1 Peter 2:21,22
“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH.
I’m going to focus on the last point in this passage, “Nor was any deceit found in His mouth.” This is quite a thing to say to any person. Particularly one who was so mistreated.
Synonymns for guile are fraud, deceit or lie. During Jesus’ adult ministry.
Why is anyone deceitful? When one is attempting to obtain something or trying to get out of a situation and the honest means are not working. Sometimes guile is motivated by desperation. One may be trapped and a lie or deceit is employed to obtain the desired end. Other times deceit is part of the plan. Satan used deceit when talking to Eve in the garden. With the portions of truth, he slipped in a lie. He stirred up her desire for greatness to help blur her discernment.
Jesus was in plenty of very difficult situations. The religious leaders were constantly trying to trick Him. He didn’t show it, but I’m sure there were some times He felt trapped (Hebrews 4:15). He must have felt the panic that leads one to embellish the truth.
We will be in difficult situations in which we feel pressured to lie. We need to not resort to deceit. Our audience may be hostile and attempt to trick us. We don’t have to be forthcoming. Proverbs 26:4 says, “Don’t answer a fool according to his folly.” Jesus didn’t answer the pharisees questions as they were posed. The paying taxes question was a yes or not question. He chose to answer it his way. We don’t have to enter their traps. We can say, “let me think about that” or “I’ll get back to you.”
Lord, help us to trust You these times. Give us the wisdom as to how to manuver difficult talks and how to avoid traps.