom if you turn to God every day for guidance and while waiting for an answer from Him are able to restrain your tongue! 🙂
Thank you for that little bit about holding my tongue. I’ve got to work on that beforehand.
You and me, both!! 🙂
We have each come to Christ with sinful desires and motives. At repentance we were set free of all these, given the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome, but we must accept, listen and apply through submission to Gods will over our own. We can live according to the sinful nature, have our minds set on what that nature desires; or live in the Spirit having renewed minds, set on what God desires.
Our goal is for our thoughts to become consumed with God and His kingdom which will bring perfect peace instead of anxiety and worry. However our sanctification is a lifelong process filled with moments of success and failure.
I have found my walk with God is the most pleasant as I learn from and let go of the past, live in the now where God is and look forward to the future He has planned for me. Be sensitive to the quiet voice of Holy Spirit and practice immediate response.
EZEKIEL 36:27, And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
John 14:26, But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Ron,
Thank you! You give us some very specific and very useful advice:
1. Learn from and let go of the past
2. live in the now
3. Look forward to the future God has planned for me.
4. Be sensitive to the quiet voice of Holy Spirit
5. Practice responding immediately to God’s Spirit.
Thank you Ron. Us men have great pride issues that prevent us from letting the Holy Spirit work through us. I’m fighting that battle every day to let go and trust in his truth. You are reminding me of his words and promises every day.
You got it Tim,
We just don’t say “that’s OK I got this one” to the Holy Spirit.
When I was a kid,..I had ulterior motives all the time and didn’t even know what it meant,..I used to be a paper boy, the paper tubes were free to me,..one day I thought I needed some money,..so I just happened to have a can of lighter fluid in my pocket,..you know the ones for those Zippo lighters,..anyway I found a tube at a customers house and dowsed the paper in the tube with lighter fluid and set it a blaze,..the next time I came around I noticed that it had burnt and melted down all around the post,..well I went up to the customer and told them it looks like someone burnt their paper tube down and that I would be happy to install a new one for five bucks,..they agreed and I got paid,..I was like ten,..had no idea about sin,..but I crossed a line of temptation all for five bucks,..
I had no idea it was all about an ulterior motive,..maybe that’s why God gave me an ownership position in life,..to get away from ulterior motives and dependently rely completely upon Him.
I know more now about God than I did when I was a kid,..I know that He sees my heart, broken and afflicted that it is,..deceitful above all things,..back then I didn’t understand about ulterior motives but now,..I have a better picture of what it looks like because of what I have learned from and about Jesus.
I know now to take my ulterior motives to God in prayer first before I make a hasty decision to screw things up,..
John,
They say confession is good for the soul. I’m glad you got that off of your chest! 🙂
I also appreciate the story because I think a lot of us have similar memories … times that we listened to the wrong voice.
Taking our motives to God first is a great way to validate them.
Simple yet powerful example John
👍🏻