PREACHING MATTHEW'S GOSPEL
The opening words of this week's text indicate a change of venue and actor. "Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said" (Matthew 22:15). The venue has changed. Matthew is no longer reporting stories of Jesus in answer to the question of the chief priests and elders concerning his authority: 21:23-27. For the past three weeks we have been dealing with Jesus' stories in response to this challenge. Now it is the Pharisees' turn to speak. The counter-attack is on. They hope to entangle Jesus in his own words.