Matthew 22:15, “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.”
The Pharisees were the original cancel culture. They didn’t like what Jesus said, and instead of debating Him fairly, they plotted to silence Him. They couldn’t deny His miracles, and they couldn’t beat His wisdom, so they tried to destroy His reputation. They wanted to “entangle Him in His talk,” meaning they wanted to twist His words and use them against Him.
They couldn’t cancel His power, so they tried to cancel His influence.
Why They Tried to Cancel Jesus
Jesus exposed hypocrisy. He called sin what it was. He healed on the Sabbath, dined with sinners, and forgave people they thought were unforgivable. Every time He spoke, it cut through their pride. Instead of repenting, they schemed. The truth hurt their ego, and their only solution was to shut Him up.
It’s the same spirit we see in cancel culture today.
What Cancel Culture Is in America
In today’s world, if someone says something that doesn’t fit what the crowd wants to hear, people rush to destroy them. They dig up old posts, twist their words, and label them hateful. It’s not about truth anymore. It’s about control.
Cancel culture doesn’t seek understanding, it seeks domination. It doesn’t forgive, it punishes. It doesn’t listen, it shouts down. It’s the same trap the Pharisees tried to set for Jesus.
Truth Still Matters
As Christians, we must speak the truth regardless of the consequences. The Bible says in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Truth isn’t found in popularity polls or social media trends. It’s found in God’s Word. When the world demands silence, we must still speak. When they threaten reputation or rejection, we must still stand. Jesus didn’t water down truth to avoid trouble, and neither should we.
Cancel culture can silence men, but it can’t silence God. They nailed Jesus to a cross to cancel Him, yet three days later, He walked out of the tomb. Truth doesn’t die. It rises again.
So, don’t be afraid to stand for what’s right. Say it kindly. Say it clearly. And say it with the conviction that truth will always outlast the noise.
