Matthew 22:35

 Matthew 22:35

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

a. NASB 1995: One of them, [fn]a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, [NASB95 New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation; All Rights Reserved]

b. NKJV: Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,  [Scripture quotations marked "NKJV" are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.]

c. Classic Amplified: And one of their number, a lawyer, asked Him a question to test Him. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Peshitta Eastern Text: And one of them who knew the law, asked him, testing him, [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

e. ESV: And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. [Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."]

f. Unless otherwise stated, all greek and Hebrew definitions are from Blue Letter Bible

1. “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,”

a. Then [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. one [Strong: 1520 heîs, hice; a primary numeral; one:—a(-n, -ny, certain), + abundantly, man, one (another), only, other, some.]

c. of [Strong: 1537 ek, ek; a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):—after, among, × are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, × hereby, + very highly, in, …ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, × thenceforth, through, × unto, × vehemently, with(-out).]

d. them [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. [which was a] lawyer [Strong: 3544 nomikós, nom-ik-os'; from G3551; according (or pertaining) to law, i.e. legal (ceremonially); as noun, an expert in the (Mosaic) law:—about the law, lawyer.]

f. asked [him a question] [Strong: 1905 eperōtáō, ep-er-o-tah'-o; from G1909 and G2065; to ask for, i.e. inquire, seek:—ask (after, questions), demand, desire, question.]

g. tempting [Strong: 3985 peirázō, pi-rad'-zo; from G3984; to test (objectively), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:—assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt(-er), try.]

h. him [Strong: 846 autós, ow-tos'; from the particle αὖ aû (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:—her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

i. and [Strong: 2532 kaí, kahee; apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:—and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

j. saying [Strong: 3004 légō, leg'-o; a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas G2036 and G5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while G4483 is properly to break silence merely, and G2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:—ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.]

1). The enemies of Jesus were constantly trying to get him to say something that they could use against him. The whole chapter of Matthew 22 gives 3 examples, one right after another, of his enemies attempting it. But Jesus was led by the Spirit and gave inspired answers that confounded them all. Where did he get that wisdom? Was it because He was God in the flesh and Omniscient? No. When the Second Person of the Godhead became a servant in the form of a man, he emptied Himself of His Godlike abilities.

a). Philippians 2:6, 7 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

b). Many translations write he emptied himself. Others say he laid aside his privileges. When Jesus became man he emptied himself or laid aside his God-like abilities, Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence. These are all attributes of God and Jesus laid them aside when He became the form of a servant, when He became man.

c). He was certainly not all-knowing, for the Scripture says that Jesus increased in wisdom (Luke 2:52). When Jesus cast out devils it was not because he was Omnipotent or all-powerful, it was because He did it through the Spirit (Matthew 12:28; Acts 10:38; Luke 4:16-19). 

2). In the passage cited above from Matthew where Jesus outsmarted his enemies, I personally believe that it was because He meditated in the word of God and was being led by the Holy Spirit.

a).  Psalm 119:97-101 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 

119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 

119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 

119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 

119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.