Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
Luke 11:54 describes the scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish leaders and opponents of Jesus, watching Him closely like spies and lying in wait to catch something out of His mouth so that they might accuse and condemn Him. It took place as He stood in the very shadow of the cross, lifting His voice in earnest entreaty while looking with sadness on the deceived multitude and longing to save them from the doom to which they were hastening. Though the people rejoiced in the representation of the light that had led Israel through the wilderness, they were rejecting and turning from the true Light Himself.
Their watching was deliberate and provocative, keeping Him under close observation and lying in wait for an opportunity to accuse Him. They watched with cruel malice even while He pleaded earnestly, with prejudice and unwillingness to accept evidence. They put an evil interpretation on His words and actions even when those were questionable only in their own judgment.
They did so because they had departed from the Word of God, and when the truth was revealed in Christ they were ready under Satan's direction to attack it. His explanations of Scripture conflicted with their own ideas, and instead of changing their ideas to meet the Bible they tried to make the Bible sustain their ideas. Their questions were not an honest search for truth, but subtle arguments and questions meant to confuse others and to evade acknowledging the truth. They hoped to find some word from His lips at which they might take offense.
Such hostile, deliberate provocation is a feature of false religion. His followers should not expect better treatment than He received, so that persecution for Christ can be an honor. The same course is followed today when people refuse to give up their own ideas and are not humble enough to acknowledge the divine origin of what is not in harmony with their opinions.
Luke 11:54 describes the scribes and Pharisees, the Jewish leaders and opponents of Jesus, watching Him closely like spies and lying in wait to catch something out of His mouth so that they might accuse and condemn Him. It took place as He stood in the very shadow of the cross, lifting His voice in earnest entreaty while looking with sadness on the deceived multitude and longing to save them from the doom to which they were hastening. Though the people rejoiced in the representation of the light that had led Israel through the wilderness, they were rejecting and turning from the true Light Himself.
Their watching was deliberate and provocative, keeping Him under close observation and lying in wait for an opportunity to accuse Him. They watched with cruel malice even while He pleaded earnestly, with prejudice and unwillingness to accept evidence. They put an evil interpretation on His words and actions even when those were questionable only in their own judgment.
They did so because they had departed from the Word of God, and when the truth was revealed in Christ they were ready under Satan's direction to attack it. His explanations of Scripture conflicted with their own ideas, and instead of changing their ideas to meet the Bible they tried to make the Bible sustain their ideas. Their questions were not an honest search for truth, but subtle arguments and questions meant to confuse others and to evade acknowledging the truth. They hoped to find some word from His lips at which they might take offense.
Such hostile, deliberate provocation is a feature of false religion. His followers should not expect better treatment than He received, so that persecution for Christ can be an honor. The same course is followed today when people refuse to give up their own ideas and are not humble enough to acknowledge the divine origin of what is not in harmony with their opinions.