Bearing false witness may be hazardous to your health. Like prolonged exposure to asbestos, smoking cigarettes for too long, or being subjected to radioactive isotopes without the proper protection; the results can be deadly and often permanent. The cumulative effects may not be immediate, but they are without doubt fixed and dire. When the years of life roll by slowly, it may not be noticeable at first, but like many ailments, it’s not the years, it’s the mileage. Our old friend Karma will see to it that you reap what you sow.
The last week Jesus was walking the streets of Jerusalem, he knew the religion authorities were setting a trap for him. Matthew 26:3 says, “The chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him”. It’s hard to find evidence against someone who hasn’t done anything wrong. That didn’t stop the chief priests, the Pharisees, and the Sanhedrin from prospecting for a little false witness testimony.
You may be thinking that these people are pillars of the community. Being in such a powerful position, they had so much to lose. Their reputation would be ruined, their jobs would be forfeited, and they could face legal charges. Matthew 26:59-60 tells us none of that mattered, “The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.”
The religious authorities felt threatened by the life Jesus was leading. They didn’t appreciate the ‘Light of the world’ uncovering their malicious deeds. The authorities did everything possible to remove Jesus from their lives, and when they failed, they passed the responsibility to the governor, Pilate.
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